Melissa McCarthy Explains Juggling Her TV and Film Careers With Being a Mom (Video)

“We travel like a big, weird tribe,” the “Tammy” star says of bringing her husband and daughters with her on film shoots

Starring in a hit television series along with maintaining a growing film career sounds daunting enough, but Melissa McCarthy is also juggling a family life. On Tuesday night, David Letterman had to know how she’s pulling it off.

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The 43-year-old comedienne broke through on both the big and small screens at virtually the same time. She started to gain attention with her work on the CBS sitcom “Mike & Molly,” but it was her performance in 2011’s “Bridesmaids” that made her a national star.

Since that time, “Mike & Molly” has become a solid hit for CBS, while McCarthy’s movie career has taken off, with films like “The Heat” and the upcoming “Tammy.” Add to the mix her husband and two daughters, born in 2007 and 2010, and it becomes an almost Herculean task that McCarthy is somehow managing with a smile and a laugh.

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When Letterman asked her how she can do both her TV show and film all those movies, McCarthy answered plainly enough, “Just don’t sleep.”

She said that she and her husband, Ben Falcone, made a decision with two small children at home. “Let’s just stop whining about it,” they decided. “We’re not gonna sleep, so shut it.”

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“We travel like a big, weird tribe,” McCarthy said, explaining how she was able to maintain her schedule while still spending time with her family. “We’re carnies. We go everywhere together.”

Another trick is to co-write your film projects with your husband, as McCarthy did with “Tammy.” Falcone also directed, with the couple co-producing the film with Will Ferrell. “Tammy” hits theaters on July 2.

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It’s a grueling schedule, but McCarthy seems to genuinely be enjoying every minute of it. Her Hollywood star has never been brighter, and she’s definitely taking advantage of the opportunities coming her way while it is.

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