Alyssa Milano is featured in September 2008 issue of LA Direct Magazine. This brunette beauty loves sports more than most people love sports bars and sports drinks. Above all, she gives a whole new meaning to sports apparel!

Milano started acting at age 7; she’ll be 36 in December. For the last 29 years, she has been honing her craft. Most people — and child stars are infamous for this — eventually melt under the glare of the limelight. But talking to Milano, she comes across as especially grounded, content, fulfilled and nice. Not that she doesn’t have a lot to be happy about, but this grown-up child star seems more normal than most “normal” people. Milano, yet again, thanks her family for her phenomenal and unusual sense of well-being. “I would credit my family having more influence over who I am than anything in the business,” she says. “I’ve always lived a sort of sheltered life and I’m very close to my family.”

Of course, when talking to the former on-screen daughter of Tony Micelli, one can’t help but wonder if a TV family starts to feel like a real one after so many seasons. Heck, the Micellis and the Bowers felt like family to most of America. Fortunately for everybody who loves the ‘80s, Milano gives a deeply satisfying answer, “It was natural for all of us to relate to each other as a family.” And yes, she and Danza still keep in touch. Though, like all father-daughter relationships, this one has evolved to gain an equal dynamic as she has matured.

Milano later goes on to reveal just how she found peace in Hollywood, “I feel really blessed to have the foundation of Who’s the Boss, which was a great way to grow up in this business because it was stability for eight years straight.”

Then there was her stint on Melrose Place. Milano describes it as a great experience. Despite the fact that she and co-star Heather Locklear were on-screen enemies, the alum says, “Heather was incredibly gracious.” She also credits the show with starting her long relationship with “Mr. Spelling.”

- Full story on Ladirectmag.com.