Melissa McCarthy has become a giant movie star on the backs of her hilarious characters. There's the intense Megan Price in Bridesmaids, the titular character in Tammy, and the deceptively capable Susan Cooper in Spy. But without a doubt, the comedian's most outrageous portrayal has to be that of billionaire businesswoman Michelle Darnell in 2016's The Boss . And even though it's the most recent character McCarthy's played on screen, Michelle has actually been with her for over a decade.
McCarthy's career began as a member of the famed Los Angeles improvisational troupe The Groundlings, which is where many other stars like Will Ferrell, Phil Hartman, Lisa Kudrow, and Kristen Wiig got their starts as well. It was at this theater, in the early 2000s, where McCarthy first created the character of Michelle Darnell, and she still considers her to be the favorite character she's ever done. A cross between a financial expert and a motivational speaker, with a wild wardrobe thrown in for good measure, Michelle is definitely one of a kind. And for fans who weren't fortunate enough to see the early days of the character back on the Groundlings stage a decade ago, today is your lucky day. Some rare footage of McCarthy performing as Darnell at the Groundlings Theatre early in her comedy career is included as a special feature on the film's home release, and Bustle has obtained an exclusive preview clip.
Fans of The Boss will note that Michelle was quite fully formed even early on, as McCarthy is completely in character — hairstyle and all — in the clip. She gives tips to the audience about their finances, which includes advice about suing good samaritans and tricking your clients into trusting you, and also displays some of the trademark physical humor that Melissa McCarthy is known for. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that "See you in court, sucker" needs to be put on a T-shirt ASAP.
So check out the clip above, and be sure to grab The Boss on Digital HD on July 12 and Blu-ray/DVD on July 26 to see what other goodies are in store.
Images: Universal Pictures
