- Melissa Leo
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Melissa Leo 
Leo at the 2009 premiere of Whatever WorksBorn Melissa Chessington Leo
September 14, 1960
Manhattan, New York, U.S.Other names Margaret May II
Margaret MayOccupation Actress Years active 1984–present Children 2 Melissa Chessington Leo (born September 14, 1960), is an American actress. After appearing on several television shows and films in the late '80s, her breakthrough role came in 1993 as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street for the show's first five seasons from 1993 – 1997. Having previously been a regular on All My Children and The Young Riders, her breakthrough film role was in the 2003 film, 21 Grams as Marianne Jordan.
Following several films, Leo received critical acclaim and national attention in the 2009 film, Frozen River earning several nominations and awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. In 2011, Leo earned several awards for her role as Alice Ward in the critically acclaimed film, The Fighter. For this role Leo won the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Leo currently appears on the HBO television series Treme as Antoinette "Toni" Bernette.
Contents
Personal life
Leo was born in Manhattan, New York City. She is the daughter of Peggy (née Chessington), a California-born teacher, and Arnold Leo, an editor at Grove Press, fisherman, and spokesman for the East Hampton Baymen's Association.[1][2][3][4] Leo was raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and spent summers at her father's house in Springs, a section of East Hampton, N.Y.[1] She is a former resident of Putney, Vermont[5] and now lives in Stone Ridge, New York.[6] She has a son with actor and former boyfriend John Heard named John Matthew Heard (born 1987) and years later adopted Adam (born 1984).[citation needed]
Career
Leo in January 2006
Leo's acting debut came in 1985, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy at the Daytime Emmy Awards/12th Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in a Drama Series for All My Children. Following this, Leo appeared in several films including A Time of Destiny, Last Summer in the Hamptons, Venice/Venice and her 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 movie, Homicide: The Movie. After a brief hiatus in film, 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 appeared in supporting roles throughout the 2000s including the suspense film Hide and Seek opposite Robert De Niro, Dakota Fanning, Famke Janssen, the independent film American Gun both in 2005, and had 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 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, 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."[7] 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.
In 2010, Leo received praise for her role in David O. Russell's, The Fighter released to critical acclaim. 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. She's a passive-aggressive minion of hell who makes every past bad film mom look like June Cleaver. Leo's Oscar-worthy portrayal of Alice as a master manipulator goes beyond acting to a total transformation."[8] Roger Ebert referred to it as a "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 won 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, appearing overwhelmed with excitement, spontaneously said, "When I watched Kate (Winslet) two years ago, it looked so fucking easy!" She apologized afterwards admitting that it was "a very inappropriate place to use that particular word...those words, I apologize to anyone that they offend." [9][10]
Following her Oscar win, Leo appeared in the HBO miniseries, Mildred Pierce alongside Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood and Guy Pearce. Her performance garnered a Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. Her next projects include Red State, the independent comedy Predisposed with Jesse Eisenberg currently in pre-production[11] and the crime thriller The Dead Circus based on the novel by John Kaye with Michael C. Hall and James Marsden currently in development[12]
Filmography
Film and television (regular cast) Year Title Role Notes 1984 All My Children Linda Warner Contract cast member (1984–1985) 1985 Always Peggy 1985 Streetwalkin' Cookie 1985 Silent Witness Patti Mullen TV movie 1986 Deadtime Stories Judith 'MaMa' Baer 1988 A Time of Destiny Josie Larraneta 1989 The Young Riders Emma Shannon Main cast member season 1: 24 episodes 1989 Nasty Boys Katie Morrisey TV 1990 The Bride in Black Mary Margaret TV 1991 Carolina Skeletons Cassie TV 1992 Immaculate Conception[13] Hannah 1992 Venice/Venice Peggy 1993 The Ballad of Little Jo Beatrice Grey 1993 Homicide: Life on the Street Det. Sgt. Kay Howard Television series, main cast member seasons 1–5 (1993–1997): 77 episodes 1994 Garden Elizabeth 1995 Last Summer in the Hamptons Trish 1995 In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice Carol Manning TV 1997 Under the Bridge Kathy 1999 The 24 Hour Woman Dr. Suzanne Pincus 1999 Code of Ethics Jo DeAngelo 2000 Homicide: The Movie Det. Sgt. Kay Howard TV 2000 Fear of Fiction Sigrid Anderssen 2003 21 Grams Marianne Jordan Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast 2004 First Breath Detective Waxman 2004 From Other Worlds Miriam 2005 Hide and Seek Laura 2005 Runaway Lisa Adler 2005 No Shoulder Ruth 2005 Patch Maelynn 2005 The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Rachel 2005 American Gun Louise 2005 Confess Agnes Lessor 2006 Stephanie Daley Miri 2006 The Limbo Room KC Collins 2006 Hollywood Dreams Aunt Bee 2006 The House is Burning Mrs. Miller 2006 Falling Objects Helga 2007 Bomb Sharon 2007 Midnight Son Rita 2007 Black Irish Margaret McKay 2007 The Cake Eaters Ceci 2007 Racing Daylight Sadie Stokes/Anna Stokes 2007 I Believe in America' Soto 2007 Mr. Woodcock Sally Jansen 2007 One Night Wendy 2008 Frozen River Ray Eddy Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Breakthrough Film Artist
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor
Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead
San Sebastián International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role2008 The Alphabet Killer Kathy Walsh 2008 Lullaby Stephanie Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award for Best Actress 2008 Santa Mesa Maggie 2008 Ball Don't Lie Georgia 2008 This is a Story About Ted and Alice Alice 2008 Righteous Kill Cheryl Brooks 2008 Predisposed Penny 2009 According to Greta Karen 2009 Stephanie's Image Stephanie 2009 True Adolescents Sharon 2009 Veronika Decides to Die Mari 2009 Dear Lemon Lima Mrs. Howard 2009 Don McKay Marie 2009 Everybody's Fine Colleen 2010 Treme Toni Bernette Main cast member: season 1 - present 2010 Welcome to the Rileys Mrs. Lois Riley 2010 The Dry Land Martha 2010 The Space Between Montine 2010 The Fighter Alice Ward Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Ensemble
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Iowa Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Online for Best Supporting Actress
North Texas Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Central Ohio film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated—Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards for Best Ensemble2010 Conviction Nancy Taylor 2011 Red State Sarah Television mini-series and guest appearances
Film and television (regular cast) Year Title Role Notes 1985 The Equalizer Irina Dzershinsky 1 episode, "The Defector" 1987 Spenser: For Hire Mary Hamilton 1 episode, "Mary Hamilton" 1988 Miami Vice Kathleen Gilfords 1 episode, "Bad Timing" 1989 Gideon Oliver Rebecca Hecht 1 episode, "Kennonite" 1993, 2008 Law & Order Alice Sutton / Sherri Quinn / Donna Cheponis 3 episodes, "Sweeps", "Who Let the Dogs Out?", and "Personae Non Grata" 1994 Scarlett Suellen O'Hara Benteen TV mini-series 1998 Legacy Emma Bradford 2 episodes, "Emma" and "The Search Party" 2004 Veronica Mars Julia Smith 1 episode, "Meet John Smith" 2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sybil Perez 1 episode, "Harvest" 2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Maureen Curtis 1 episode, "The Good Child" 2005 The L Word Winnie Mann 3 episodes, "Luminous", "Loyal", and "Lacuna" 2006 Shark Elizabeth Rourke 1 episode, "Pilot" 2007 Criminal Minds Georgia Davis 1 episode, "No Way Out" 2007 Cold Case Tayna Raymes '94–'07 1 episode, "Thrill Kill", 2007 2011 Mildred Pierce Lucy Gessler TV mini-series References
- ^ a b Post (2009-02-19). "Veteran Actors, First Time Nominees". Online.wsj.com. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123507540420025655.html?mod=googlenews_wsj. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ "Actress up for Oscar has longtime ties to Hamptons". Newsday.com. 2009-02-21. http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lileo226045011feb22,0,3078015.story. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ "Melissa Leo Biography (1960–)". Filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/95/Melissa-Leo.html. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ Mother's California birth stated on the 68th Golden Globe Awards, January 16, 2011
- ^ "Burlington Free Press – Vermonter Nominated". Burlington Free Press. January 23, 2009. http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990122055.
- ^ "Nebraska threads woven into red carpet". Omaha.com. http://omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2620&u_sid=10570078. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ Roger Ebert (2011-04-23). "Elevating the Oscar winners, Part #3: Best Leading Actress". Chicago Sun-Times. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090127/OSCARS/901279994. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ Posted: Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 (2010-12-18). "Cast puts punch in scrappy 'Fighter'". CharlotteObserver.com. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/12/18/1918252/cast-puts-punch-in-scrappy-fighter.html. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ Liz Kelly (February 27, 2011). "Melissa Leo drops F-bomb in Oscar Acceptance Speech". The Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2011/02/melissa_leo_drops_the_f-bomb_i.html. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ Vancouver Sun and wire services (February 27, 2011). "OSCARS: F-Bomb mars speech; Toy Story 3, In a Better World, Christian Bale, Social Network. King's Speech take awards". The Vancouver Sun. http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/OSCARS+Bomb+mars+Melissa+speech/4356254/story.html. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ Vancouver Sun and wire services (March 2, 2011). "Jesse Eisenberg to play Melissa Leo’s son in "Predisposed". Up and Comers. http://upandcomers.net/2011/03/02/jesse-eisenberg-to-play-melissa-leos-son-in-predisposed/. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
- ^ Jay A. Fernandez (March 3, 2011). "What Oscar Winners Are Doing Next". Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/what-oscar-winners-are-doing-163950/. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- ^ Movie at IMDb
External links
- Official Website
- Melissa Leo at the Internet Movie Database
- MediaRhyme Inc. 2011 83rd Annual Academy Awards - Oscar Results 2011
Awards for Melissa Leo Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (2001–2020) Jennifer Connelly (2001) · Catherine Zeta-Jones (2002) · Renée Zellweger (2003) · Cate Blanchett (2004) · Rachel Weisz (2005) · Jennifer Hudson (2006) · Tilda Swinton (2007) · Penélope Cruz (2008) · Mo'Nique (2009) · Melissa Leo (2010)
Complete list · (1936–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–2020) Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (2001–2020) Jennifer Connelly (2001) · Meryl Streep (2002) · Renée Zellweger (2003) · Natalie Portman (2004) · Rachel Weisz (2005) · Jennifer Hudson (2006) · Cate Blanchett (2007) · Kate Winslet (2008) · Mo'Nique (2009) · Melissa Leo (2010)
Complete List · (1943–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–present) Screen Actors Guild Award - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (2001–2020) Helen Mirren (2001) · Catherine Zeta-Jones (2002) · Renée Zellweger (2003) · Cate Blanchett (2004) · Rachel Weisz (2005) · Jennifer Hudson (2006) · Ruby Dee (2007) · Kate Winslet (2008) · Mo'Nique (2009) · Melissa Leo (2010)
Complete list · (1994–2000) · (2001–2020)Categories:- 1960 births
- Living people
- Actors from New York City
- American film actors
- American television actors
- Best Supporting Actress Academy Award winners
- Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead winners
- People from Manhattan
- State University of New York at Purchase alumni
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