Editing Melissa McCarthy (section)

===1997–2010: Early work and ''Gilmore Girls''===
McCarthy made her first television appearance in an episode of the NBC comedy series ''[[Jenny (TV series)|Jenny]]'', opposite her cousin [[Jenny McCarthy]]. She made her feature film debut in a minor role in the 1999 comedy ''[[Go (1999 film)|Go]]'', and later had roles in the films ''[[Drowning Mona]]'', ''[[Disney's The Kid]]'', ''[[Charlie's Angels (2000 film)|Charlie's Angels]]'', ''[[Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle]]'', ''[[The Third Wheel (film)|The Third Wheel]]'' and ''[[The Life of David Gale]]''. She also worked in three episodes of ''[[Kim Possible]]'', voicing [[DNAmy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Voice Dnamy|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Kim-Possible/DNAmy/|publisher=Behind The Voice Actors|access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref> In 2000, McCarthy was cast as [[Sookie St.&nbsp;James]], the upbeat and klutzy best friend of [[Lorelai Gilmore]], on [[The WB Television Network|The&nbsp;WB]] television series ''[[Gilmore Girls]]''. Throughout the series, Sookie is Lorelai's business partner and cheerleader.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The New Classics: TV |url= https://ew.com/article/2007/06/18/new-classics-tv/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=October 2, 2019 |date=June 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828204024/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20207076_20207387_20207339%2C00.html |archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref> On April 7, 2016, McCarthy announced on ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' that she would be returning for the show's revival, ''[[Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life]]'', on Netflix.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/08/entertainment/melissa-mccarthy-gilmore-girls-feat/|title=Melissa McCarthy is joining 'Gilmore Girls' revival|last=Griggs|first=Brandon|date=April 8, 2016|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=April 10, 2016}}</ref> The series was released November 25, 2016 and McCarthy appeared in one of its four episodes.

In 2007, she starred opposite [[Ryan Reynolds]] in the science fantasy psychological thriller ''[[The Nines]]'', written and directed by [[John August]]. She later starred in the independent comedies ''The Captain'', ''[[Just Add Water (film)|Just Add Water]]'', and ''[[Pretty Ugly People]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pretty-ugly-people/|title=Pretty Ugly People|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=November 18, 2013}}</ref> Also in 2007, McCarthy starred as [[List of Samantha Who? characters|Dena Stevens]] on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sitcom ''[[Samantha Who?]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3if936a822f71d2fef8d32e57e6939774b|title='Samantha' gets full-season pickup|access-date=October 30, 2007|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=October 31, 2007|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904215752/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3if936a822f71d2fef8d32e57e6939774b|archive-date=September 4, 2008 }}</ref> McCarthy played Samantha's socially awkward childhood best friend, whom Samantha hasn't seen since seventh grade. When Samantha wakes from her coma, Dena convinces Samantha that they have always been best friends. While Andrea eventually forces her to reveal the truth, Samantha still remains friends with Dena.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Brian Ford|title=ABC Adds 10 Newcomers, Renews 'Notes,' 'Road'|publisher=The Futon Critic|date=May 11, 2007|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7381|access-date=June 13, 2007}}</ref> She guest starred in ''[[Rita Rocks]]'' and on ''[[Private Practice (TV series)|Private Practice]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Barrett|first=Annie|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/11/16/private-practice-perfect-for-melissa-mccarthy/|title=Exclusive: 'Private Practice' makes perfect with 'Gilmore' girl Melissa McCarthy|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=November 16, 2009|access-date=November 18, 2013}}</ref> In 2010, McCarthy played supporting roles in films ''[[The Back-up Plan]]'' and ''[[Life as We Know It (film)|Life as We Know It]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Melissa McCarthy: Did You Know She Was In...? Before ''Bridesmaids'', the ''Spy'' star had popped up in some odd places on the big screen|url=https://www.ew.com/gallery/melissa-mccarthy-obscure-movie-roles/2195263_back-plan-2010|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref>