Claim: The television series Gilmore Girls is how Melissa McCarthy first gained nationwide recognition.

Melissa Ann McCarthy -LRB- born August 26 , 1970 -RRB- is an American actress , comedian , writer , fashion designer and producer . She began appearing in television and films in the late 1990s , and first gained nationwide recognition for her role as Sookie St. James on the television series Gilmore Girls -LRB- 2000 -- 2007 -RRB- .   From 2007 to 2009 , she appeared as Dena on the ABC sitcom Samantha Who ? . McCarthy was then cast as Molly Flynn on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly -LRB- 2010 -- 2016 -RRB- , earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series as well as two other nominations during subsequent seasons . She has also been nominated four times -LRB- in 2012 , 2013 , 2014 and 2016 -RRB- for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her five appearances as host on Saturday Night Live .   McCarthy achieved recognition as Megan Price in the comedy film Bridesmaids -LRB- 2011 -RRB- , which garnered her award nominations including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress , a BAFTA nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress . In 2013 , she co-starred in the comedy films Identity Thief and The Heat . She appeared in supporting roles in The Nines -LRB- 2007 -RRB- , The Back-up Plan -LRB- 2010 -RRB- , Life as We Know It -LRB- 2010 -RRB- , This Is 40 -LRB- 2012 -RRB- and The Hangover Part III -LRB- 2013 -RRB- . In 2014 , McCarthy starred in the comedy Tammy and the comedy-drama film St. Vincent . In 2015 , she headlined the action comedy film Spy , for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress -- Motion Picture Comedy or Musical nomination . In 2016 , she starred in the comedy films The Boss and Ghostbusters . In 2017 she played White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in several episodes of Saturday Night Live .   McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone founded the production company , On the Day Productions . In 2015 , she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and released women 's plus size clothing collection . Also in 2015 , Forbes named McCarthy the third highest-paid actress in the world that year . In 2016 , Forbes named her the world 's second highest-paid actress , earning $ 33 million .