‘Only Murders in the Building’ Star Melissa McCarthy Joins Star-Studded Lineup for Variety’s Power of Women Honors

Melissa McCarthy has spent the better part of two decades bouncing between raunchy comedy and quietly devastating dramatic turns, earning an Oscar nomination and an Emmy win along the way. Now she’s adding another kind of recognition to that resume, one that has nothing to do with box office numbers or awards-season buzz.

Variety shared a striking new portrait of McCarthy shot by photographer Ramona Rosales, showing the actress in a cream lace gown with a dramatic burgundy ruffled train for the cover, alongside a second shot in a wide-brimmed hat and matching lace look. The images mark her inclusion in Variety’s 2026 Power of Women issue, an annual franchise that spotlights women making an impact both on-screen and through philanthropic work.

Melissa McCarthy photographed by Ramona Rosales for Variety’s Power of Women issue pic.twitter.com/m3b6PZ1CqL

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 21, 2026

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

Today's Power of Women cover story:

Melissa McCarthy on Getting Serious for 'JonBenét Ramsey,' the Psychiatrist on Set and Hollywood's 'Bulls—' Excuse for Why Comedies Don't Work Anymorehttps://t.co/LnVtIYSnBj pic.twitter.com/EnXcIKnsEI

— Variety (@Variety) September 21, 2026

McCarthy’s honor centers on her advocacy work with the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization focused on transforming society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. It’s a cause she’s championed publicly for years, previously spotlighting the foundation’s work during past charitable campaigns well before this latest recognition.

The timing lines up with a notably busy stretch professionally as well. McCarthy is headed into one of her more dramatically demanding roles yet, playing Patsy Ramsey opposite Clive Owen’s John Ramsey in Netflix’s ‘The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey,’ a limited series revisiting the unsolved 1996 killing that gripped the country for nearly three decades.

That project, premiering December 10, digs into how the case “captivated and divided the nation,” tracing the investigation across more than 21,000 tips collected over the years. Pairing McCarthy’s comedic instincts with a role this heavy continues a pattern she’s leaned into since films like ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ proved she could carry serious material just as convincingly as broad comedy.

Variety’s Power of Women franchise has increasingly become one of the industry’s more closely watched fall traditions, expanding this year to include an inaugural London edition earlier in 2026 that honored Emilia Clarke, Cynthia Erivo and Hannah Waddingham among others. The Los Angeles ceremony remains the flagship version of the event, and this year’s lineup continues the outlet’s pattern of pairing established box office names with executives shaping the industry from behind the scenes, as Igbokwe’s inclusion alongside three prominent actresses shows.

For McCarthy, the honor arrives at a moment where her public image continues to stretch in two very different directions at once, from splashy red carpet portraits like these to a true-crime role that’s about as far from comedy as she’s ever gone. Whichever side fans are more excited about, this week’s Beverly Hills ceremony puts her advocacy work front and center rather than her filmography.

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