Melissa McCarthy seemed like she was going to let slide a few mean-spirited comments made by a film critic, until Thursday when she responded in a New York Times profile.

McCarthy's success in Hollywood includes roles in films such as "Bridesmaids," "This is 40," "Identity Thief" and the upcoming "The Heat" (which already has rumors of a sequel). She spent years in supporting roles and playing minor characters before getting top billings in blockbuster comedies and a starring role in a CBS TV show, "Mike and Molly."

The New York Observer's film critic, Rex Reed wrote a review of "Identity Thief" and railed against it. He called the film a "chunk of junk" and "contrived drivel," but he did not stop there. He went on to attack the film's female lead, McCarthy, calling her a "hippo," "tractor-sized" and commented that she "is a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success."

The review was published in February upon the film's release, but it was not until Thursday that McCarthy publicly responded to Reed's comments.

"I felt really bad for someone who is swimming in so much hate," McCarthy told the New York Times. "I just thought, that's someone who's in a really bad spot, and I am in such a happy spot. I laugh my head off every day with my husband and my kids who are mooning me and singing me songs."

The writer of the profile noted that McCarthy's cheerful tone downgraded to a low, somber tone. She said her first reaction was that she wondered why someone would allow those comments to be published.

McCarthy said comments like that would have crushed her when she was 20, but now, with two daughters, she worries about young girls' self-esteem.

"That makes it more true," she said of Reed's body-shaming comments. "It means you don't actually look good enough."

Director of "The Heat," and of "Bridesmaids," Paul Feig said he saw McCarthy's confidence blossom as a performer.

He said she now know "how to shine" like a movie star.

"They know what they want to do and don't want to do, and they know how to take something that isn't in their personality and do it better."

WATCH McCarthy's upcoming film with Sandra Bullock "The Heat."