Emmy-Winning Comedian Shows Off Dramatic Weight Loss on 56th Birthday

Lucy Nicholson / REUTERS Melissa McCarthy is showing off her dramatically slimmed-down figure—and an enormous pair of cherries—as she celebrates turning 56.

The Mike & Molly actress thanked fans for their well wishes in an Instagram video, wearing a comically oversized pair of stone fruit atop her head as she leaned into her latest year with characteristically over-the-top humor.

“Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes last week!! At 56 I’ve decided that subtlety is everything 🍒,” McCarthy captioned the post .

View this post on Instagram Speaking directly to the camera, McCarthy jokingly considered whether her fruity new headpiece should become a permanent fixture.

“I think there’s something about turning 56 when you’re like, ‘Do I wear the cherries in my sleep?’ Yeah, yeah.

OK, I’m wearing the cherries,” she said.

“Cherry on top.” Fans were quick to notice more than the birthday girl’s outrageous accessory.

McCarthy’s noticeably slimmer appearance also attracted praise in the comments.

“YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL!! O HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY,” one person wrote.

The post came months after McCarthy turned heads at the Fashion Trust U.S.

Awards in April, where she showed off her dramatic transformation in a shimmering gold Pucci gown.

The actress embraced ’70s glamour on the red carpet, wearing her hair in a high ponytail and appearing all smiles as she posed in the floor-length dress.

Commenters celebrated McCarthy’s transformation while stressing that her size had never determined her beauty.

“She has always been beautiful.