▲Melissa Ann McCarthy was born on August 26, 1970 in Plainfield, Illinois to Sandra and Michael McCarthy.

▲Playing against type, the actress and co-star Richard E. Grant earned nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the British Academy Film Awards.

▲McCarthy bounced back with this brooding tour de force based on the memoir of notorious literary forger Lee Israel.

▲The actress clutches her awards for Favorite Comedic Movie Actress and Favorite Comedic TV Actress.

▲McCarthy's foray into black comedy wasn't very happy at all. The film was set in a world where puppets and humans co-exist—and it was developed by The Jim Henson Company of Muppets fame! But it was panned by critics, and audiences stayed away.

▲

McCarthy has two daughters with Ben Falcone. Vivian was born on May 5, 2007 and Georgette on March 22, 2010.

▲'Gilmore Girls' ran for seven years, during which McCarthy appeared in several movies including 'The Nines' opposite Ryan Reynolds. A science fiction psychological thriller, it marked an early dramatic role for the comedian.

▲While critics gave the film moderately positive reviews overall, mainly due to the comedic chemistry among the cast, it ended up being one of the biggest box-office bombs in history. Many said that the film couldn't quite live up to the original.

▲McCarthy's star shining bright in Tinseltown.

▲

Following 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' was always going to be difficult, and the half-baked action crime thriller 'The Kitchen' simmered rather than boiled.

▲Pairing veteran comedy actor Bill Murray with Melissa McCarthy proved fruitful. Critics generally liked this sharply observed comedy-drama, and it garnered a string of accolades. It also saw a healthy return at the box office.

▲A little known fact about Melissa McCarthy is that she originally studied textiles at university with an eye on a career in fashion. In 2015, she revisited that early ambition by launching her first clothing collection, Melissa McCarthy Seven7.

▲Another movie directed by hubby Ben Falcone, this effort failed to see McCarthy fully take charge of her role and the film failed to impress critics. However, it managed to see a modest return at the box office.

▲The film was a critical and commercial success, and was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for McCarthy.

▲McCarthy's next film after 'St. Vincent' was this spy caper, which tells the story of the life of a secret agent, Susan Cooper (McCarthy), trying to trace a stolen portable nuclear device.

▲Slick direction from Paul Feig (who directed 'Bridesmaids,' and has worked with McCarthy on several occasions) drew out fine performances from the actress and co-stars Rose Byrne, Jude Law, and a surprisingly funny Jason Statham, better known for his hard man roles.

▲

McCarthy married actor, comedian, and filmmaker Ben Falcone in 2005. Falcone is also an alumnus of The Groundlings.

▲This hilarious flick was a huge success. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy among other accolades, and McCarthy picked up an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

▲This buddy cop action movie, which teamed McCarthy up with Sandra Bullock, was a step up from her previous film, scoring overall positive reviews and setting the box office alight.

▲It was a memorable tenure. McCarthy excelled in the 'SNL' hot seat and was nominated five times for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her appearances on the iconic program, winning in 2017.

▲McCarthy's talent was quickly recognized. She made her first television appearance in a 1997 episode of the NBC comedy series 'Jenny.' In 1999, McCarthy made her feature film debut in the comedy 'Go.' But it was her role as Sookie St. James in the TV series 'Gilmore Girls' that caught the imagination of a wider public.

▲McCarthy and co-star Billy Gardell portray Mike and Molly, a couple who meet in a Chicago Overeaters Anonymous group and fall in love. McCarthy won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role as Molly.

▲A beaming Melissa McCarthy holds her Emmy award for best comedy actress for her role in 'Mike & Molly.'

▲In 2015, Melissa McCarthy was included on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She's pictured with 'Mike & Molly' cast members celebrating the occasion.

▲Her career started with stand-up comedy at The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe located on Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. She later relocated to New York City to hone her craft.

▲

The actress teamed up with Sunrise Brands to manufacture and promote plus-size apparel for women. In a 2015 interview she remarked that "there's a big thing missing where you can't dress to your mood above a certain number."

▲

Critics fell over themselves in their praise for McCarthy. Film Journal International said McCarthy's performance was "stunning;" IndieWire noted that McCarthy's performance "elevates the material at every opportunity."

▲Time magazine named Melissa McCarthy as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016.

▲Directed and co-written by McCarthy's husband, Ben Falcone, 'Tammy' unfortunately earned the actress and co-star Susan Sarandon Razzie nominations for Worst Actress and Worst Supporting Actress, respectively. Again though, the box office overflowed with dollars.

▲

In this Hulu mini series, McCarthy costarred with other A-listers like Nicole Kidman, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Regina Hall, and, once again, Bobby Cannavale.

▲

At the same time as hosting 'SNL,' the busy comedian maintained a hectic movie schedule. Unfortunately, however, her film 'Identity Thief' failed to impress critics, though it did gross over US$174 million worldwide on a US$35 million budget.

▲

This comedy joins longtime friends Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as old-pals-turned-superheroes. Unfortunately, they couldn't best the critics or audiences, and reviews were generally negative.

▲

In this comedy, McCarthy plays the most average human in the world, and is picked by an A.I. entity (voiced by James Corden) to save the planet. Bobby Cannavale, who's worked with McCarthy on several occasions, plays her love interest in the film. The movie received mixed reviews, but McCarthy's performance was praised.

▲

By now one of Hollywood's most dependable comics, the actress revisited television as host of 'Saturday Night Live.'

▲

One of the funniest comedy actors working in Hollywood today, Melissa McCarthy is a recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards and has received nominations for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes Awards. She is one of the highest-paid actresses on the planet, and also has her own fashion line created specially for plus-size women.

In this gallery, catch up with the life and career of this extraordinary talent. Click on for more.

▲

In this Netflix comedy series, Ben Falcone stars as an average man who has been chosen by God as his messenger, powers and all. McCarthy plays his partner in more ways than one.

▲

This film stars Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd as grief-stricken parents who deal with the loss of their child in their own unique ways. Kevin Kline costars as a veterinarian who helps McCarthy's character with a pesky Starling, and a lot more.