Melissa Leo

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Melissa Leo
Melissa Leo at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.jpg
Leo at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Born (1960-09-14) September 14, 1960 (age 63)
New York City, U.S.
Education State University of New York, Purchase
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present
Partner John Heard (1986-1988) [1]
Children1
Relatives Christine Leo Roussel (aunt)

Melissa Chessington Leo (born September 14, 1960) [2] is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two Critics' Choice Awards.

Contents

After appearing on several television shows and films in the 1980s, Leo became a regular on the television shows All My Children, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award, and The Young Riders . Her breakthrough role came in 1993 as detective and later sergeant Kay Howard on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1997).

Leo received critical acclaim for her performance as Ray Eddy in the 2008 film Frozen River , earning her several nominations and awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. In 2010, Leo won several awards for her performance as Alice Eklund-Ward in the film The Fighter , including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

In 2013, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role on the television series Louie . She starred in the 2015 Fox event series Wayward Pines as Nurse Pam. She then starred in the 2017 Netflix film The Most Hated Woman in America as American Atheists founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair.

Early life

Leo was born in Manhattan and grew up on the Lower East Side. [3] She is the daughter of Margaret (née Chessington), a California-born teacher, and Arnold Leo III, an editor at Grove Press, fisherman, and former spokesman for the East Hampton Baymen's Association. She has an older brother, Erik Leo. [4] Her paternal aunt is art historian Christine Leo Roussel. [5] Leo's parents divorced, and her mother moved them to Red Clover Commune, in Putney, Vermont. [2]

Leo began performing as a child with the Bread and Puppet Theater Company. She attended Bellows Falls High School in Bellows Falls, Vermont, and studied acting at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and SUNY Purchase, but did not graduate, choosing to leave school and move to New York City to begin auditioning for acting jobs. [6] [7] [8] [9] Leo spent summers at her father's house in Springs, a section of East Hampton, New York. [3] [10]

Career

Leo's acting debut came in 1984, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy at the 12th Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in a Drama Series for All My Children . Following this, Leo appeared in several films, including Streetwalkin' , A Time of Destiny , Last Summer in the Hamptons , and Venice/Venice. She also had several appearances on television, most notably her role as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on Homicide: Life on the Street until 1997. Three years later she reprised her role in the television film Homicide: The Movie . After a brief hiatus from acting, Leo's breakthrough came three years later in the Alejandro González Iñárritu film, 21 Grams released to critical acclaim. Leo appeared in a supporting role alongside Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Benicio del Toro, and Clea DuVall. Leo shared a Best Ensemble Acting award from the Phoenix Film Critics Society in 2003 and the runner-up for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for Best Supporting Actress.

Leo in January 2006 Melissa Leo.jpg
Leo in January 2006

Leo appeared in supporting roles throughout the 2000s including the film Hide and Seek , the independent film American Gun , both in 2005, and a minor role in the comedy Mr. Woodcock . In 2006, she won the Bronze Wrangler at the Western Heritage Awards for Outstanding Theatrical Motion Picture for The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada shared with Tommy Lee Jones who also produced the film. In 2008, she won the Maverick Actor Award and also the Best Actress award at the Method Fest for Lullaby (2008).

That same year, Leo earned critical praise for her performance in the film Frozen River , winning several awards, including the Best Actress award from the Independent Spirit Awards, the Spotlight award from the National Board of Review, and Best Actress nominations from the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Broadcast Film Critics Association, and Academy Awards. Critic Roger Ebert backed her for a win, stating: "Best Actress: Melissa Leo. What a complete performance, evoking a woman's life in a time of economic hardship. The most timely of films, but that isn't reason enough. I was struck by how intensely determined she was to make the payments, support her two children, carry on after her abandonment by a gambling husband, and still maintain rules and goals around the house. This was a heroic woman." [11]

Following Frozen River, Leo continued to appear in several independent films, and had a minor role in the 2008 film Righteous Kill , with Al Pacino and her Hide and Seek co-star, Robert De Niro. Leo appeared in a series of films throughout 2009, including According to Greta , the title character in Stephanie's Image , True Adolescents , and Veronika Decides to Die .

Melissa Leo at 81st Academy Awards Melissa Leo at 81st Academy Awards.JPG
Melissa Leo at 81st Academy Awards

In 2010, Leo received fame for her role in David O. Russell's The Fighter . Rick Bentley of The Charlotte Observer said: "Both actors (Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale) are very good, but they get blown off the screen by Melissa Leo, who plays their mother, Alice Ward. Leo's Oscar-worthy portrayal of Alice as a master manipulator goes beyond acting to a total transformation." [12] Roger Ebert referred to it as a "teeth-gratingly brilliant performance." Leo and several of the film's actors including her co-star Amy Adams and Bale were nominated. For her performance Leo received several awards, including the Golden Globe, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, Screen Actors Guild, and culminating in her winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. While accepting her Oscar, Leo said: "When I watched Kate two years ago, it looked so fucking easy!" She apologized afterwards for using profanity, admitting that it was "a very inappropriate place to use that particular word ... those words, I apologize to anyone that they offend". [13] [14]

Prior to her win, Leo had created some controversy by attempting to self-promote her Oscar campaign, rather than rely on the marketing department of the studio. Leo personally bought ad space in Hollywood trade publications, which was initially thought might backfire in a similar manner to previous Oscar contenders Chill Wills and Margaret Avery. [15]

Melissa Leo at the 2011 Capri Hollywood Film Festival Melissa Leo at 2011 Capri, Hollywood Film Festival.jpg
Melissa Leo at the 2011 Capri Hollywood Film Festival

Following her Oscar win, Leo appeared in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce alongside Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood and Guy Pearce. Her performance garnered an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. Her next projects include the satirical horror film Red State , the independent comedy Predisposed with Jesse Eisenberg currently in pre-production [16] and the crime thriller The Dead Circus based on the novel by John Kaye with Michael C. Hall and James Marsden currently in development. [17] She guest-starred in an episode of the hit FX comedy Louie , which garnered her an Emmy win for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

Leo appeared in the action-thriller Olympus Has Fallen as Ruth McMillan, the Secretary of Defense who was held hostage by terrorists in the White House; and Oblivion as the main antagonist Sally. She reprised her role in the Olympus sequel London Has Fallen .

Leo appeared in supporting roles in the thriller films Prisoners , The Equalizer , and The Equalizer 2 , having previously appeared in a 1985 episode of the original series. Leo appeared on the Fox series Wayward Pines as Nurse Pam.

Personal life

In 1987, Leo had a son, John Matthew "Jack" Heard, with actor John Heard, whom she dated from 1986 to 1988, while living in Manhattan. [1]

Leo then moved to Stone Ridge, New York, where a 200-year-old farmhouse was her permanent residence for three decades, though she often traveled and lived elsewhere temporarily for work. [18] [19] In 2019, she moved back to Manhattan. She moved out of the city during the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned in 2023. [19]

Leo publicly rejected the label of feminist in statements made during a 2012 interview with Salon : "I don't think of myself as a feminist at all. As soon as we start labeling and categorizing ourselves and others, that's going to shut down the world. I would never say that." [20] She reiterated these sentiments in a 2017 interview. [21]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985AlwaysPeggy
Streetwalkin' 'Cookie'
1986 Deadtime Stories Judith 'Mama' Baer
1988 A Time of Destiny Josie Larraneta
1992 Immaculate Conception Hannah
Venice/Venice Peggy
1993 The Ballad of Little Jo Beatrice Grey
1994GardenElizabeth
1995 Last Summer in the Hamptons Trish
1997Under the BridgeKathy
1999 The 24 Hour Woman Dr. Suzanne Pincus
Code of EthicsJo DeAngelo
2000Fear of FictionSigrid Anderssen
2003 21 Grams Marianne Jordan
2004First BreathDetective Waxman
From Other Worlds Miriam
2005 Hide and Seek Laura
Runaway Lisa Adler
No ShoulderRuth
PatchMaelynn
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Rachel
American Gun Louise
Confess Agnes Lessor
2006 Stephanie Daley Miri
The Limbo RoomK.C. Collins
Hollywood Dreams Aunt Bee
The House Is Burning Mrs. Miller
Falling ObjectsHelga
2007BombSharon
Midnight Son Rita
Black Irish Margaret McKay
The Cake Eaters Ceci
Racing DaylightSadie Stokes / Anna Stokes
I Believe in AmericaSoto
Mr. Woodcock Sally Jansen
One NightWendy
2008 Frozen River Ray Eddy
The Alphabet Killer Kathy Walsh
LullabyStephanie
Night of the Living Jews [22] Jewish Mother Zombie
Santa MesaMaggie
Ball Don't Lie Georgia
This is a Story About Ted and AliceAlice
Righteous Kill Cheryl Brooks
Predisposed Penny
2009 According to Greta Karen
Stephanie's Image Stephanie
True Adolescents Sharon
Veronika Decides to Die Mari
Dear Lemon Lima Mrs. Howard
Don McKay Marie
Everybody's Fine Colleen
2010 Welcome to the Rileys Lois Riley
The Dry Land Martha
The Space Between Montine McLeod
The Fighter Alice Eklund-Ward
Conviction Nancy Taylor
2011 Red State Sarah Cooper
The Sea Is All I KnowSaraShort film
2012 Flight Ellen Block
Why Stop Now Penny Bloom
Francine Francine
2013 Olympus Has Fallen Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
Bottled Up Fay
Oblivion Sally / alien AI
Lee Daniels' The Butler Mamie Eisenhower Scenes deleted
Prisoners Holly Jones
Charlie Countryman Kate Countryman
2014 The Ever After Unknown
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Bette Altmann
The Equalizer Susan Plummer
Dwegons and Leprechauns [23] Grandma Fitz / Butterfly McDweg / Mrs. Fitzgerald
2015 The Big Short Georgia Hale
2016 London Has Fallen Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
Burn Country Gloria
Snowden Laura Poitras
2017 Novitiate Reverend Mother Marie Saint-Clair
The Most Hated Woman in America Madalyn Murray O'Hair
2018 The Ashram Chandra
Unlovable Maddie
Furlough Joan Anderson
The Parting Glass Al
The Equalizer 2 Susan Plummer
2021 Body Brokers Dr. White
Thunder Force [24] Allie
Ida Red Ida 'Red' Walker
Coast Olivia
2022 Measure of Revenge Lillian
Alone Together Deborah [25]
Jane Principal Rhodes
2024 The Clean Up Crew Siobhan

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984–1988 All My Children Linda WarnerContract cast member (1984–1985)
1985 Silent Witness Patti MullenTelevision film
The Equalizer Irina DzershinskyEpisode: "The Defector"
1987 Spenser: For Hire Mary HamiltonEpisode: "Mary Hamilton"
1988 Miami Vice Kathleen GilfordsEpisode: "Bad Timing"
1989 Gideon Oliver Rebecca HechtEpisode: "Kennonite"
1989–1990 The Young Riders Emma ShannonMain cast member season 1: 24 episodes
1989 Nasty Boys Katie MorriseyTelevision film
1990 The Bride in Black Mary Margaret Muldoon
1991 Carolina Skeletons Cassie
1993, 2002, 2008 Law & Order Alice Sutton / Sherri Quinn / Donna Cheponis3 episodes
1993–1997 Homicide: Life on the Street Sergeant Kay Howard Main cast member seasons 1–5: 77 episodes
1994 Scarlett Suellen O'Hara BenteenTV mini-series
1995In the Line of Duty: Hunt for JusticeCarol ManningTelevision film
1998 Legacy Emma Bradford2 episodes
2000 Homicide: The Movie Sergeant Kay HowardTelevision film
2004 Veronica Mars Julia SmithEpisode: "Meet John Smith"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sybil PerezEpisode: "Harvest"
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Maureen CurtisEpisode: "The Good Child"
The L Word Winnie Mann3 episodes
2006 Shark Elizabeth RourkeEpisode: "Pilot"
2007 Criminal Minds Georgia DavisEpisode: "No Way Out"
Cold Case Tayna Raymes '94–'07Episode: "Thrill Kill"
2010–2013 Treme Toni BernetteMain cast member seasons 1–4: 36 episodes
2011 Mildred Pierce Lucy GesslerTV mini-series: 5 episodes
2012 Louie LaurieEpisode: "Telling Jokes/Set Up"
2013 Call Me Crazy: A Five Film RobinTelevision film, segment: "Grace"
2014–2016 BoJack Horseman Diane's MotherVoice, 2 episodes
2015LFEJulieTelevision film
2015–2016 Wayward Pines Nurse Pam Pilcher11 episodes
2016 Broad City LoriEpisode: "Co-Op"
All the Way Lady Bird Johnson Television film
2017–2018 I'm Dying Up Here Golda 'Goldie' Herschlag20 episodes
2019 Heartstrings Amelia MeegersEpisode: "Two Doors Down" [26]
2020 I Know This Much Is True Ma5 episodes

Stage

YearTitleRole(s)NotesRef.
1982 Don Juan Ensemble [27]
1984CindersStepmother [28]
1986Today I Am A Fountain PenAnnie [29]
1991 The White Rose Sophie Scholl [30]
1998 How I Learned to Drive Li'l Bit [31]
1999Tongue of a BirdDessa [32]
2004The Distance from HereCammie [33]
2005The ArgumentSophie [34]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
1985 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2003 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society AwardBest CastWon
2005 Bronze Wrangler Award Outstanding Theatrical Motion Picture Won
2008 Academy Award Best Actress Nominated
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Award Best Actress Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Actress Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress Won
Gotham Awards Breakthrough Actor Won
Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award Best Actress Nominated
Marrakech International Film Festival Award Best Actress Won
National Society of Film Critics Award Best Actress Nominated
New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Nominated
San Sebastián International Film Festival Award Best Actress Won
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award Best Actress Won
Utah Film Critics Association AwardBest ActressWon
Women Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress Won
Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award Best Actress
Lullaby
Won
2010 Tribeca Film Festival Award Best New York Narrative – Special Jury Won
Academy Award Best Supporting Actress Won
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Boston Society of Film Critics Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Best Ensemble Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Cast Won
Best Supporting Actress Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Capri Hollywood International Film Festival Award Best Actress Won
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress Won
Denver Film Critics Society AwardBest Supporting ActressWon
Detroit Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actress Won
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Won
Houston Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Iowa Film Critics AwardBest Supporting ActressWon
Las Vegas Film Critics Society AwardNominated
New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actress Won
New York Film Critics Online Awards Best Supporting Actress Won
North Texas Film Critics Association AwardBest Supporting ActressWon
Online Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society AwardBest Supporting ActressWon
San Diego Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Best Ensemble Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Won
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association AwardBest Supporting ActressNominated
Toronto Film Critics Association Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Utah Film Critics Association AwardBest Supporting ActressNominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards Best Ensemble Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Won
2011California Independent Film Festival Slate AwardBest Actress
The Sea Is All I Know
Won
Rhode Island International Film Festival Award Best Actress Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated
2012 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Won
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Nominated
2013 National Board of Review Award Best Cast Won
San Diego Film Critics Society Award Best Performance by an Ensemble Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award Best Ensemble Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
2015 National Board of Review Award Best Cast Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2016 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated

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