HELL’S BELLES

Think the Irish mobsters of

1970s NYC sound scary?

Meet their wives. In The Kitchen

(Aug. 9), Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish and Elisabeth Moss play a power trio who take over their husbands’ crime operation “and do it better,” says McCarthy. Her character, Kathy, “has always been the daughter, the wife and the mom,” she tells Us, “and now she’s created herself into a boss.” The Emmy winner, 48, takes us into

The Kitchen.

Q: What was the vibe like on set?

I hadn’t met Tiffany or Elisabeth before this. I was a big fan of both, so

when the threesome came together, I was like, “Oh, my God. That seems just like a fun day at work.” And it was! It wasn’t the most serious set, in a delightful way, even though we were doing brutal things. They’re both really funny.

Q: Why did this story draw you in?

It’s always nice when you can surprise an audience and turn them off of what they expect. It’s the fun of storytelling! Q: What do you love about Kathy? Her drive. She wants to be in a position of power. I think she’s been pushed down and pushed back her whole life. [I love] how smart she is and she’s finally getting to prove it. She’s running the business better than the guys ever did.