Melissa McCarthy
Though she has been working steadily in film and TV since 1997, the perception of Melissa McCarthy is generally one of sudden success, following her astounding turn in 2011’s Bridesmaids. The fact is, she had already spent 14 years turning in excellent supporting performances in titles such as Drowning Mona, The Nines, Gilmore Girls and Samantha Who? before landing the award-winning lead role in the TV show Mike And Molly. But, Bridesmaids was such a universal success that McCarthy was catapulted straight into the stratosphere – becoming a much-loved movie star.
Her appeal is undoubtedly rooted in her trademark naturalistic improvised style, which creates a fascinating air of unpredictability in scenes with veteran performers, and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. When you watch a scene featuring Melissa McCarthy, you know that you are about to be treated to a stream-of-consciousness style exploration of humour, as the actress steals the piece from under the noses of her fellow performers.
Since the release of Bridesmaids in 2011, films featuring Melissa McCarthy – including The Heat, This Is 40, The Hangover Part III, Identity Thief, and Tammy – have earned approximately $1.2 billion in global box office. That number is set to increase sharply with the forthcoming St Vincent, Spy, and B.O.O: Bureau Of Otherworldly Operations.
