Melora Diane Hardin, who was born on June 29, 1967 in Houston, Texas, is the daughter of actor Jerry Hardin and his wife, Diane, an acting manager. At a young age, she discovered her love for acting, and by the time she was 10, launched her acting career by appearing in the series Thunder. She also became known for her role in two episodes of Quantum Leap, as well as in one of the Little House on the Prairie movies. In 1988, she took on the role of Baby in the short-lived TV adaptation of the film Dirty Dancing. Some of her other television credits include appearances in Diagnosis Murder, Friends, Gilmore Girls, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and a recurring role on the USA Network series Monk.
Melora Hardin has also been cast as Jan Levinson in the highly watched NBC sitcom, The Office. Other than working on television, she has ac!$#!#ulated quite a list of big screen hits in her r?sum?. She starred in the acclaimed Jason Reitman-directed film Thank You for Smoking in 2006, working with Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello and Adam Brody. Her other films are The Hot Chick with Rob Schneider, Absolute Power, The Comebacks, The Violin, The Dukes and Soul Man. She has also made an appearance on The Rocketeer, where she was able to show off her singing prowess. She sang soundtrack versions of the classics “Begin the Beguine” and “When Your Lover Has Gone.” Also pursuing a career in that field, she has released two albums, namely The Melodrama and Purr. Hardin is also known for playing the role of Fantine in the Hollywood Bowl’s concert of Les Miserables. In 2008, she got a part in the film 28 Dresses, and has signed on to work in Seventeen Again, You and Hannah Montana: The Movie.