Melissa Leo Launches Oscar Ads

Not content to leave her marketing in someone else's hands, Melissa Leo has purchased personal ads touting her to Academy voters. The ads, which ran on entertainment websites and magazines, feature a photo of Leo wearing faux fur with the tagline: "Consider." They make no reference to The Fighter, the movie that earned Leo a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Leo said the ads came after months of frustration with not being able to land magazine covers, which she believes is because of her age, 50 years old, and the fact that she isn't considered a box office draw. "I took matters into my own hands," she said. "I knew what I was doing and told my representation how earnest I was about this idea. I had never heard of any actor taking out an ad as themselves and I wanted to give it a shot."