Born 1960 (age 65) · Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Appears in 137 titles

Melissa Leo (born September 14, 1960) is an American actress. She made her acting debut in 1985, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in the Drama Series “All My Children”. Her most notable role as was as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on “Homicide: Life on the Street” for the show's first five seasons from 1993–1997. Following several films, Leo received critical acclaim and national attention in earning several nominations and awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Leo earned several awards for her role as Alice Ward in the critically acclaimed film, “The Fighter” (2010). For this role Leo won the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Leo currently appears on the television series Treme.  Leo currently resides in Stone Ridge, New York and two sons John Matthew Heard (born 1987), and Adam (adopted - born 1984).

Filmography

Prisoners
8.1
Prisoners
2013
as Holly Jones
Oblivion
6.7
Oblivion
2013
as Sally
The Equalizer
7.3
The Equalizer
2014
as Susan Plummer
The Big Short
7.4
The Big Short
2015
as Georgia Hale
Olympus Has Fallen
6.4
Olympus Has Fallen
2013
as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
Flight
6.9
Flight
2012
as Ellen Block
The Equalizer 2
6.8
The Equalizer 2
2018
as Susan Plummer
London Has Fallen
6.2
London Has Fallen
2016
as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
The Fighter
7.4
The Fighter
2010
as Alice Ward
Snowden
7.1
Snowden
2016
as Laura Poitras
The Equalizer 3
7.3
The Equalizer 3
2023
as Susan Plummer
21 Grams
7.3
21 Grams
2003
as Marianne Jordan
Hide and Seek
6.3
Hide and Seek
2005
as Laura
Righteous Kill
5.9
Righteous Kill
2008
as Cheryl
Thunder Force
5.5
Thunder Force
2021
as Allie
Everybody's Fine
6.8
Everybody's Fine
2009
as Colleen
Red State
6.1
Red State
2011
as Sara
Charlie Countryman
6.4
Charlie Countryman
2013
as Kate
Conviction
7.1
Conviction
2010
as Nancy Taylor
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada