OK, we talked about Natalie Portman and Christian Bale in yesterday’s post. Now it’s time to focus on Melissa Leo, who wowed everybody in “The Fighter” as Mark Wahlberg’s kick-ass mom (even though she’s not that much older than he is).

I thought Leo was sensational in “Frozen River,” the indie film for which she received a Best Actress nom, but she was equally good in “The Fighter.” Will she win this time? Apparently, she turned off members of the Academy by taking out her own “For Your Consideration” ads in the Hollywood trades. I thought the move was pretty gutsy myself.

Want to know why she did it? Check out this interview with The Daily Beast’s Jacob Bernstein . Here’s an excerpt about the ad campaign.

“I’ve been busting my ass, trying to get the movie sold and seen, and now I show up where they ask, get put into hair and makeup that they pay for, so I can promote this thing [and campaign]. So I’m a little confused. I thought this is what we’re doing. This is what all the girls are doing.”

I love her for not playing the game. Or for playing it her way. She’s unique in Hollywood – an actress who finally achieved stardom in middle age, which is usually Death Valley for women – and I’m rooting for her to win. She’s in a tough category, but I think she’s plenty tough enough to take home the little man in gold.