Melissa Leo recently shared her surprising feelings about winning an Academy Award. In an interview with The Guardian, she explained that the award didn’t actually help her career, and she even preferred things before she won. She stated, “Winning an Oscar has not been good for me or my career. I didn’t dream of it, I never wanted it, and I had a much better career before I won.”
Looking back on winning the Oscar for The Fighter, Leo described the moment as incredibly overwhelming. She said, “You completely lose your head.” Having already received many awards for the film that season, she remembered sitting in the large theater and thinking, “Wow, this could actually happen!”
Leo described the Dolby Theatre as an intimidating place, explaining that when you’re on stage, you feel like you’re facing a huge challenge because all the biggest names in the industry are looking at you. She noted that it feels like you have to look up as if climbing Mount Everest, as every actor, director, and producer you know is right there, staring back at you.
While accepting the award, Leo accidentally swore on live television. “I immediately apologized for using that language, and I still regret it,” she explained. “I often use strong language privately, but it’s definitely not appropriate for network TV. Thankfully, they have a ten-second delay to prevent mishaps like mine!”
Even though Leo had some concerns about the award, she’s continued to be a highly successful and admired character actress in Hollywood. Her recent role was in the psychological thriller The Knife, which came out in late 2025. In the film, she plays a detective investigating a family following a break-in, and she stars with Nnamdi Asomugha and Aja Naomi King.
The actress has been working on several action and crime projects lately, including the film The Clean Up Crew alongside Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. She also starred in the action-thriller Long Gone Heroes with Frank Grillo and Andy García, continuing to build her image as a strong and unique performer.
As a huge movie fan, I’m already looking forward to what’s coming up for Leo! She’s got a really interesting horror film, Passenger, with Paramount, that’s scheduled to come out on May 29th, 2026. It’s directed by André Øvredal, and she’ll be starring alongside Lou Llobell and Jacob Scipio – a cast I’m definitely excited about!
Recently, Leo has been exploring new hobbies beyond acting, particularly pottery. She explained, “I’ve been focusing on pottery for the last three years – I go to a local studio, work with the wheel, and it’s a great way for me to express my creativity.”
She’s still living in Manhattan after briefly moving away during the pandemic. After a long and successful career, she’s now hoping to take on different roles. “I really want to play a princess or a kind, generous queen,” she explained. “I’ve been asking for that opportunity for years!”
Throughout her career, actress Leo has appeared in over 100 movies and TV shows, starting with roles on All My Children and including an Emmy-winning appearance on Louie. Though she has mixed feelings about not winning an Oscar, her busy schedule and varied work demonstrate that she continues to be a significant presence in Hollywood.
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2026-01-17 20:14