Stating the Facts: Melora Hardin
By Mavian Arocha-Rowe on Jan, 2 2012
Melora Hardin, the director, producer, actress, and singer believes there is a point in your career when you think ‘nice people, or not at all.’
STRATEGY: Women have lots of phases and characteristics. Tell me about Melora, the daughter; the wife; the friend; the mother; and the artist.
HARDIN: The daughter: I am very lucky. I had amazing parents and they are exceptional artists on their own. I am very fortunate that I had two people in my life that at an early age supported me as an artist. They helped me become a good craftsman and most importantly made me understand the business side of what I was getting myself into.
The wife: I am lucky here, too! I am very fortunate to have an amazing partner and to have married my soul mate. He encourages me to be the best person I can be.
The friend: I have very amazing people in my life. I am not one of those people that have lots of friends; instead I have a few friends yet they are all brilliant. I am thankful I have my wonderful female friends, and I also have male friends; however, my relationships with my women friends are beyond important to me. We are full of curiosity for each other and take joy in each other’s lives.
The mother: I have an ability to completely love my daughters and still give them their space away from me yet still connected to me. I am also fond of my curiosity with them.
The artist: I am an ever-exploring individual and enjoy the process of being an artist. I consider myself an eternal student of life, human nature, and my nature. This determines my decision on whom I am.
STRATEGY: Describe the essence of an artist.
HARDIN: I think you are born with the task of being an artist. People can become good artists without having that special gift, but I don’t think you can become really great without having that seed. I do believe everyone in this Earth is an artist, some people, more than others, but I do believe we are all artists in a certain way. We all have unique abilities. There are people who are meant to make it their life and that is a different kind of person who would choose to be on that path.
STRATEGY: When was the last time you said you did a stupid thing?
HARDIN: All the time! My daughters decided to decorate the staircase. So, there were ribbons down the banister and then they decided to decorate me! The finale was a dance we coordinated together, but boy, do they love to tie scarves all over me.
STRATEGY: If you were to describe yourself as a 1950s performer versus a woman of today, who would you be from each era?
HARDIN: I would start with someone like Katherine Hepburn, Doris Day, and Judy Garland. Barbra Streisand is one of my favorite icons. Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren. Oh and Madonna! She is pretty cool and has the power to change the world.
STRATEGY: If you were given the life task of rescuing, who or what would you spend your life rescuing?
HARDIN: Children. Surely children. They are heading this world and it is a very complicated world. There are so many wonderful little souls out there to love and who need love. I want the opportunity to give back to the world, which is really what we are all here to do.
It is pretty hard to give back if you don’t give back, so I would surely say rescue and bring love to children by many means; via harmony, food in their bellies, there are so many ways to love. I love the Raffi song my kids used to listen to: All I really need is some sun on my face, food in my belly, clean water to drink, and love, love, love.
STRATEGY: I am sure you have heard the phrase, “everyone is looking for something.” What is your something?
HARDIN: Understanding and connection.
STRATEGY: Which question do you ask yourself and you are not able to answer?
HARDIN: The question regarding discrepancy of aging and gaining wisdom as you get older in unanswered for me. It would be nice if we were born old and got younger as you gained more wisdom. Isn’t the circle of life incredible? You usher your children in and they usher you out.
STRATEGY: What makes you feel good?
HARDIN: I love spending time with the people that I love in an un-pressured situation…sitting in the warm sun and eating good food, and enjoying the essential pleasure of life together.
STRATEGY: In your opinion, which is the hardest career to choose?
HARDIN: I think my career is a pretty hard one. I would have to say if you could do anything else and be happy, you should do it because there are many, many challenges that come with this career. You should only be doing it if there is no other life you can imagine for yourself.
STRATEGY: If you could turn back the clock of time and give yourself one adult lesson for your childhood, which message would you choose?
HARDIN: Be the biggest and brightest light you can be at all times regardless of what people feel.
STRATEGY: Hollywood versus New York City?
HARDIN: Hollywood is for me. I am a very big city person who needs culture; I have a metropolitan mind-set. My goal would be to have my home in Los Angeles, but have a place in New York City too. When Indians first came to New York, it was built on quartz crystal. Quartz crystal has so much energy in it, which is why the City is so buzzy. Indians used to go to New York, get their buzz, their energy, and just leave.
They could not settle there because it was too much buzz. I love it and people crave for that, but I don’t think I can be there constantly all the time. A part of me enjoys the space in LA. The fact that I can have a nice home and have a yard and I can look down on trees is great. But when I go to New York it is tiny; even the real palatial homes are different. It is a different lifestyle and I prefer to have the two options open, plus I crave the balance. I need the balance.
STRATEGY: Which is the worst addiction human kind can have and how can it be stopped?
HARDIN: Greed and therefore the byproduct of being disconnected from each other, themselves, and the world is the worst in my book. The change has to occur with the individual person. We all have to strive to connect to the deeper parts of ourselves that connect to the world, our environment, and its people. This will bring birth to compassion, understanding, and tolerance.
STRATEGY: What can change our country in a positive way?
HARDIN: When I was 20 years old, I went on a backpacking trip around Europe. I had a euro pass and I spent three months there. I really feel students should be handed a euro pass or a plane ticket and have them travel the way I did. I strongly feel we would have much more understanding. There would be no war.
People would see and witness good people in all sections of the Earth. Most of the conflict that happens between people is because of politics and religion. When you get placed into a country that influences you to meet different types of people from different walks of life, you will see the goodness that is available for offering. You will soon realize there are good people everywhere. It is unfathomable that our country doesn’t leave our backyard. And, they don’t have a concept beyond television. If people would travel and reach out to others, this can possibly change our country.
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