Melissa Joan Hart's Christmas Adventure

Did you ever wish you had a significant other to bring home to the 'rents for the holidays so they would get off your back about finding a special someone? In "Holiday in Handcuffs" a funny romantic comedy premiering on ABC Family Sunday, Dec. 9th (8:00-10:00 PM Eastern time) Melissa Joan Hart, one of our faves from "Sabrina: The Teenaged Witch" series, has just that problem, soooo, she kidnaps a guy!

Hot Mario Lopez is the unlucky fellow who is taken home in handcuffs to meet the parents only to eventually find that he's quite attracted to his desperate but sweet captor. We convinced Melissa to answer a few of our questions about her work on the film, fun on set and her Holiday memories and plans. Of course, Melissa is now married with her own young family. She shot the film in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check it out...

TeenTelevision: What is your favorite Christmas memory?

Melissa: All the kids used to sit at the top of the stairs and wait for Mom and Dad to tell us all was clear and Santa had been there and left already. Then we would all run down the stairs to find our pile of gifts.

TeenTelevision: Did you and Mario do any dancing for fun in between scenes on set? Did anything funny happen on set?

Melissa: He swung me around a bunch but I think he was being more of a bully than dancing with me.

TeenTelevision: Did you ever feel reluctant to bring a boyfriend home to meet the parents?

Melissa: I always loved bringing boyfriends home because my family was so crazy and loud and I always thought it was so fun to be around but I can see how it can be overwhelming.

TeenTelevision: Not that you would have a holiday breakdown, but do you feel a lot of pressure during the holidays?

Melissa: I actually love the pressure of picking the perfect gift for each person, throwing parties, making cookies for our cookie exchange and sending out the best card I can find. I am a big planner so the more I have to do, the more I get done.

TeenTelevision: Do you find that your "Sabrina" fans are following you on to other roles? What would you most like to say to your "Sabrina" fans?

Melissa: I have the best fans in the world. I see on websites a lot someone will pick on me for my baby weight or a bad outfit and then someone will immediately stand up for me and say something nice. I find on my MySpace page that my fans are waiting for my next project while Hollywood thinks they have abandoned me. It's funny how Hollywood doesn't understand what the rest of the country wants.

TeenTelevision: That's for sure. Will you be directing any more TV or film in future?

Melissa: I am in the process of trying to get a film off the ground called Tiny Dancer that I will be directing hopefully next year. It is a wonderful movie about a prima ballerina's struggle between motherhood and her career.

TeenTelevision: What was the best part of filming "Holiday in Handcuffs" for you? What was the worst?

Melissa: There was honestly so much I enjoyed about this shoot. It was my first job back after having my son so I was so thrilled to be back on a set. Calgary was a wonderful city and I adored spending so much time in the snow with my son. The cast and crew were all such pros and at the same time so much fun to spend time with. And my role of Trudie was one of the most fun characters I have ever played. She is such a nut from a nutty family and going through a crazy little crisis which was great to play.

TeenTelevision: How did you balance the humor, seasonal sentiment and the off-kilter element of kidnapping someone for a Christmas movie?

Melissa: I didn't really think of it as a Christmas movie while we were shooting. It is more of a romantic comedy that happens to take place at the holidays. I thought all the elements work well together. Everyone with a family can relate to the pressure the holidays put on people and that makes for funny scenarios. It was more grownup material for me to play with and I had such a blast doing it.

TeenTelevision: What did you identify with the most in your character?

Melissa: I understand her quarter-life crisis, which I think is very current today. She is stuck between what she wants and what her parents want her to do. These days, I see so many women around age 30 who are trying to figure out where they are supposed to be in life now. 'Should I be married, have 3 kids, be a CEO?' It's very confusing with the modern pressure that has been put on women to do it all!

TeenTelevision: How does your character's Christmas time compare to what you do during the holiday season?

Melissa: Pretty similar! We both [she and her hubby] feel a lot of pressure to impress our families. But my family actually picks gifts that the recipient usually enjoys and wants. We don't lock ourselves in a cabin with no contact to the outside world, but we do enjoy our time together and turn our phones off while we are together for the day.

TeenTelevision: What was it like portraying a potential kidnapper? Do you ever see yourself having a "break" quite like this one - what do you think might ensue if you do have a "break"?

Melissa: I could never hold a gun on anyone! It was even difficult to do in a movie, but I have snapped here and there before. I usually try not to upset anyone in the process of me losing it.

TeenTelevision: Have you seen the film yet? What did you think of the finished product?

Melissa: Yes. I was really impressed and proud of the movie. I thought it would be hilariously funny, but I didn't expect it to be as sweet as it is. My harshest critic is my 14-year-old sis who said it was 'up there with Elf' as her fave Christmas movie. That's huge for me!

TeenTelevision: What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Melissa: I love eating my grandma's famous French Silk Pie 'til I am sick. But now, with Mason, I am looking forward to starting all kids of new traditions with my growing family.

TeenTelevision: Name your favorite Christmas films that made an imprint on you, ones you always watch at the Holidays?

Melissa: Meet Me in St Louis is awesome! I suggest everyone see it at least once so you can really understand the meaning behind the song 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.' Also, Elf has become a must-watch in our house. I think that movie should have been nominated for best original screenplay and best actor.

TeenTelevision: How hard is it for you juggling motherhood with a career?

Melissa: I am lucky to have a career where I work hard for a few weeks and then have a ton of time to spend with my little family. I know when I am working that it is only temporary so I try to enjoy the time I have on set and do the best I can do, knowing that I will be home with plenty of play time in the near future.

TeenTelevision: You started out very young as a child actress. Do you plan on getting your own children involved in acting? Would you support it if it was something they wanted?

Melissa: I would make sure school came first and they could dabble on the side but after they graduate, it's up to them.

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.