NBC's surprise hit of the year, The A-Team, is four rough-and-tumble trouble-shooting soldiers of fortune and one female reporter. How did a nice girl like Melinda get thrown in with a bunch like this? She auditioned for network execs who remembered her from previous failed pilots, and now that she's there, she's having a ball. "l like being the only woman," says Melinda, who plays reporter Amy Allen. "You get a lot of attention." Closest to Dwight Schultz, with whom she hit it off immediately, she's also very fond of Mr. T, "a real character and a sweet guy." The Bad Attitude he affects," she says, "is a switch he puts on, what he did when he was bodyguarding." Melinda relates to her own character's energy and "the compassion she has for people. She can't stand injustice." Melinda especially likes the comedic aspects of Amy acting frivolous and getting in the guys' way. Viewers are responding enthusiastically to her, especially the men she's getting lots of mail, but isn't recognized that often. "When l don't wear makeup l look a lot younger," says Melinda, who's 28.

From a small town outside Chicago, Melinda remembers putting on puppet shows and appearing in plays in school, but she got into acting haphazardly after trying several careers (including quilt making and fashion styling). After modeling for four years in New York, she broke into commercials and eventually moved to California to try her luck (though she has kept her Manhattan apartment) and did guest shots and a few unsold pilots before The A-Team.

These days she has less time for hobbies like quilt making and paper mach� (she's building a miniature city) or socializing. "You have to learn to readjust your priorities when you have 5:30 calls," she says. Though she was once married, she's not involved with anyone now. "l haven't had the time to meet someone and l don't get involved with anyone l work with," says Melinda. "l have never dated an actor." She continues, "Certain things about the business are difficult, can strain a relationship. And l have a great need for private time, to be alone." Though she does want to have a child someday, Melinda isn't ready to settle down yet. Neither is handsome co-star Dirk Benedict, who has somehow managed to remain a bachelor.

A fan favorite in each of his past series, from Chopper One to Battlestar Galactica, he has achieved new heights of popularity in The A-Team as Templeton Peck, the face Man. He joined the series after the pilot was shot, replacing Tim Dunigan in the role. Dirk, who got bitten by the showbiz bug when he tried out for and won the lead in his first college musical, Showboat. hails from tiny White Sulfur Springs, MT. He owns a house there today, where he spent a restful and private summer away from the hoopla of Hollywood, recharging for another season of A-Team antics. Movie Mirror expects to pin him down for an in-depth chat upon his return!

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