McCarthy Learns of Emmy Nod While Announcing Nominees

Plainfield native Melissa McCarthy received her first Emmy nomination today for her role as a teacher who finds love with a Chicago cop on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly.

The actress learned of her nod while announcing the 2011 Primetime Emmy nominations in Los Angeles with Joshua Jackson, one of the stars of the Fox drama Fringe.

The announcement came near the end of the list, and clearly caught McCarthy by surprise.

"Oh, my god, yikes," she said, as she immediately had to announce another list of nominees. "OK, keep it together."

McCarthy is nominated in the best actress in a comedy series, along with Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (Showtime), Tina Fey, 30 Rock(NBC), Laura Linney, The Big C(Showtime), Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope(Fox) and Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation (NBC).

McCarthy, 40, was born and raised in Plainfield, where her parents still live. She attended St. Mary Immaculate School (then known as St. Mary's Academy) and Joliet Catholic Academy.

She started her career as a standup comic but found acting success on television in Gilmore Girls and What About Samantha? She's also done several movies, most recently starring in Bridesmaids.

When last year, McCarthy said her inspiration for her role as Molly came from a teacher she had at St. Mary's named Lynne Breen (now Lynne Mau).

The 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards will be aired Sept. 18 on Fox.

Click here for a complete list of the nominees.

Click here to watch McCarthy and Jackson announce the nominations.