Even though Melissa Leo has been acting since the mid-80s it took a small role in an overrated film like Frozen River to earn her an Oscar nomination, additional attention and now a role in David O. Russell’s The Fighter alongside Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg.
The Fighter is set up at Paramount Pictures and tells the story of Boston fighter “Irish” Mickey Ward (Wahlberg) and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Dicky Eklund (Bale). Leo will play the mother of Bale and Wahlberg.
The film is set to begin filming this summer.
Leo recently completed filming on Betty Anne Walters alongside Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell for Tony Goldwyn. She will also be seen opposite James Gandolfini and Kristen Stewart in the upcoming indie Meet the Rileys.
