Melissa Rivers: Mark Wahlberg Is Boston’s Most Stylish Star

Melissa Rivers Photo by Evans Vestal Ward / NBCUniversal

Melissa Rivers, daughter of the late Joan Rivers, is coming to Boston on Monday to speak at the annual Pomegranate Society and Friends event.

Hosted by the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the sold-out evening will include an in-depth discussion with Rivers, who plans to open up about her family, growing up in Hollywood, and how her famous mother left an impact on her life.

The last time the Fashion Police co-host was in the Bay State, she got a chance to play her mother in David O’Russell’s Joy, which starred Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Bradley Cooper.

Before she comes back to town, we got to chat with Rivers about filming in Boston, why she thinks Mark Wahlberg is the city’s most stylish star, and more.

How excited are you to be coming back to town? Do you have any favorite Boston memories?

I love Boston! Great city. I went to school in Philadelphia, I went to [the University of Pennsylvania], and I had a ton of friends who went to all the different schools in Boston. You know, you’re typical sort of Boston experiences through the years. But I do, I love Boston.

You got to play your mother in David O’Russell’s Joy, which filmed in the Boston area. How was that experience?

I was just outside of Boston for that. It was so much fun. It was so great, I mean look at the people I got to work with. What an amazing experience. I can’t remember where I stayed, I’m completely blanking now. But it was just outside of Boston.

Did you get caught in the Snowpacalvpse at all?

I was there right after Snowpacalypse and it was still freezing.

Drena De Niro and Melissa Rivers in ‘Joy’ Photo by Merie Weismiller Wallace / 20th Century Fox

Since you’re an expert in the field of fashion, who would you say is the most stylish Boston celebrity?

Mark Wahlberg! He’s always so well put together on the red carpet.

What about the least stylish Boston star?

I’m trying to think. You know, everyone looks pretty good for the most part. I’m not going to let my sports likes and dislikes influence me.

I’m guessing you’re not a Patriots fan.

No, it’s the Eagles because I went to school in Philadelphia. I grew up out here with basically no team in L.A. Now I guess I’m going to have to be a Rams fan, but that’s going to be weird.

Plan on going to any games while you’re in Boston?

Oh yeah, but I’m going to try and keep my mouth shut. But no, I’ve been to Red Sox games, I’ve sat on the Green Monster, we love Boston.

Since you’re coming to town for a Combined Jewish Philanthropies event, did faith play a big role in your life growing up?

No, faith wasn’t a huge part. We believed in a basic thing that everybody believes in, you know, be a good person and don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t steal, buy wholesale. You know, the basics.

What does giving back mean to you?

I was always raised with such a sense of gratitude, it was so prevalent in our home. I was always taught to be so grateful. Mostly, we were so grateful because we were allowed to work in our chosen profession and make a living in it. People forget when you complain about work and stuff like that, you’re so lucky you get to do what you want to do and get paid for it. My mom always used to say when she would be going to where her club is, it was in the carport and I remember her distinctly turning to me and saying, “Look at this, I’m 80 years old and they’re still sending cars for me. How fantastic is that?” At least once or twice a day I stop and l look around and I say, “How lucky am I?” The sense of gratitude was always there, and obviously the second part of being grateful for what you have is giving back.

This interview has been edited and condensed.