Melissa McCarthy thanks Lauren Graham for helping her on 'Gilmore Girls'
McCarthy reveals 'Gilmore Girls' was her first steady acting job, and 'pro' Graham showed her the ropes
Published September 25, 2026
Wherever Lauren Graham leads, Melissa McCarthy will follow.
The Gilmore Girls costars had a very special reunion on Wednesday, September 23, as McCarthy was honoured at Variety’s Power of Women, with Graham introducing her longtime pal and presenting her with the award.
“I met Melissa playing her pretend friend on Gilmore Girls. And we got to become friends in real life,” said Graham, who portrayed Lorelai Gilmore on the iconic comedy drama.
Graham went on to describe McCarthy as an “incredibly talented actor” with an “incredible range,” noting her “empathy, intelligence, originality, and an enormous amount of heart” made her an “exceptional performer, a generous philanthropist, and a truly powerful woman.”
The women hugged on stage as McCarthy — who portrayed Lorelai’s best friend Sookie St. James — credited Graham for guiding her during her “very first steady job,” admitting that she always had trouble finding her mark in a scene.
“Lauren was, of course, the star of that show and a real pro. And she could’ve thrown around her power and pointed out my mistakes. But instead, she was incredibly kind and funny and quietly helped me learn the ropes within the scene,” McCarthy said, recalling how Graham would physically guide her to her mark without breaking character.
“I thought she was just affectionate at first,” McCarthy joked. “Lauren was one of my first lessons on how to yield power with grace and with patience, so thank you for that, Lauren.”
McCarthy was among four women receiving the Power of Women 2026 honours, including Jennifer Hudson, Pearlena Igbokwe, and Sharon Stone.
Following the event, Graham, 59, and McCarthy, 56, took to Instagram to commemorate their reunion.
“So happy to stand by @melissamccarthy’s side as she was honored last night at @variety’s Power of Women,” wrote Graham.
Meanwhile, McCarthy gushed, “I’ve been lucky enough to love and hug @laurengraham for almost half my life which feels impossible because we both look exactly the same!! What a gift it’s been. She can still make me laugh and cry hard enough to ruin my mascara. Thank you for last night LG, and all the years in between.”
