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Melissa McCarthy has been playing the character Michelle Darnell for years now, ever since she created the abrasive business mogul back in her improv days. This weekend, Michelle is finally getting her big screen debut in The Boss. Directed by McCarthy’s husband and frequent collaborator Ben Falcone from a script they wrote with fellow Groundlings alum Steve Mallory, the raunchy comedy follows McCarthy’s ruthless titan of industry on her path to redemption after she’s sent to prison for insider trading, losing her empire in the process. In the film, Kristen Bell co-stars as Claire, Michelle's former assistant, who takes in her former boss when she emerges from prison with a tarnished brand and not a penny to her name. Together, the two set out to build a new empire and get up to some pretty ridiculous antics in the process.

I recently sat down with Bell to chat about The Boss and how much fun she had acting out those antics on set. We also talked about what it's like playing straight man to Melissa McCarthy, what makes McCarthy such a wonderful co-star, trying to keep a straight face during the absurd moments, "slappin' those titties around," and more. She also gave a brief update on the staus of Frozen 2 and when she's heading back into the recording studio. Check it out in the video above.


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Image via Universal Pictures

Here’s the official synopsis for The Boss:

Academy Award®-nominated star Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Tammy) headlines The Boss as a titan of industry who is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading.  When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.

 

McCarthy is joined in The Boss by an all-star cast led by Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates.  Directed by Ben Falcone (Tammy), the comedy is based on an original character created by McCarthy and written by McCarthy and Falcone alongside their Groundlings collaborator, Steve Mallory.  The film is produced by McCarthy and Falcone through their On the Day productions and Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy through their Gary Sanchez Productions.

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Image via Universal Pictures

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Image via Universal Pictures

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