Melissa McCarthy
Actress in 'Bridesmaids,' 'Spy,' Academy Award nominee
Melissa Ann McCarthy (born August 26, 1975) is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and film producer who has become one of the most prominent comedic actresses of the 21st century. Born in Plainfield, Illinois, McCarthy studied drama at Illinois State University before pursuing acting in Los Angeles. She gained initial recognition through television roles, including a memorable stint on the ABC sitcom 'Gilmore Girls' and recurring roles on other shows. Her breakout film role came in 2011 with 'Bridesmaids,' where her performance as Megan earned her an Academy Award nomination and widespread critical acclaim. Since then, she has demonstrated remarkable range, successfully transitioning between broad comedy ('Tammy,' 'The Heat') and more dramatic roles ('Can You Ever Forgive Me?'), earning multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. McCarthy has collaborated extensively with director Paul Feig and has also worked as a screenwriter and producer on various projects. Beyond acting, she has established herself as a businesswoman with a successful clothing line and continues to select challenging, diverse roles that often subvert expectations about body representation in Hollywood.
Entertainment
American
1975
Thinking about the name
Mellisa
Greek origin
“A respelled variant of Melissa, from the Greek melissa, meaning 'honey bee.' The double-l softens the original while the -a ending maintains the classic feminine form. Mellisa was particularly popular in the 1980s-90s as parents personalized the already-common Melissa with fresh spellings.”