Melissa Chessington Leo is an American actress and producer. She received an Oscar for her roles in The Frozen River and The Fighter. The actress also won awards: Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, Emmy. Viewers know Leo from the films: "Slaughter Department", "Veronica Decides to Die", "The Fall of Olympus", "The Fall of London", "The Great Equalizer", "The Great Equalizer 2".
She began her creative biography in the mid-80s of the last century. Her film work has been highly acclaimed by film critics and audiences. The actress has won many awards, among which was the main cinematic award - "Oscar".
At the beginning of her career, Melissa played several roles in independent films.
Leo's career on the big screen began with the movie Always. Today she has more than one hundred and twenty roles in numerous film projects.
early years
The girl was born in the USA in the fall of 1960. Her mother worked as a teacher at a school, and her father was a newspaper publisher.
After receiving secondary education, Melissa went to university, choosing the profession of an economist. But the desire to be creative at some point changed the whole life of the future actress.
After studying for a couple of years at the university, she dropped out, realizing that she was more interested not in doing serious work and business, but in art and cinema.
Film career
Already in the mid-80s, Leo received several roles in independent films. And then she loudly declared herself as a talented actress, starring in a number of television projects.
Entering the cast of the television project "All My Children", Melissa played her role perfectly. As a result, she won the prestigious Emmy Award. After successfully working on a project where she starred for a year, Leo continued on her way to the top of fame.
The following works of the artist were the films: "Always", "Miami Police: Department of Morals", "The Equalizer", "Spencer", "Law & Order", "Bride in Black", "Venice / Venice".
In the television series "Slaughter Department" Leo got the role of detective Kay Howard - the only woman who worked in the criminal department. The film told about the work of the police in Baltimore, as well as detectives who were involved in the investigation of serious crimes.
Melissa starred in the series for five seasons. It was this role that brought the actress the greatest popularity. The Slaughter Division has been nominated for multiple film awards: Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Sputnik, Television Critics Association, NAACP Image Award.
The role in the film The Frozen River brought the famous actress an Oscar, and a few years later she again became the owner of the highest award for her work in the film The Fighter.
The work of the actress can be seen in projects such as: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "Law & Order", "Detective Rush", "Veronica Mars", "Criminal Minds", "Blackmail", "Shark", "The Right to murder”,“Veronica prevents her from dying”,“Welcome to Riley”,“The Crew”,“Dangerous Illusion”,“Playing on the Descent”.
Russian viewers, especially fans of action movies, Leo is well known for the films The Fall of Olympus and The Fall of London, where she played Ruth Macmillan. And also on the films "The Great Equalizer" and "The Great Equalizer 2", in which she played the role of Susan Plummer.
Personal life
Melissa does not like to give interviews and talk about her personal and family life.
It is known that John Heard became her husband. In 1987, their son, John Matthew, was born. A few years later, Melissa and John adopted another boy named Adam.
