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Melissa McCarthy Remembers First Encounter With Joan Rivers: She’s a “Huge Inspiration to Me”

Melissa McCarthy remembers Joan Rivers.
Melissa McCarthy remembered the late Joan Rivers while at a Toronto Film Festival event.

Joan Rivers may be gone, but her legacy lives on. The late comedienne died at age 81 late last week, and scores of A-list funnywomen have spoken out about the impact the Fashion Police star had on their careers. 

Related: PHOTOS: Joan Rivers remembered by friends and costars

One such actress is Mike & Molly star Melissa McCarthy, who spoke about Rivers’ influence at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of her new comedy, St. Vincent, on Friday, Sept. 5. 

“When I was 20, and I came to New York, she was doing a talk show [The Joan Rivers Show], that's who I wanted to see. I just wanted to be in a room with her!” McCarthy, 44, revealed. “She came out after the talk show and answered questions, and she was so nice to me.” 

Related: PHOTOS: Joan Rivers' life and career

It wasn’t just Rivers’ kindness that inspired McCarthy. It was also her fearless on-stage nature and natural charisma. 

“Growing up, the women on SNL and Joan Rivers were the first women I was like, ‘She's up there, she's writing this material, she doesn't care, she's bold,’” the Emmy winner continued. “Her attitude was, ‘I’m going to say what I want, and if you don't like it, too damn bad.’ It stuck with me. I knew even as a little kid, she's controlling that, those are her thoughts, and she's doing what she loves. Joan is a huge inspiration to me.”

Related: PHOTOS: Joan Rivers' fashion disasters critiqued

McCarthy costars with comedy legend Bill Murray in the already buzzed-about St. Vincent, and has also drawn inspiration from him. 

“He was in my very short list of people that I never thought I'd get a chance to work with, and I had such a nice time doing it,” she dished. “Bill is the funniest person ever, I freaked out everyday on set. It was a dream come true.”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity deaths in 2014

St. Vincent also stars Naomi Watts, Chris O’Dowd, and Terrence Howard and hits theaters nationwide on Oct. 24. 

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