Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo is an American actress known for character roles in independent films and television. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter (2010).

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Frozen River: A 2008 drama film about two women smuggling immigrants across the U.S.–Canada border. Leo’s lead performance as Ray Eddy earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Courtney Hunt: An American filmmaker whose debut feature was the independent drama Frozen River. Hunt directed Leo in the role that brought her first Academy Award nomination.
Mount Holyoke College: A private liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Leo attended the college before leaving to pursue acting.
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress: An annual Academy Award honoring a performance in a supporting role in a film. Leo won this award for her portrayal of Alice Ward in The Fighter.
The Fighter: A 2010 sports drama about boxer Micky Ward and his family. Leo won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Alice Ward.
David O. Russell: An American filmmaker known for character-driven films including The Fighter and American Hustle. He directed Leo in The Fighter and American Hustle.
State University of New York at Purchase: A public college in Purchase, New York, with programs in the arts and liberal studies. Leo studied acting at its Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film.
Academy Award for Best Actress: An annual Academy Award honoring a leading performance by an actress in a film. Leo was nominated in this category for her lead role in Frozen River.
21 Grams: A 2003 drama film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu about intersecting lives after a fatal accident. Leo appeared in an ensemble cast early in her film career.
Denzel Washington: An American actor and filmmaker known for leading roles in film and theater. Leo co-starred with Washington in The Equalizer and its sequel.