17 Again

MELORA HARDIN (Principal Jane Masterson) is today best known for her portrayal of Jan Levinson, Steve Carell’s former corporate boss and love interest, on the hit NBC series “The Office.” As part of the show’s ensemble cast, she has shared in two Screen Actors Guild Awards® for Outstanding Performance by a Comedy Series Cast. She has also been seen on the popular USA Network series “Monk,” appearing in flashback’s as Monk’s late wife.

Hardin will next be seen as Billy Ray Cyrus’s love interest in the feature film “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” which hits theaters on April 10th. She recently made her directorial debut with the independent feature “You,” which is also slated for release in April 2009.

Her additional film acting work includes roles in the romantic comedy “27 Dresses,” with Katherine Heigl; the sports comedy “The Comebacks”; Jason Reitman’s satire “Thank You for Smoking”; the thriller “Absolute Power,” with Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman; Sidney Furie’s “Iron Eagle,” with Louis Gossett, Jr. and Jason Gedrick; and “The North Avenue Irregulars,” which marked her feature film debut. In addition, Hardin, who began her career as a child actress, has guest starred on dozens of popular television series over the past 30 years.

Most recently, he starred in Kenny Ortega’s “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” which set a box office record for the highest grossing opening weekend for a musical. Efron played the role of basketball team captain Troy Bolton, the role he originated on the small screen in the Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel phenomenon “High School Musical.”

Also a talented singer, Hardin has performed in several productions, including the feature “The Rocketeer” and the telefilm “Tower of Terror.” She has released two CDs: “Purr,” in 2000, and “The Meloradrama,” in 2008. On stage, she recently concluded a triumphant Broadway run as Roxie Hart in the smash hit musical “Chicago.” In August 2008, Hardin played the lead role of Fantine in “Les Miserables in Concert,” a one-weekend engagement that played to sold-out audiences at the famed Hollywood Bowl.