I was nearly sacked as the star of legendary kids TV show for posing in my underwear

A STAR of a legendary kids' TV show has revealed she was nearly sacked for posing in her underwear.

Melissa Joan Hart shot to fame when she transformed into Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

The hit children's programme made its debut in 1996 and ran for seven series on Nickelodeon in the UK.

It saw Melissa's character Sabrina learn how to live in the witch world, while being guided by her two aunts her were also witches.

However, the TV star has revealed she very nearly lost the gig for posing in her underwear.

She stripped off at the age of 23 for a Maxim cover in October 1999.

Melissa recalled to the Christian Post: "My lawyer shows up and goes, 'You did a photoshoot for Maxim magazine?' I'm like, 'Yes, I did.'

"They're like, 'Well, you're being sued and fired from your show, so don't talk to the press. Don't do anything'."

When the cover made it to press, it said: "Sabrina, Your Favorite Witch Without a Stich!"

The actor revealed she found herself in hot water because a clause in her contract prohibited the use of her character's name.

However, she kept her job after writing a grovelling apology letter which the show's producers accepted.

Melissa made the revelation as she spoke about how she is now a 'born again Christian'.

She continues to deepen her faith by praying everyday.

Recalling how she found the Holy Spirit, Melissa said: "I did have a born again, Holy Spirit moment. I never really understood the Holy Spirit or the Trinity in a sense. One day, we were in Bible study and it just hit, like the Holy Spirit made sense to me all of a sudden!

"One day, I just felt it and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, that’s the Holy Spirit talking to me. I get it now.'

"Like a lightning bolt just hit me and I was like, 'The Holy Spirit!' I don’t know why it just hit me and I got it. Then I better understood the Trinity and all that."