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Melissa Leo Biography

Birth Name:Melissa Chessington Leo

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Actress, Producer

Fast Facts

Was awarded the 2008 Method Fest's Geraldine Page Award for Best Actress and Maverick Award
Won two National Board of Review Awards for 'Frozen River' in 2008
Garnered a nomination for best supporting actress from the L․A․ Film Critics Association for her role in '21 Grams․'
Attended SUNY Purchase before leaving to pursue acting full-time
Started out performing as a dancer on stilts
Quote: "'I am an actor and I am a player․ That’s my role on the set, literally speaking, and it is play and it is a fun, wonderful thing and an arduous, god-awful life that I wouldn’t trade for anything․'"
Often portrays women who deal with family struggles
Almost turned down her Academy Award-winning role in "The Fighter" because she did not feel comfortable portraying the mother of Mark Wahlberg, who is only 11 years younger than her

Awards

1985Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in a Drama Series: nominated
2003ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2003LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2003VVFP Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2004PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: winner
2007Festival Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2008EDA Female Focus Award-Best Breakthrough Performance: nominated
2008EDA Special Mention Award-Bravest Performance Award: nominated
2008EDA Female Focus Award-Hanging in There Award for Persistence: winner
2008CFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
2008DFCS Award-Best Actress: nominated
2008FFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
2008Gotham Independent Film Award-Breakthrough Actor: winner
2008HFCS Award-Best Actress: nominated
2008ICP Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2008LAFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
2008Best Actress-: winner
2008Spotlight Award-: winner
2008NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
2008Silver Seashell-Best Actress: winner
2008Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2008UFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
2008WFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
2009Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2009COFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
2009COFCA Award-Breakthrough Film Artist: winner
2009Critics Choice Award-Best Actress: nominated
2009Independent Spirit Award-Best Female Lead: winner
2009NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
2009Virtuoso Award-: winner
2010ACCA-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2010Festival Prize-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2010BSFC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
2010BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010Capri Actress Award-: winner
2010CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2010DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2010Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
2010HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010ICP Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2010INOCA TV-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2010IOMA-Best Actress (Miglior attrice protagonista): nominated
2010Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010Best Ensemble Cast-: winner
2010NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2010NYFCO Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2010PFCS Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
2010SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010SDFCS Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
2010SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2010TFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010UFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010VVFP Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2010WAFCA Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2010WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2010Mommie Dearest Worst Screen Mom of the Year Award-: winner
2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
2011Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2011Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2011EDA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011EDA Female Focus Award-Actress Defying Age and Ageism: nominated
2011COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2011Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011Fright Meter Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actress: nominated
2011Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actress: winner
2011Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
2011INOCA-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011IFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011IOMA-Best Supporting Actress (Miglior attrice non protagonista): nominated
2011NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2011OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
2011Grand Prize-Best Actress: winner
2011VFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2012ACCA TV-Best Actress in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2012Slate Award-Best Actress: winner
2012Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2012IOFCP Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2012OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2013Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series: nominated
2013Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: nominated
2013INOCA TV-Best Guest Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series: nominated
2013NBR Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
2014Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2014CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actress - International Competition: nominated
2014Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2015ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2016Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress on Television: nominated
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series: nominated
2016Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2016OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
2016Ensemble Cast Award-: winner
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
2017Capri Supporting Actress Award-: winner
2017DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017SFFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2018Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2018WIN Award-Outstanding Actress Feature Film: winner