Melissa Leo sends special shout-out to real Alice Ward
By Chris Pizzello, AP
Melissa Leo has a special wish for an Oscar date.
The actress told USA TODAY's Maria Puente today that she would love to take the woman she played in The Fighter, Alice Ward, to the ceremony.
Ward, 80, the steely mom in the boxer biopic starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale as Micky and Dicky Eklund, went into cardiac arrest earlier this month, and stopped breathing for more than 30 minutes, according to the Boston Globe. She was eventually placed on life support, but later regained consciousness and a family member said she was "doing well," reports the Globe.
Melissa Leo said of Ward: "She's in fragile condition in a Boston hospital, so a shout-out to Alice, much love and all strengths," she said fervently. "It would be super for her to go with me but I don't know if the doctors will think that's a good idea."
As for Leo's Oscar dress? "I'll be thinking about that for many days to come."
And there's "no competition" between her and Amy Adams, also nominated in the best supporting actress same category. "I could not have shot The Fighter (two years ago) without Amy in that freaking hotel," she said. "We had a ball and a blast, I can't wait to see what she's wearing, and yes, Amy, I AM going to to wear high heels!" Adams likes to dress her up, she confided. Delighted.
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