Melissa McCarthy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melissa McCarthy
McCarthy in 2018
Born	Melissa Ann McCarthy (1970-08-26) August 26, 1970 (age 54) Plainfield, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actress screenwriter producer
Years active	1997–present
Spouse(s)	Ben Falcone ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	2
Relatives	Jenny McCarthy (cousin) Joanne McCarthy (cousin)
Awards	Full list

Melissa Ann McCarthy (born August 26, 1970) is a famous American actress, screenwriter, and producer. She has won many awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards. She has also been nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

In 2016, Time magazine named Melissa McCarthy one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She has also been one of the highest-paid actresses in the world many times. In 2020, The New York Times listed her as #22 on their list of the 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century.

McCarthy started acting in TV shows and movies in the late 1990s. She first became well-known for playing Sookie St. James in the TV series Gilmore Girls (2000–2007). She later starred as Molly Flynn in the sitcom Mike & Molly (2010–2016). For this role, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011. She also won an Emmy in 2017 for her guest appearances on Saturday Night Live.

Melissa McCarthy earned great praise for her role in the comedy film Bridesmaids (2011). This role led to an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. She then starred in many successful comedies. These include Identity Thief (2013), The Heat (2013), and Spy (2015). In 2018, she was highly praised for playing writer Lee Israel in the movie Can You Ever Forgive Me?. This role earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination. More recently, she appeared in the drama miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers (2021). She also played Ursula in the musical fantasy film The Little Mermaid (2023).

Melissa McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone, started a production company called On the Day Productions. They have worked together on several comedy films. These include Life of the Party (2018) and Thunder Force (2021). In 2015, she launched her own clothing line for plus-sized women, called Melissa McCarthy Seven7. She also received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early Life and Beginnings

Melissa Ann McCarthy was born on August 26, 1970, in Plainfield, Illinois. Her parents are Sandra and Michael McCarthy. She grew up on a farm in a large Catholic family. Her cousin is the actress and model Jenny McCarthy.

Melissa graduated from St. Francis Academy in Joliet, Illinois. She started her career doing stand-up comedy in Los Angeles and later in New York City. She is also a graduate of The Groundlings, a famous group that performs improvisational and sketch comedy in Los Angeles, California.

Career Highlights

Early Roles and Gilmore Girls (1997–2010)

McCarthy first appeared on TV in 1997 in an episode of the NBC comedy series Jenny, alongside her cousin. Her first movie role was a small part in the 1999 comedy Go. She also had roles in films like Charlie's Angels and Disney's The Kid. She even voiced the character DNAmy in three episodes of Kim Possible.

In 2000, McCarthy was cast as Sookie St. James in the TV series Gilmore Girls. Sookie was the cheerful and clumsy best friend of Lorelai Gilmore. She was also Lorelai's business partner. In 2016, McCarthy returned to play Sookie in the show's Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

From 2007 to 2009, McCarthy starred as Dena Stevens in the ABC sitcom Samantha Who?. Dena was Samantha's socially awkward childhood friend. McCarthy also had supporting roles in films like The Back-up Plan (2010) and Life as We Know It (2010).

Breakthrough with Bridesmaids and Mike & Molly (2011–2017)

McCarthy in 2012

In 2010, McCarthy got a main role in the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly. Critics praised her and her co-star Billy Gardell for their charming performances. In 2011, McCarthy had a huge breakthrough in the comedy film Bridesmaids. She starred alongside Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph. Her performance received widespread critical acclaim.

For Bridesmaids, McCarthy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also received nominations for BAFTA, Critics' Choice, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She won several awards, including the Boston Society of Film Critics Award. One of her most memorable scenes in Bridesmaids was actually made up on the spot by the director.

After Bridesmaids, McCarthy became very famous. In fall 2011, she won her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on Mike & Molly. She also hosted Saturday Night Live multiple times between 2011 and 2017. She was nominated five times for an Emmy for these appearances, winning in 2017.

In 2013, McCarthy starred in the crime comedy Identity Thief with Jason Bateman. The movie was a big hit, earning $174 million worldwide. Critics praised McCarthy's performance, saying she brought a lot of humor and emotion to her character. Later in 2013, she co-starred with Sandra Bullock in the buddy cop comedy The Heat. This film was also a success, grossing $229 million worldwide.

McCarthy co-wrote the script for the road comedy film Tammy, released in 2014. It was a box office success, earning over $100 million. Later that year, she played a main role in the comedy-drama film St. Vincent, alongside Bill Murray. Her performance as an overworked single mom was highly noted.

In May 2015, Melissa McCarthy received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In August 2015, Forbes magazine listed her as the third highest-paid actress, earning $23 million. Also in 2015, McCarthy starred in the spy comedy Spy. This role earned her first Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Critics loved her performance, with one calling her "as funny and as winning as anyone in the movies these days."

McCarthy at an event for Can You Ever Forgive Me? in 2018

In 2016, McCarthy starred in the comedy film The Boss. She also played a scientist in the all-female reboot of Ghostbusters. At the 43rd People's Choice Awards, McCarthy won the award for Favorite Comedic Movie Actress. In 2017, she made surprise appearances on Saturday Night Live playing White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. She also appeared in a Super Bowl LI ad for Kia Motors, promoting the Kia Niro.

Dramatic Roles and Recent Work (2018–Present)

McCarthy at an event for Can You Ever Forgive Me? in 2018

McCarthy starred in and produced another comedy film directed by Ben Falcone, Life of the Party, released in 2018. Later in 2018, she starred as celebrity writer Lee Israel in the drama film Can You Ever Forgive Me?. McCarthy's performance as Lee received huge praise. Critics called her performance "stunning" and "fearless."

She received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for this role. She also earned nominations for Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, Screen Actors Guild, and BAFTA Awards. She won Best Actress awards from several film critic groups.

In 2019, McCarthy played the lead in the crime film The Kitchen. The following year, she returned to comedy with the main role in Superintelligence. In 2021, she starred in the superhero comedy Thunder Force and the drama film The Starling, both released on Netflix.

She also produced and starred in the Hulu drama series Nine Perfect Strangers. Critics praised her performance, with one saying she was "the best, most arresting thing in the series."

In 2019, it was announced that McCarthy would play Ursula in Disney's live-action film The Little Mermaid. She confirmed her casting in 2020. The film was released in 2023 and earned over $569 million worldwide. Critics loved her performance, calling her "delicious" as the deep-sea villain.

McCarthy is also set to star in the comedy film Unfrosted with Jerry Seinfeld and Genie, written by Richard Curtis.

McCarthy and Ben Falcone at The Boss premiere in 2016

Personal Life

Melissa McCarthy married her longtime boyfriend, Ben Falcone, on October 8, 2005. Ben is also an actor and a member of The Groundlings. The couple has two daughters, Vivian and Georgette. Melissa's pregnancy with Vivian was even included in the last season of Gilmore Girls. Both Vivian and Georgette appeared in the 2016 film The Boss.

Ben Falcone often makes short appearances in Melissa's films and TV shows. He has been in Gilmore Girls, Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, and Nine Perfect Strangers, among others.

In August 2021, McCarthy joined the 40x40 campaign started by Meghan Markle. This campaign asks people to spend 40 minutes mentoring women who are returning to work. It helps women who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fashion Line

Before becoming an actress, Melissa McCarthy studied textiles at Southern Illinois University. She was interested in a career in fashion. When she moved to New York City, she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology. She also worked as a costumer for a dance company.

In 2015, McCarthy launched her first clothing collection, Melissa McCarthy Seven7. This line is designed for plus-size women and includes clothes up to size 28. McCarthy explained that she wanted to create clothes for all sizes, because "people don't stop at size 12." She felt that there was a need for more stylish options for women above a certain size. The Seven7 line debuted in August 2015.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  McCarthy in 2018

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  McCarthy in 2012

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  McCarthy at an event for Can You Ever Forgive Me? in 2018

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  McCarthy and Ben Falcone at The Boss premiere in 2016

See also

In Spanish: Melissa McCarthy para niños