Melissa Leo admits winning an Oscar “wasn’t good for me”

Melissa Leo is opening up about her experience as an Academy Award winner.

“Winning an Oscar has not been good for me or my career,” shared the 65-year-old actress during a recent Q&A session for The Guardian.

“I didn’t dream of it, I never wanted it, and I had a much better career before I won.”

In 2011, Leo secured a win in the Best Supporting Actress category at the Oscars for her work in the David O. Russell boxing drama The Fighter.

Co-starring with actors such as Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams, and fellow Oscar recipient Christian Bale, the popular film earned her multiple accolades, including an Emmy-winning appearance on Louie in 2013, as well as roles in the 2015 show Wayward Pines and the 2017 movie The Most Hated Woman in America.

“One loses one’s mind,” she reflected when asked about her feelings upon becoming an Oscar winner.

“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.’”

Meeting presenter Kirk Douglas was “all I was thinking about,” Leo continued. “Every single actor, director and producer you recognise, is staring you in the face.”

She explained, “I then cursed, and I’m still sorry I cursed. I f---ing curse all the time, but you cannot curse on network television. Thank God for the 10-second delay, which was introduced for f---ing idiots like me.”

Leo further expressed dissatisfaction regarding her acting roles, especially when asked about her selection process.

“My work chooses me,” she stated.“I’m happy to play what I’m offered – apart from after The Fighter, when all I was offered was older, nasty women. I don’t want to do that anymore.”

The award winner mentioned a strong desire to portray a princess or queen. “I want lovely fancy costumes, maybe from another period. Years ago, I made a film called A Time of Destiny, which was set in the 40s. Not all actors can fit in period pieces because they feel too modern, but I can play goodies and baddies – past, present and future.”

Following her appearances in the Kevin James and Christina Ricci film Guns Up and the Nnamdi Asomugha and Aja Naomi King movie The Knife last year, Leo's next venture is in Passenger, directed by André Øvredal.