After her outburst towards a journalist last year over her appearance in 'Tammy', Melissa McCarthy has earned new respect from her work on 'Spy', giving her a new platform to speak from.
With her new movie 'Spy' already proving to be a huge hit with both critics and audiences, Melissa McCarthy has been able to open up about some serious issues she sees in Hollywood. And as a victim of discrimination both as a woman and as a plus-size actress, she has a lot to say.
Melissa McCarthy in 'Spy'
Describing Hollywood sexism as an "intense sickness", she finally snapped when a journalist criticised her appearance in last summer's 'Tammy'. "It was kind of, 'How dare women not look beautiful, perfect and attractive in a movie'," McCarthy says. "But I put a lot of time and effort into having Tammy not look like she cared about herself, that was part of how I felt she felt on the inside."
More: Read Our Review Of 'Spy'
She goes on to explain, "When John C. Reilly, or any actor, is playing a character that is depressed and dejected, would you say, 'Well, you look terrible'? I think it's a bad habit that we've gotten into. It's not that people are malicious, but that it's too easy to take a swipe. I just think we tear down women in this country for all of these superficial reasons."
Watch The Trailer For 'Spy' Here:
McCarthy is working on her own plus-size line of clothing, and says she no longer cares about having the perfect Hollywood body. "I could eat healthier, I could drink less and work out more," she says. "I should also be learning another language! But I'm just always saying, 'Ah, I could get hit by a bus tomorrow.' So who cares if my eyes are puffy because I ate 44 almonds last night? Or my legs are short? To my core, I don't care. I've let go of that quest for perfection."
More: 'Spy' Is Melissa McCarthy's Big Break Out
And that's the secret, she says. "Now I feel amazing. I finally said, 'Oh for God's sake stop worrying about it,' and it may be the best thing I've ever done."
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