Acclaimed actress Melissa Leo has offered a candid and surprising assessment of her Oscar win, stating the accolade was "not good for me or my career." In a wide-ranging interview answering questions from the public, the star of The Fighter discussed her dream roles, on-set habits, and reflections on her decades in the industry.
The Oscar Curse and Candid Confessions
Leo, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2011 for her role as Alice Ward in The Fighter, revealed she never desired the honour. "I didn't dream of it, I never wanted it, and I had a much better career before I won," she stated. Recalling the moment her name was called by presenter Kirk Douglas, she admitted to being more thrilled to meet the legendary actor than about the win itself.
The moment was also marred by a slip of the tongue. Overwhelmed by the sight of the star-studded audience in the Dolby Theatre, Leo cursed on live television. "I fucking curse all the time, but you cannot curse on network television," she said, expressing lasting regret and thanking the broadcast delay for saving her.
From Baddies to Benevolent Queens: A Career in Review
When asked how she chooses between playing heroes and villains, Leo explained that "the work chooses me." She prides herself on her range but noted a frustrating typecasting period after The Fighter, where she was only offered roles as "older, nasty women."
This has led to a strong desire to shift gears. "I am dying to do that kind of work," she said about playing affluent, regal characters. "I've been asking for years: 'Please, may I play the princess? The glorious, kind, benevolent queen?'" She reminisced about her love for period costumes from her role in the 1940s-set film A Time of Destiny and her early part as Emma on the ABC western series The Young Riders.
Life on Set: Knitting, Naps, and Kissing Denzel
Beyond acting, Leo shared insights into her life between takes. A former avid knitter who has made "about a dozen blankets," she has recently found a new creative outlet in pottery. She is also a self-professed fan of the power nap, proudly catching sleep on set whenever possible, as long as she doesn't miss her lunch or her cue.
Addressing a fan's question about why she didn't share a kiss with co-star Denzel Washington in The Equalizer films, where she played his superior, Leo quipped it would have been "highly inappropriate." She then added with humour, "if somebody is looking to see me kiss Mr Washington, please whisper that into his ear."
Looking forward, Leo championed several of her lesser-known projects. She highly recommends The Knife, where she plays a detective, and King Ivory, a film tackling the US fentanyl crisis. She also expressed pride in Francine, a delicate story about a woman reintegrating into society after a long prison sentence.
