Melissa Leo opened up about how winning an Academy Award did nothing positive for her career, revealing that she did better professionally before the win. While many actors hope to be bestowed with this prestigious honor, Leo said she never wished for it and had no desire to win one. She also shared her experience accepting the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter for the first time.
Melissa Leo explains why winning an Oscar wasn’t good for her career
In a conversation with The Guardian, Leo was asked what her thoughts were while walking up the stage and accepting her first Oscar for her performance in The Fighter. She said, “One loses one’s mind. I had won a lot of prestigious awards for The Fighter that season, and sat in that great gigantic theatre thinking: “Well, it certainly is possible.” Leo revealed that Kirk Douglas was the presenter for the Supporting Actress category. After he opened the envelope and announced her name, the only thing on her mind was her excitement at the prospect of meeting Douglas.
She added, “I turned to the house, which in most theatres, you can see by looking a little above your own eyesight. In the Dolby Theatre, you have to raise your chin like you’re about to scale Mount Everest. Every single actor, director, and producer you recognise is staring you in the face.” Further admitting she cursed and thanking the censorship on television, Leo elaborated, “I then cursed, and I’m still sorry I cursed. I f*cking curse all the time, but you cannot curse on network television. Thank God for the 10-second delay, which was introduced for f*cking idiots like me.”
Leo added that she never aimed for or desired an Oscar. Despite having won one, she believes it has done no “good” for her career, admitting that she did “better” professionally before earning the honor.
Originally reported by Shazmeen Navrange for ComingSoon.
