Happy Birthday: Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo

Born: September 14, 1960 in New York City, New York, USA

[Excerpt from her 2011 Academy Award acceptance speech] When I watched Kate Winslet two years ago, it looked so fucking easy – Oops!

[on interpreting the title role in Francine (2012)] To play someone when the character masks their own emotions, doesn’t understand their own emotions, has no release for their own emotions, and yet is full of emotion – that is a much harder character to play than someone who has somewhere to put it.

The Fighter dir. David O. Russell Stars: Mark Wahlberg Christian Bale

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada 2005 dir. Tommy Lee Jones

Mr. Woodcock Directed by Craig Gillespie Starring Thornton Susan Sarandon Sean William Scott

RED STATE dir. Kevin Smith Stars: Michael Parks Melissa Leo

Everybody’s Fine dir. Kirk Jones Stars: Robert De Niro Kate Beckinsale Sam Rockwell

CONVICTION dir. Tony…