Profile photo of Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo

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

2013
Prisoners

as Holly Jones

Movie
2025
Guns Up

as Michael Temple

Movie
2013
Olympus Has Fallen

as Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan

Movie
2012
Flight

as Ellen Block

Movie
2014
The Equalizer

as Susan Plummer

Movie
2005
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

as Rachel

Movie