44 Facts About Melissa McCarthy

1.

Melissa McCarthy is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, and nominations for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

2.

Melissa McCarthy began appearing in television and film in the late 1990s and first gained recognition for her role as Sookie St James on the television series Gilmore Girls.

3.

Melissa McCarthy gained critical acclaim for her performance in the comedy film Bridesmaids, receiving a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

4.

Melissa McCarthy went on to star in several commercially successful comedies, including Identity Thief, The Heat, Tammy, St Vincent, Spy, and The Boss.

5.

Melissa McCarthy has since starred in the drama miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers and played Ursula in the musical fantasy film The Little Mermaid.

6.

Melissa Ann McCarthy was born on August 26,1970, in Plainfield, Illinois to Sandra and Michael McCarthy.

7.

Melissa McCarthy is a cousin of actress and model Jenny McCarthy.

8.

Melissa McCarthy was raised on a farm in a large Catholic family.

9.

Melissa McCarthy's father is of Irish descent, while her mother is of English, German, and Irish ancestry.

10.

Melissa McCarthy graduated from St Francis Academy in Joliet, Illinois.

11.

Melissa McCarthy's career started with stand-up comedy in Los Angeles, and later in New York City.

12.

Melissa McCarthy is an alumna of The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California.

13.

Melissa McCarthy performed in New York City as a drag queen under the moniker Miss Y, including at the Wigstock festival.

14.

Melissa McCarthy made her first television appearance in an episode of the NBC comedy series Jenny, opposite her cousin Jenny Melissa McCarthy.

15.

Melissa McCarthy made her feature film debut in a minor role in the 1999 comedy Go, and later had roles in the movies Drowning Mona, Disney's The Kid, Charlie's Angels, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Third Wheel and The Life of David Gale.

16.

Melissa McCarthy worked in three episodes of Kim Possible, voicing DNAmy.

17.

The latter was released November 25,2016 and Melissa McCarthy appeared in one of its four episodes.

18.

Melissa McCarthy later starred in the independent comedies The Captain, Just Add Water, and Pretty Ugly People.

19.

Melissa McCarthy played Samantha's socially awkward childhood best friend, whom Samantha hasn't seen since seventh grade.

20.

Melissa McCarthy guest starred in Rita Rocks and on Private Practice.

21.

In 2010, Melissa McCarthy played supporting roles in films The Back-Up Plan and Life as We Know It.

22.

In 2011, Melissa McCarthy had a breakout performance in the comedy movie Bridesmaids alongside Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper.

23.

Melissa McCarthy later had supporting roles in This Is 40, the spinoff to Judd Apatow's film Knocked Up, and The Hangover Part III.

24.

Melissa McCarthy was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in June 2012 along with 175 others.

25.

Melissa McCarthy hosted Saturday Night Live on October 1,2011, April 6,2013, February 1,2014, February 13,2016, and May 12,2017.

26.

Melissa McCarthy was nominated five times for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her appearances on the television show from 2011 to 2017, winning in 2017.

27.

In 2013, Melissa McCarthy co-starred in the crime comedy Identity Thief with Jason Bateman.

28.

In 2013, Melissa McCarthy co-starred with Sandra Bullock in the buddy cop comedy The Heat.

29.

Melissa McCarthy co-wrote the script for the movie Tammy, which was released on July 2,2014.

30.

Melissa McCarthy's character loses her job and her car, and then learns that her husband has been unfaithful.

31.

Melissa McCarthy produced a CBS pilot which starred her husband, Ben Falcone.

32.

Melissa McCarthy played the female lead, opposite Bill Murray, in the 2014 comedy film St Vincent, directed and written by Theodore Melfi.

33.

On November 19,2014, it was announced that Melissa McCarthy would portray fairy heroine Tinker Bell in the untitled comedy-adventure directed by Shawn Levy.

34.

In May 2015, Melissa McCarthy received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

35.

Melissa McCarthy replaced Julianne Moore, who was fired shortly before shooting was to begin.

36.

Melissa McCarthy returned to the show to portray Spicer on April 16 and May 13,2017.

37.

Melissa McCarthy appeared in a Super Bowl LI ad for Kia Motors, promoting the Kia Niro.

38.

Melissa McCarthy played a wannabe environmentalist, who has a series of mishaps befall her such as being capsized by a whale, being charged by a rhino, and falling down a crevasse.

39.

On June 28,2019, it was announced that Melissa McCarthy was in talks to play Ursula in Disney's upcoming film The Little Mermaid, set to be directed by Rob Marshall.

40.

On February 18,2020, Melissa McCarthy confirmed her casting as the villainess during an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

41.

Melissa McCarthy married her longtime boyfriend Ben Falcone, an actor and member of The Groundlings, on October 8,2005.

42.

In 2013, Melissa McCarthy founded the production company On the Day Productions with her husband Ben Falcone.

43.

Melissa McCarthy studied textiles at Southern Illinois University, and was interested in a fashion career before she pursued her interests in acting.

44.

Melissa McCarthy spent time working as the costumer for a dance company.