Funny girl Melissa McCarthy is speaking out about her weight and feeling comfortable in her own skin.
Recently, McCarthy was criticized for her weight by film critic Rex Reed who referred to the actress as “tractor sized.” While McCarthy responded to his hurtful comments then, The Celebrity Cafe reported, she has since expanded her comments about her body in an interview with More Magazine .
"I've been every size in the world,” McCarthy said. "Parts of my twenties, I was in great shape, but I didn't appreciate it. If I was a 6 or an 8, I thought, 'Why aren't I a 2 or a 4'?”
The happily married comedian says letters from fans who are not a size 2 or 4 encourage her to feel content with her physical form. McCarthy says hopes to inspire a more open-minded Hollywood and open the doors for aspiring plus-size actresses.
"The letters I really love are from young actresses who were worried they had to fit a certain look," she tells the magazine. "They say I've opened it up. And I don't just mean plus-size girls. You can push things now. With all the great performances in 'Bridesmaids,' it changed how people see funny women."
McCarthy is currently promoting The Heat , a summer comedy about two mismatched FBI agents and co-stars Sandra Bullock. Though the mother of two shines in comedic roles, she says she hopes more complex characters are in her future.
“I did not want to play two dingbats who suck at their jobs,” Melissa says of the film. As reported by The Daily Mail . “I'd rather watch a character be good at something and be challenged -- there's more to play in that.”
The Heat opens June 28.
Image: NBC