Melora Diane Hardin (born June 29, 1967) is an American actress, singer, and former child actress.

Hardin was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of acting manager Diane (née Hill) and actor Jerry Hardin. She is the sister of Flock CEO Shawn Hardin.

Hardin started her acting career at age 10 in the television series Thunder, and has appeared in over sixty movies and television programs since, including the film Thank You for Smoking, two episodes of Quantum Leap (she played Abigail in parts II and III of "Trilogy"), and one of the Little House on the Prairie movies (in which she played the love interest of Albert Ingalls). In 1988, she starred in the short-lived television adaption of the film Dirty Dancing in Jennifer Grey's role of "Baby". She also has a recurring role as Trudy Monk on the USA Network series Monk. She currently appears on The Office as former corporate manager Jan Levinson.

According to producer Bob Gale's statements on the DVD commentary for Back to the Future, Hardin was originally cast to play the character of Jennifer Parker. When Michael J. Fox was cast as Eric Stoltz's replacement, Hardin was replaced because producers felt that she was too tall to appear onscreen with Fox.

Hardin is also a singer, and has released two albums: "Purr" and "The Meloradrama". In 1991, Melora gave a commanding performance of her singing ability on film, croaning Begin the Beguine in true big band style, during the South Seas Club scene from the successful Disney production, The Rocketeer.

She will play the role of Fantine in the Hollywood Bowl's concert of Les Miserables.

She is married to actor Gildart Jackson and has two daughters, Rory Melora (born 2001) and Piper Hardin Jackson (born 2005).

Melora is close friends with co-stars Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer.

Daughter of the actor Jerry Hardin and the teacher/manager Diane Hardin (I).

Attended Rocamora School.

Sister of the producer Shawn Hardin (II).

Daughters: Rory Melora (born 29 September 2001) and Piper Quincy Jackson (born 2005).

She is also a singer, and her 2 CDs are "Meloradrama" and "Purr".

Was cast as "Jennifer Parker" in Back to the Future (1985) after actress Claudia Wells (I) dropped out of the film during preproduction (a television pilot ("Off the Rack" (1984)) Wells had recently filmed had been picked up by ABC for a six-episode run and the shooting schedules would have conflicted). Melora never shot a single frame of the movie, however; she was let go when Eric Stoltz was replaced by Michael J. Fox (I) as the original Marty McFly because she was considered too tall to be his girlfriend. Wells was then brought back as Marty's girlfriend when her series didn't get picked up by ABC for a full season.

Has a niece named Cleo Elizabeth Jackson.

Sister-in-law of Kara Meyers.

In the new movie that she directed called _You (2007/I)', her real-life daughter Rory Jackson (II) played her daughter, "Quincy", which is the middle name of her youngest daughter, Piper, and also the name of a TV show, "Quincy" (1984)_ that she acted in a long time ago. Recently, Melora acted in "Gilmore Girls" (2000) and one of the main characters has the same name as her daughter, Rory.