Granny Would Be Proud! A Century Ago, a Cork Couple Called Carty Sailed to the New World. Now That Couple's Grand-Daughterr, Actress Melissa a McCarthy, Is a Star. and the Carty Family's American Dream Am Has Come True!

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Byline: by Patricia Danaher

THERE is no doubt that Melissa McCarthy is not your typical Hollywood superstar. By her own admission, she doesn't look it and, despite arriving at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills with a sizeable entourage, she certainly doesn't act it.

At 42 and with many accolades at her feet, the star of sitcom Mike & Molly and movie Bridesmaids retains that actor's anxiety that it could all vanish as suddenly as it arrived.

Having finally broken through to the big time in the past few years, she admits that, along with her close friend, The Help's Octavia Spencer, she regularly pinches herself to make sure she's not dreaming.

'It's just a crazy thing,' she says.

'We've both struggled for over two decades and to have had such a fun, wild year has just been amazing for both of us.

'We're occasionally a little dumbfounded at what's happening. We're secure for about a minute and a half and then that goes away and we're panicking and wondering if we'll ever work again.' What at first was hailed as overnight success was actually 22 years in the making for the Chicago-born actress, who was nominated for an Oscar …