---
name: "Melissa Leo"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/melissa-leo"
fi1m_id: "melissa-leo"
imdb_id: "nm0502425"
tmdb_id: 6832
wikidata_id: "Q229410"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "14 September 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 13
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 13
updated: "2026-10-05T14:07:17.845716+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Melissa Leo

## Identity

Melissa Leo

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/melissa-leo
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** melissa-leo
- **IMDb ID:** nm0502425
- **TMDB ID:** 6832
- **Wikidata ID:** Q229410
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Leo, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229410, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502425/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6832

Actor. Born 14 September 1960 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 14 September 1960, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1984–present
- **Also known as:** Margaret May, Melissa Chessington Leo
- **Frequently works with:** [Christian Bale](https://film.one/person/christian-bale.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 13 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 81 (1), 1990s 89 (1), 2000s 64 (2), 2010s 73 (7), 2020s 62 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 69 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 11, Crime 6, Thriller 4, Action 2, Comedy 2, Mystery 2
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $842m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Leo, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229410, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502425/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6832

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Treme*](https://film.one/tv/treme.md) (82), [*Mildred Pierce*](https://film.one/tv/mildred-pierce.md) (70), [*I Know This Much Is True*](https://film.one/tv/i-know-this-much-is-true.md) (63)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Fighter*](https://film.one/film/the-fighter.md) (79), [*London Has Fallen*](https://film.one/film/london-has-fallen.md) (38)
- **Pluto TV:** [*The Big Short*](https://film.one/film/the-big-short.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Melissa Leo is an American actress. She is known for her role as Holly Jones in the 2013 film *Prisoners*.

Leo was born in Manhattan, New York City. She studied at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and at the State University of New York at Purchase. Her early television work included a regular role on the soap opera *All My Children* and the series *The Young Riders*. She gained wider recognition as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993–1997).

Leo received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance in *Frozen River* (2008). She won the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in *The Fighter* (2010). Other film credits include *Oblivion* (2013), *The Equalizer* (2014) and *The Big Short* (2015).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (13)

- *The Equalizer 3* (2023), Fi1m 60, as Susan Plummer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-equalizer-3.md)
- *I Know This Much Is True* (2020), Fi1m 63, as Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey — [page](https://film.one/tv/i-know-this-much-is-true.md)
- *London Has Fallen* (2016), Fi1m 38, as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan — [page](https://film.one/film/london-has-fallen.md)
- *The Big Short* (2015), Fi1m 80, as Georgia Hale — [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-short.md)
- *Broad City* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Lori — [page](https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md)
- *Prisoners* (2013), Fi1m 81, as Holly Jones — [page](https://film.one/film/prisoners.md)
- *Mildred Pierce* (2011), Fi1m 70, as Lucy Gessler — [page](https://film.one/tv/mildred-pierce.md)
- *The Fighter* (2010), Fi1m 79, as Alice Ward — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fighter.md)
- *Treme* (2010), Fi1m 82, as Toni Bernette — [page](https://film.one/tv/treme.md)
- *Shark* (2006), Fi1m 55, as Elizabeth Rourke — [page](https://film.one/tv/shark.md)
- *21 Grams* (2003), Fi1m 72, as Marianne Jordan — [page](https://film.one/film/21-grams.md)
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), Fi1m 89, as Kay Howard — [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *Miami Vice* (1984), Fi1m 81, as Kathleen Gilfords — [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)

## Complete filmography (134)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Passenger* (2026), as Diana Larson
- *The Knife* (2025), as Detective Carlsen
- *Guns Up* (2025), as Michael Temple
- *King Ivory* (2025), as Ginger Greene
- *AFTER: Poetry Destroys Silence* (2024), Actor
- *Long Gone Heroes* (2024), as Olivia
- *The Clean Up Crew* (2024), as Siobhan
- *The Equalizer 3* (2023), as Susan Plummer — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/the-equalizer-3.md)
- *Jane* (2022), as Principal Rhodes
- *Alone Together* (2022), as Deborah
- *Coast* (2022), as Olivia
- *Measure of Revenge* (2022), as Lillian
- *Ida Red* (2021), as Ida ‘Red’ Walker
- *Thunder Force* (2021), as Allie
- *Body Brokers* (2021), as Dr. White
- *I Know This Much Is True* (2020), series, as Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/i-know-this-much-is-true.md)
- *Dolly Parton's Heartstrings* (2019), series, as Amelia Meegers
- *Unlovable* (2018), as Maddie
- *The Equalizer 2* (2018), as Susan Plummer
- *The Parting Glass* (2018), as Al
- *Mabel, Mabel Tiger Trainer* (2018), as Narrator
- *Furlough* (2018), as Joan Anderson · Producer
- *The Ashram* (2018), as Chandra
- *Novitiate* (2017), as Reverend Mother
- *The View from Up Here* (2017), as Claire
- *I'm Dying Up Here* (2017), series, as Goldie
- *The Most Hated Woman in America* (2017), as Madalyn Murray O'Hair
- *Snowden* (2016), as Laura Poitras
- *All the Way* (2016), as Lady Bird Johnson
- *Burn Country* (2016), as Gloria
- *London Has Fallen* (2016), as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/london-has-fallen.md)
- *The Big Short* (2015), as Georgia Hale — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-short.md)
- *Damnation: The Flashback* (2015), as Noda Marra
- *After the Spill* (2015), as Narrator
- *The Butterfly, The Harp, and The Timepiece* (2015), as Papillon
- *Wayward Pines* (2015), series, as Nurse Pam
- *The Ever After* (2015), as Penny
- *The Equalizer* (2014), as Susan Plummer
- *BoJack Horseman* (2014), series, as Ma Nguyen (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md)
- *The Angriest Man in Brooklyn* (2014), as Bette Altmann
- *Dwegons and Leprechauns* (2014), as Grandma Fitz / Butterfly McDweg / Mrs. Fitzgerald
- *Broad City* (2014), series, as Lori — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md)
- *Prisoners* (2013), as Holly Jones — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/prisoners.md)
- *Call Me Crazy: A Five Film* (2013), as Robin
- *Bottled Up* (2013), as Fay · Producer
- *Oblivion* (2013), as Sally
- *Olympus Has Fallen* (2013), as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
- *Charlie Countryman* (2013), as Kate
- *Why Stop Now?* (2012), as Penny
- *Flight* (2012), as Ellen Block
- *Francine* (2012), as Francine
- *The Space Between* (2011), as Montine
- *Seven Days in Utopia* (2011), as Lily
- *Red State* (2011), as Sara
- *The Sea Is All I Know* (2011), as Sara
- *Mildred Pierce* (2011), series, as Lucy Gessler — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/mildred-pierce.md)
- *The Fighter* (2010), as Alice Ward — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fighter.md)
- *Queen of the Lot* (2010), as Aunt Bee
- *Welcome to the Rileys* (2010), as Lois Riley
- *Conviction* (2010), as Nancy Taylor
- *The Dry Land* (2010), as Martha
- *Treme* (2010), series, as Toni Bernette — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/treme.md)
- *Everybody's Fine* (2009), as Colleen
- *According to Greta* (2009), as Karen
- *Dear Lemon Lima* (2009), as Mrs. Howard
- *Veronika Decides to Die* (2009), as Mari
- *Don McKay* (2009), as Marie
- *True Adolescents* (2009), as Sharon Mitchell
- *Stephanie's Image* (2009), as Stephanie
- *The Alphabet Killer* (2008), as Kathy Walsh
- *Righteous Kill* (2008), as Cheryl
- *Frozen River* (2008), as Ray Eddy
- *Santa Mesa* (2008), as Maggie
- *Lullaby* (2008), as Stephanie
- *Black Irish* (2007), as Margaret McKay
- *Mr. Woodcock* (2007), as Sally Jansen
- *Racing Daylight* (2007), as Sadie / Anna
- *I Believe in America* (2007), as Soto
- *Hollywood Dreams* (2007), as Aunt Bee
- *The Cake Eaters* (2007), as Ceci Kimbrough
- *Dear Lemon Lima* (2007), as Mrs. Howard
- *Stephanie Daley* (2007), as Miri Daley
- *Midnight Son* (2007), as Rita
- *Bomb* (2007), Actor
- *One Night* (2007), as Wendy
- *The House Is Burning* (2006), as Mrs. Miller
- *Shark* (2006), series, as Elizabeth Rourke — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/shark.md)
- *The Limbo Room* (2006), as KC Collins
- *The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada* (2005), as Rachel
- *Confess* (2005), as Agnes Lessor
- *Criminal Minds* (2005), series, as Sheriff Georgia Davis — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-minds.md)
- *American Gun* (2005), as Louise
- *Runaway* (2005), as Lisa Adler
- *Hide and Seek* (2005), as Laura
- *From Other Worlds* (2004), as Miriam
- *Veronica Mars* (2004), series, as Julia Smith — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/veronica-mars.md)
- *The L Word* (2004), series, as Winnie Mann
- *21 Grams* (2003), as Marianne Jordan — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/21-grams.md)
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Tayna Raymes (1994 & 2007)
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Maureen Curtis
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Sybil Perez
- *Fear of Fiction* (2000), as Sigrid Anderssen
- *Homicide: The Movie* (2000), as Kay Howard
- *Code of Ethics* (1999), as Jo DeAngelo
- *The 24 Hour Woman* (1999), as Dr. Suzanne Pincus
- *Legacy* (1998), series, as Emma Bradford
- *Under the bridge* (1998), as Kathy
- *Last Summer in the Hamptons* (1995), as Trish Axelrod
- *In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice* (1995), as Carol Manning
- *Garden* (1995), as Elizabeth
- *Scarlett* (1994), series, as Suellen O'Hara Benteen
- *The Ballad of Little Jo* (1993), as Beatrice Grey
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Kay Howard — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *By a Thread* (1992), as Helen
- *Immaculate Conception* (1992), as Hannah
- *Venice/Venice* (1992), as Peggy
- *Carolina Skeletons* (1991), as Cassie
- *The Bride in Black* (1990), as Mary Margaret
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Donna Cheponis, Defense Attorney Alice Sutton, Sherri Quinn — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Nasty Boys* (1989), as Katie Morrissey
- *The Young Riders* (1989), series, as Emma Shannon
- *A Time of Destiny* (1988), as Josie Larraneta
- *Deadtime Stories* (1986), as Judith 'MaMa' Baer
- *Silent Witness* (1985), as Patti Mullen
- *Always … But Not Forever* (1985), as Peggy
- *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, Actor
- *Streetwalkin'* (1985), as Cookie
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Irina Dzershinsky
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Kathleen Gilfords — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *I'm Only There...* (1984), as Maggie
- *The Mannequin*, as Executive Producer
- *The Rooster Prince*, as Elaine
- *Ron Forever*, as Hilda
- *Supermax*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Melissa Leo](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-bcce430ca88b.jpg) Melissa Leo — sagindie from Hollywood, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Melissa_Leo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Walk of Fame - Aleja Gwiazd in Kraków. Plaque for Melissa Leo (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-276d1c7deabf.jpg) Walk of Fame - Aleja Gwiazd in Kraków. Plaque for Melissa Leo (2024) — Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Aleja_Gwiazd_in_Krak%C3%B3w_02.jpg/1280px-Aleja_Gwiazd_in_Krak%C3%B3w_02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Oscar winners (from left to right) Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Melissa Leo and Colin Firth pose with their Oscars backstage at the 83rd Academy Awards Feb. (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-3e353821e054.jpg) Oscar winners (from left to right) Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Melissa Leo and Colin Firth pose with their Oscars backstage at the 83rd Academy Awards Feb. (2011) — Staff Sgt. Carlos Lazo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Christian_Bale%2C_Natalie_Portman%2C_Melissa_Leo_and_Colin_Firth_2011.jpg/1280px-Christian_Bale%2C_Natalie_Portman%2C_Melissa_Leo_and_Colin_Firth_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Oscar winners (from left to right) Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Melissa Leo and Colin Firth pose with their Oscars backstage at the 83rd Academy Awards Febr (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-d3094e545fce.jpg) Oscar winners (from left to right) Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Melissa Leo and Colin Firth pose with their Oscars backstage at the 83rd Academy Awards Febr (2011) — Staff Sgt. Carlos Lazo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Christian_Bale%2C_Natalie_Portman%2C_Melissa_Leo_and_Colin_Firth_2011_crop.jpg/1280px-Christian_Bale%2C_Natalie_Portman%2C_Melissa_Leo_and_Colin_Firth_2011_crop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Melissa Leo](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-36e9154fa4eb.jpg) Melissa Leo — Image via TMDB
- ![Melissa Leo](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-7be01cc6a6f3.jpg) Melissa Leo — Image via TMDB
- ![Melissa Leo](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-26a4157aaaa3.jpg) Melissa Leo — Image via TMDB
- ![Gwiazda Melissy Leo na Alei Gwiazd w Krakowie na Bulwarze Czerwieńskim. (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-7068709dd705.jpg) Gwiazda Melissy Leo na Alei Gwiazd w Krakowie na Bulwarze Czerwieńskim. (2023) — Mach240390, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/GwiazdaMelissyLeo-AlejaGwiazd-BulwaryWi%C5%9Blane-POL%2C_Krak%C3%B3w.jpg/1280px-GwiazdaMelissyLeo-AlejaGwiazd-BulwaryWi%C5%9Blane-POL%2C_Krak%C3%B3w.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actress Melissa Leo – Tribeca Film Festival "Whatever Works" Premiere. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/103258/gallery-f0976253f76b.jpg) Actress Melissa Leo – Tribeca Film Festival "Whatever Works" Premiere. (2009) — Rubenstein, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Melissa_Leo_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 2011: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *The Fighter*
- 2009: Best Actress (nominated), for *Frozen River*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 2011: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *The Fighter*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2013: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *Louie*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/melissa-leo