---
name: "Melissa McCarthy"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/melissa-mccarthy"
fi1m_id: "melissa-mccarthy"
imdb_id: "nm0565250"
tmdb_id: 55536
wikidata_id: "Q229048"
roles: ["Actor","Producer"]
born: "26 August 1970"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 63
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-19T04:30:27.972422+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Melissa McCarthy

## Identity

Melissa McCarthy

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/melissa-mccarthy
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** melissa-mccarthy
- **IMDb ID:** nm0565250
- **TMDB ID:** 55536
- **Wikidata ID:** Q229048
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_McCarthy, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229048, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565250/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55536

Actor and producer. Born 26 August 1970 in Plainfield, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Producer
- **Born:** 26 August 1970, Plainfield, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 2000–present
- **Also known as:** Melissa Ann McCarthy
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 10: 9 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Ben Falcone](https://film.one/person/ben-falcone.md), [Kristen Wiig](https://film.one/person/kristen-wiig.md), [Nicole Holofcener](https://film.one/person/nicole-holofcener.md), [Paul Feig](https://film.one/person/paul-feig.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 2 Emmys (2 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 63, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 66 (3), 2010s 61 (5), 2020s 56 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 63 to 63 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 8, Action 3, Fantasy 3, Adventure 2, Drama 2, Romance 2
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,583m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_McCarthy, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229048, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565250/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55536

## Coming up

- *The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey* (2026-12-10), as Patsy Ramsey — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-murder-of-jonbenet-ramsey.md)
- *Margie Claus* (2027-11-04), as Margie Claus (voice)

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Bridesmaids*](https://film.one/film/bridesmaids.md) (82), [*Gilmore Girls*](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md) (81), [*The Little Mermaid*](https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid.md) (58)
- **Netflix:** [*Ghostbusters*](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md) (64)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Hangover Part III*](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-iii.md) (35)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Melissa McCarthy

> Melissa McCarthy can make a coarse joke funnier by refusing the smallest flicker of embarrassment. We rate her highly when a director gives that certainty someone to unsettle, and less when a script merely asks for more noise.

In *Bridesmaids* (2011), Melissa McCarthy's Megan seems to have missed the instruction to feel awkward. Kristen Wiig is all anxious self-consciousness beside her, while McCarthy commits to being coarse without making little apologies for it. We laughed at Megan's lack of embarrassment because McCarthy makes it so complete: she never asks us to excuse her. Paul Feig gives the ensemble room to misbehave, and McCarthy is funny without needing the others to stand back.

The leading roles that followed *Bridesmaids* included *The Heat* (2013) and *Spy* (2015). Her physical comedy and willingness to play forceful, flawed women made that progression understandable. *Can You Ever Forgive Me?* (2018), in which she plays forger Lee Israel, took her into drama. It is an important turn in a career where the invitation to be loud can too easily become an instruction to repeat herself.

McCarthy uses clothes, wigs and props to build characters and find their voices. In *The Little Mermaid* (2023), her Ursula works through the shoulders and painted mouth, played as though she has a nightclub audience to entertain. ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ gives Rob Marshall's murky, overlong remake a welcome stretch of enjoyment. She is not especially frightening, and the performance cannot rescue the film, but her pleasure in the part is a virtue worth keeping.

The danger is repetition: a script can keep asking for the same loud behaviour. We need the people around McCarthy to have something equally definite to do, as Wiig and Rose Byrne do in *Bridesmaids*. Byrne's aggressive civility gives Megan's coarseness another useful contrast, so the joke need not always be that McCarthy is louder. Even there, scenes run too long; letting an ensemble play needs to come with a willingness to stop it. Start with *Bridesmaids*, provided a little comic overindulgence does not put you off.

## Biography

Melissa Ann McCarthy is an American actress, comedian and producer. She began performing stand-up comedy in New York before joining the Groundlings improv troupe in Los Angeles in the late 1990s.

McCarthy first gained recognition for her role as Sookie St. James on the television series *Gilmore Girls* (2000–2007). She starred as Molly Flynn on the sitcom *Mike & Molly* (2010–2016), winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011. Her performance in the film *Bridesmaids* (2011) earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She has appeared in numerous comedies including *The Heat* (2013), *Spy* (2015) and *Ghostbusters* (2016), and received a second Oscar nomination for *Can You Ever Forgive Me?* (2018). In 2023 she played Ursula in the live-action film *The Little Mermaid*.

McCarthy frequently collaborates with her husband, actor and director Ben Falcone, through their production company On the Day Productions.

*Sources: comicbook.com, ew.com, latimes.com, people.com, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

### Performed in (9) — the average rests on these

- *The Little Mermaid* (2023), Fi1m 58, as Ursula — [page](https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid.md)
- *Thor: Love and Thunder* (2022), Fi1m 55, as Actor Hela — [page](https://film.one/film/thor-love-and-thunder.md)
- *Can You Ever Forgive Me?* (2018), Fi1m 84, as Lee Israel — [page](https://film.one/film/can-you-ever-forgive-me.md)
- *Ghostbusters* (2016), Fi1m 64, as Abby Yates — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md)
- *Tammy* (2014), Fi1m 38, as Tammy — [page](https://film.one/film/tammy.md)
- *The Hangover Part III* (2013), Fi1m 35, as Cassie — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-iii.md)
- *Bridesmaids* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Megan — [page](https://film.one/film/bridesmaids.md)
- *Charlie's Angels* (2000), Fi1m 68, as Doris — [page](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels.md)
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), Fi1m 81, as Sookie St. James — [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle* (2003), Fi1m 50, as Bystander (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels-full-throttle.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Margie Claus* (2027), as Margie Claus (voice) · Producer
- *The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey* (2026), series, as Patsy Ramsey · Executive Producer — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-murder-of-jonbenet-ramsey.md)
- *Unfrosted* (2024), as Donna Stankowski
- *Genie* (2023), as Flora · Executive Producer
- *Relighting Candles: The Timothy Sullivan Story* (2023), Executive Producer
- *The Little Mermaid* (2023), as Ursula — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid.md)
- *Thor: Love and Thunder* (2022), as Actor Hela — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/thor-love-and-thunder.md)
- *God's Favorite Idiot* (2022), series, as Amily Luck · Executive Producer
- *The Starling* (2021), as Lilly Maynard
- *Only Murders in the Building* (2021), series, as Doreen — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/only-murders-in-the-building.md)
- *Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed* (2021), Producer
- *Nine Perfect Strangers* (2021), series, as Frances · Executive Producer
- *Thunder Force* (2021), as Lydia Berman · Producer
- *Superintelligence* (2020), as Carol Peters · Producer
- *The Kitchen* (2019), as Kathy Brennan
- *Can You Ever Forgive Me?* (2018), as Lee Israel — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/can-you-ever-forgive-me.md)
- *The Happytime Murders* (2018), as Detective Connie Edwards · Producer
- *Life of the Party* (2018), as Deanna Miles · Producer, Writer
- *The Box* (2018), Director
- *Cook-Off!* (2017), as Amber Strang
- *Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life* (2016), series, as Sookie St. James
- *Ghostbusters* (2016), as Abby Yates — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md)
- *Central Intelligence* (2016), as Darla (uncredited)
- *The Boss* (2016), as Michelle Darnell · Screenplay, Producer
- *Spy* (2015), as Susan Cooper
- *St. Vincent* (2014), as Maggie Bronstein
- *Tammy* (2014), as Tammy · Writer, Producer — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/tammy.md)
- *The Heat* (2013), as Mullins
- *The Hangover Part III* (2013), as Cassie — Fi1m 35, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-iii.md)
- *Identity Thief* (2013), as Diana
- *This Is 40* (2012), as Catherine
- *Bridesmaids* (2011), as Megan — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/bridesmaids.md)
- *Life As We Know It* (2010), as DeeDee
- *Mike & Molly* (2010), series, as Molly Flynn · Director
- *Love and Distrust* (2010), as Tonnie (segment "Auto Motives")
- *The Back-Up Plan* (2010), as Carol
- *The Penguins of Madagascar* (2008), series, as Shelly (voice)
- *Pretty Ugly People* (2008), as Becky
- *Just Add Water* (2008), as Selma
- *Samantha Who?* (2007), series, as Dena
- *Private Practice* (2007), series, as Lynn McDonald
- *The Nines* (2007), as Margaret / Melissa / Mary
- *Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama* (2005), as Amy Hall (voice)
- *Chicken Party* (2003), as Tot Wagner
- *Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle* (2003), as Bystander (uncredited) — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels-full-throttle.md)
- *The Life of David Gale* (2003), as Nico the Goth Girl
- *White Oleander* (2002), as Paramedic
- *Pumpkin* (2002), as Cici Pinkus
- *Kim Possible* (2002), series, as DNAmy (voice), DNAmy / Gorilla Fist (voice)
- *The Third Wheel* (2002), as Marilyn
- *Charlie's Angels* (2000), as Doris — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/charlies-angels.md)
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Saleswoman — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, as Sookie St. James — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *The Kid* (2000), as Sky King Waitress
- *D.C.* (2000), series, Actor
- *Auto Motives* (2000), as Tonnie
- *Drowning Mona* (2000), as Shirley
- *Go* (1999), as Sandra
- *God* (1998), as Margaret
- *The Jenny McCarthy Show* (1997), series, Actor
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Calvin (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Untitled Stanley Cup Project*, Screenplay
- *Miss Nelson Is Missing*, as Miss Nelson/Miss Swamp · Producer
- *Turpentine*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Melissa McCarthy](https://film.one/media/person/17765/gallery-292d5bbf2f4a.jpg) Melissa McCarthy — Image via TMDB
- ![Melissa McCarthy](https://film.one/media/person/17765/gallery-f2f882c024f3.jpg) Melissa McCarthy — Image via TMDB
- ![Melissa McCarthy](https://film.one/media/person/17765/gallery-06db5396c015.jpg) Melissa McCarthy — Image via TMDB
- ![Melissa McCarthy](https://film.one/media/person/17765/gallery-301a87200570.jpg) Melissa McCarthy — Image via TMDB
- ![Melissa McCarthy](https://film.one/media/person/17765/gallery-606c6c3a1ba4.jpg) Melissa McCarthy — Image via TMDB
- ![Melissa McCarthy](https://film.one/media/person/17765/gallery-f714c075030c.jpg) Melissa McCarthy — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 2019: Best Actress (nominated), for *Can You Ever Forgive Me?*
- 2012: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Bridesmaids*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2019: Best Actress in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Can You Ever Forgive Me?*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won

- 2017: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *Saturday Night Live*
- 2011: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *Mike & Molly*

### Other awards — 4 won

- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress 2018: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress (won), for *Life of the Party*
- The Razzie Redeemer Award 2018: The Razzie Redeemer Award (won), for *Can You Ever Forgive Me?*
- MTV Comedic Genius Award 2016: MTV Comedic Genius Award (won)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance 2012: MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance (won), for *Bridesmaids*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/melissa-mccarthy