By Marta Jary For Daily Mail Australia
08:59 21 May 2023, updated 09:08 21 May 2023
Melissa McCarthy has become quite fond of Australia after spending time Down Under filming the Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers in Byron Bay.
And she was back in town this week, ahead of The Little Mermaid premiere in Sydney on Monday night.
The Bridesmaids actress was looking chic in a boho ensemble as she headed to lunch at The Butler in Potts Point.
The 52-year-old wore a ruffled maxi dress in a snake print which she cinched in at the waist with a wide, black leather belt.
She kept things casual with a pair of black and white sneakers and added a pair of designer sunglasses.
Melissa added to her accessories with a pair of petite hoop earrings and carried a tan envelope clutch.
For makeup, she opted for a clean look with a slick of pale gloss, while pulling her brunette locks off her face in a sleek do.
She recently shared her dream of moving to Australia permanently, after temporarily relocating Down Under to film two television shows during the Covid pandemic.
The Life of the Party star also named her favourite Australian destination – Byron Bay.
The American actress is an ambassador for Booking.com and is currently promoting the website’s Travel Sustainable badge, an award given to environmentally conscious hotels.
‘My favourite travel destinations have given me so many wonderful memories, especially the time spent with family and friends immersing ourselves in the local culture,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘So I am a huge advocate for ensuring we preserve these special destinations (and all destinations) so that we continue to have a world worth exploring,’ she added.
The Hollywood star also shared some recommendations for her favourite places to stay in Byron Bay, including Cape Beach House, Cape Byron Retreat, and Buhwi Bira Byron Bay.
Back in March 2021, Melissa told InStyle Magazine she’d fallen in love with Australia after filming Nicole Kidman’s hit Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers in Byron Bay.
‘I am connected to Australia in a way that I didn’t anticipate. I could very easily live here for the rest of my life. I’m in love with it,’ she said at the time.
‘Everyone is so chatty. I’m a Midwestern gal who lives in L.A., where no one wants to talk to you. And here I’ll be in the grocery store, and I can’t go down a single aisle without talking to somebody. It’s wonderful,’ she added.
Melissa also spent time in Byron Bay, Ballina and Lismore filming her new Netflix series God’s Favorite Idiot in early 2021.