tribute to Melissa Leo

The 81st Annual Academy Awards is on the 22nd of February and I'm overexcited, because one of my favourite actresses Melissa Leo has finally got nominated as Actress In A Leading Role.

She plays Ray Eddy, an impoverished mother who becomes involved in a smuggling ring in an attempt to avoid losing her home. The film is called "Frozen River".

That is Melissa Leo's first Academy Award nomination and I'll keep my fingers crossed for her.

Melissa has been acting for more than 25 years. She started as actor's actor and never became really famous. Most of her roles were and still are supporting or bit parts, and she merges into each and every of them really well.

In the 90ies Melissa performed wonderfully in "Homicide: Life On The Streets" as Sgt. Kay Howard. I remeber watching the pilot. That beautiful detective looked up from the papers and said to a newbie "Homicide, we work for God". There was something in her voice that got to me and kept me glued to the tv-show for years. Homicide detectives worked for God, as the God himself was too smart to come 'round Baltimore streets.

Later she took part in "21 Gram", one mesmerizing movie. That was a story of four gentle persons, who would be brought together by a terrible accident that would change their lives. By the final frame, none of them would be the same as they would learn harsh truths about love, faith, courage, desire and guilt, and how chance could change their worlds irretrievably, forever. Melissa's performance was stunning in this movie, and once more I exclaimed that she should be nominated for Best Actress.

This year she is and I'm rooting for her.