Melissa McCarthy

American actress, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and fashion designer.

McCarthy began her career as a stand-up comedian, performing in New York clubs, and later moved to Los Angeles, where she began her career in film and television. She first gained wide recognition for her role as Sookie St. James in the television series "Gilmore Girls," which she played from 2001 to 2007. From 2007 to 2009, she played the role of Dena in the sitcom "Samantha Who?", and from 2010 to 2016, she played the lead role in the comedy series "Mike & Molly," for which she received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011. She is also known for her roles in the films "The Nines," "Plan B," "Life as We Know It," and for her role as Megan in the 2011 film "Bridesmaids," which brought her several awards and nominations, including nominations for an Oscar, BAFTA, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2012, Forbes included McCarthy in its list of the "Twenty Highest-Paid Actresses on Television." Since then, McCarthy has starred in the Hollywood comedies "Identity Thief," "The Heat," "Tammy," and "Spy" (noted for a Golden Globe nomination), each of which was a box office success. In 2014, she took on a dramatic role in the film "St. Vincent."

McCarthy is the owner of the production company On the Day Productions. In 2013, Forbes included McCarthy in its list of the "100 Most Influential Celebrities." In 2015, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and later launched the designer clothing line Melissa McCarthy Seven7, which is designed for women of all sizes. Also in 2015, Forbes placed McCarthy in third position in its annual list of the "Highest-Paid Actresses in the World."