Melissa McCarthy Joins Star-Studded Lineup for Variety’s Power of Women Honors

Laura Bais
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Melissa McCarthy has spent nearly two decades navigating between raunchy comedies and deeply moving dramatic roles, earning an Oscar nomination and an Emmy win along the way. Now, she is adding a new form of recognition to her impressive resume, one that transcends box office figures and awards buzz.

Variety has unveiled a stunning portrait of McCarthy, captured by photographer Ramona Rosales, featuring the actress in a cream lace gown with a striking burgundy ruffled train for the cover. A second image showcases her in a wide-brimmed hat and coordinating lace outfit. These portraits celebrate her inclusion in Variety’s 2026 Power of Women issue, an annual feature that highlights women making significant impacts both on-screen and through their philanthropic efforts.

Variety has confirmed McCarthy as one of four honorees at this year’s Los Angeles event, joining the ranks of Jennifer Hudson, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming chairman Pearlena Igbokwe, and Sharon Stone. The ceremony is scheduled for September 23 in Beverly Hills, with Iliza Shlesinger returning as host and Paige DeSorbo receiving the outlet’s Courage Award.

McCarthy’s recognition is largely due to her advocacy work with the Joyful Heart Foundation, which focuses on transforming society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. This cause has been a long-standing commitment for her, as she has publicly supported the foundation’s initiatives in previous charitable campaigns.

The timing aligns with a particularly busy professional period for McCarthy. She is set to take on one of her most dramatically challenging roles yet, portraying Patsy Ramsey opposite Clive Owen’s John Ramsey in Netflix’s ‘The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey,’ a limited series that revisits the unsolved 1996 murder that captivated the nation for nearly three decades.

This project, premiering on December 10, explores how the case “captivated and divided the nation,” tracing the investigation through over 21,000 tips collected throughout the years. McCarthy’s ability to blend her comedic instincts with such a heavy role continues a trend she has embraced since films like ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ demonstrated her capacity to handle serious material as effectively as broad comedy.

Variety’s Power of Women franchise has increasingly become a highly anticipated fall tradition in the industry, expanding this year to include an inaugural London edition that honored Emilia Clarke, Cynthia Erivo, and Hannah Waddingham among others. The Los Angeles ceremony remains the flagship event, and this year’s lineup continues the outlet’s trend of pairing established box office stars with executives who are shaping the industry behind the scenes, as evidenced by Igbokwe’s inclusion alongside three prominent actresses.

For McCarthy, this honor comes at a time when her public persona is evolving in two distinct directions, from glamorous red carpet appearances to a serious true-crime role that is a stark departure from her comedic roots. Regardless of which aspect fans are more excited about, this week’s Beverly Hills ceremony will highlight her advocacy work rather than her filmography.

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