In a preview of Michigan Avenue magazine's winter issue, Melissa McCarthy opens up about working with New York native Jason Bateman in the upcoming comedy Identity Thief. The move is set for nationwide release on February 8. The hilarious actress discussed everything from motherhood to winning an Emmy for Mike & Molly.
Jason Bateman was born in New York and moved to Salt Lake City then California as a child. Melissa McCarthy talked to Michigan Avenue about filming her first major starring role in Identity Thief with Jason. She says she was crazy about him and Jason was as smart and funny as she always hoped he would be. It was hot filming in Atlanta but they had a lot of fun. Melissa comments, “Other than destroying a lot of takes by just blatantly laughing, it was kind of a dream job.”
In Identity Thief, Melissa did her own stunts. From fist fights to hitting Jason Batemen with a car, she got to do it all. She questioned who else actually gets to beat up their co-star. According to Melissa, “I love doing my own stunts, so other than constantly hurting myself, it was really fun.” She also had a good time transforming into the character in the film. Melissa enjoyed being the bad guy who steals identities. She did try to figure out what was redeemable in the person and how she justified destroying lives.
Besides her starring role in Identity Thief, Melissa is also a star at home. As a mother, she refers to the role as “extreme everything.” She says it is tiring and overwhelming in a good way when a crazy creature shows up and you can't imagine or remember what life what like prior to that. She feels all the nuttiness and noise somehow makes it better. Melissa has also done away with sleep because you just don't sleep when you have two kids. The bigger they get, the funnier and weirder they get as their true personalities are revealed. Melissa admits, “And they just surprise me everyday. There's nothing quite like it.”
As Melissa balances being a star and a mother, she also won an Emmy for Mike & Molly. She still can't quite believe it and felt it was surreal to be there. After trying for so many years to get a job, she landed something she actually liked and people also seemed to like it. Melissa thought it was too much to get all of that and win an Emmy for it, too.
This funny actress was also nominated for an Oscar for her role in Bridesmaids. Ben was sitting in front of the TV as Melissa walked through the house because the baby was up. The nominations were announced and they said her name. It was more than she could take until Octavia Spencer, a dear friend, was nominated. Ben asked what else just happened and it took her awhile to connect the dots. Then she went completely nuts and referred to the process of the Oscars as “mind-blowing. It really shook my whole life.”
Fans of Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman are looking forward to the release of Identity Thief on February 8. To find out more about Melissa McCarthy and her upcoming movie visit Michigan Avenue magazine online. The winter edition is also on newsstands right now.
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