Oscar-nominated Melissa McCarthy will receive this year’s CinemaCon Cinema Vérité Award, the convention’s managing director Mitch Neuhauser has announced. CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, will be held April 24-27 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
McCarthy will be presented with the special honor at the Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony taking place on the evening of April 27, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and hosted by official presenting sponsor The Coca-Cola Company.
“Melissa McCarthy has had audiences around the world howling in the theaters with such unforgettable performances in films like Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy and has left them on the edge of their seats with her memorable roles in Can You Ever Forgive Me? and St. Vincent to name just a few,” said Neuhauser. “Her upcoming turn in the iconic role of Ursula is sure to entertain audiences across the globe and we couldn’t be more honored to present her with this year’s CinemaCon Cinema Vérité Award.”
McCarthy can be seen next month in The Little Mermaid, from visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall. The live-action reimagining of the studio’s Oscar-winning animated musical classic opens exclusively in theaters nationwide May 26. The beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure, stars singer and actress Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, and Oscar winner Javier Bardem as King Triton. The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, with new lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
McCarthy first made her mark on the comedy stage performing stand-up in New York and received dramatic training from The Actors Studio. She then spent nine years as a main-stage member of The Groundlings in Los Angeles. Her standout role as Megan in the smash hit comedy Bridesmaids garnered her Oscar BAFTA, Critics Choice, and SAG Award nominations.
She received a second Academy Award nomination for her outstanding work in Can You Ever Forgive Me?.McCarthy’s extensive list of film credits include Superintelligence, The Kitchen, Life of the Party, The Boss, Ghostbusters, St. Vincent, Tammy, The Heat, Identity Thief and This is 40. On television, she has earned Emmy Awards for her work on Mike & Molly and Saturday Night Live, which she has hosted many times. She is currently shooting Richard Curtis’ untitled New York Christmas comedy movie and recently wrapped production on Jerry Seinfeld’s Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story.
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