The Oscar-winning actress discusses playing Laura Poitras in Oliver Stones Snowden.
I know that you met briefly with Laura.
But is that something you would normally seek out?
Melissa Leo: In this instance, not a good idea.
The movie is not about Laura Poitras.
But in the film she is a supporting player.
Do you see what I mean?
I could only guess at what kind of angles she went for.
I could only guess at how she would have had her camera set in that room from watchingCitizenfour.
So those were the kinds of trails of real-life information I was taking in.
Just the swirl of emotions and tension and whatever else was happening in there?
I could easily just say, No, not really.
But there was something at that meeting, and your question reminds me of it.
Im thinking love, but its not strong enough.
She adores Edward Snowden and feels extremely protective of him.
She doesnt really think much about herself and her needs.
Shes not thinking about herself.
And did that feed into doing this film?
Yes, I am a product of my upbringing.
[laughs] I think anybody is, whether you try and walk away from it not.
I grew up in a time when there was a lot of unconventional living going on.
But my folks were pretty early in that movement of unconventional living.
Im sorry to hear that.
I know she would be very, very proud of me playing Laura Poitras.
Its a tribute to her in another kind of way.
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Were there any of his early films that really mean a lot to you personally?
My experience of film is not the experience of filmgoers.
Im not much of a filmgoer.
And to have this now on my resume of an Oliver Stone…that in itself is just remarkable.
So, super proud to be a part of it.
Amazed that I was asked.
What was your own learning curve in terms of the real-life story of Edward Snowden?
What did you know going into this?
What do you know now coming out of it?
And I know so little about the real world.
It aids and abets my work better than being distracted by the outside world.
You probably sleep better at night, too.
I can sleep at night!
A few hours, a few moments on the radio in the morning of whats going on out there.
And then I just cannot listen anymore.
It hurts me too bad.
I think its all nonsense.
So I dont pay that much attention.
[Regarding Snowden] I probably thought something along the lines of, So whats new?
That confuses this child.
So Im very proud to be a part of telling this story.
If somebody said, Hey, dads not behaving well.
I think we should talk about it.
Im going to say something to you and I hope you take it as a compliment.
My wife and I will watch movies, and my wife will say, Wow.
Melissa Leo was great in that movie.
And Ill be like, That was Melissa Leo?
Is that something you make a point of doing?
Its an interesting little factoid.
It sounds to me rather on purpose, of something he and his hairdresser are working on.
I dont know that Ive ever done that so much on purpose.
I havent led my life and work.
My life and work has led me.
It just interests me more.
I learned in acting school you cannot leave yourself behind.
You are the tool.
You are the instrument.
So Melissa will be present in every character whether you recognize her or not.
But I love when somebody finally sees my brown eyes and goes, Oh my god!
Or hears my voice.
And Ive been told several times my voice is the most recognizable.
So dont feel bad.
I take it as an extreme compliment.
Its not what Im meaning to do.
But it is a part of what I do.
I dont work on bringing myself into the role, because I know I will be there.
I work on: what are those things that are far away from her?
I asked again, and again, and again.
Thats got to be interesting.
Not controversial at all.
[laughs] I think it will be a total eye-opener for people.
And Madalyn got up there on a soapbox and she liked it and continued.
So I play Madalyn from 36 to her death close to 80.
It was shot in 18 days.
I havent seen it yet, but it was an extraordinary thing to be a part of.
Theres a lot about Madalyn, especially the end of her life, that nobody knows about.
I really hope to reveal that.
Snowdenis out in theaters today (September 16).
