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This is an excerpt from The Movers and Shakers feature in MEGA June 2025 issue
Before actress Dolly de Leon appeared in Hollywood’s radar with her critically acclaimed performance in the 2023 satirical black comedy Triangle of Sadness, she already has an extensive body of work in Philippine theater and in independent and mainstream films.
RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Dolly de Leon Finds Her Place in Hollywood
“Whatever offer I would get, I would say yes to, even if they need me tomorrow—if they need me today, okay, let’s do it,” she says in a matter-of-fact tone. “What role, who cares? I’ll just do it. It was like that before, there were no choices available.” And this is the explanation for her numerous and diverse roles throughout her nearly 38-year career. “I just trusted the script and did what was asked of me by the director and whatever the lead actor needed to make them look better—because actors like me were there to support the lead.”
So when a friend contacted de Leon to audition for Triangle of Sadness, she said yes, like she does when offered an opportunity, not knowing that it would catapult her to international fame. “I knew it was going to be a beautiful film,” she admits. “I knew it was going to be a success, but I didn’t think that I would get any kind of recognition.” But recognition did come. Critics praised her performance, she won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award and the Guldbagge Award for Best Supporting Actress, and she became the first Filipino to receive nominations for the Golden Globe Award and the BAFTA Award in the same category.
A working actress to the core, de Leon continues with new projects, from local productions to international projects that premiered at the Sundance Festival. De Leon will next star alongside Nicole Kidman in the season 2 of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers and in Netflix’s hit series Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2.
“I found it strange,” de Leon says about the international fame that came after working in the industry for more than 35 years. “I’ve been working for decades and then all of the sudden people are taking notice of what I’m doing. I was just happy being on the sidelines before and doing my job… it’s only now that I’ve come to terms with it.”
Even with all the international acclaim, de Leon remains clear eyed about her career and the Philippine cinema industry. She continues to work in the local entertainment industry and champions for a safer work environment for her fellow actors.
To actors who are faithfully working on their craft and waiting for their own breakthroughs, she says, “Stop thinking of having a breakthrough and just work. Just keep at it and say yes to everything. The only way to get more jobs is for people to see you, and the only way to learn more about your craft is to do it.”
Read more of MEGA’s Pinoy Pride Awardees in MEGA June 2025 issue now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photography by JERICK SANCHEZ. Creative Direction by BRIE VENTURA. Fashion Direction by ROKO ARCEO. Fashion Associate ERICA TEROL. Editorial Assistant THESSMAR LECTURA. Photographer’s assistants KARL RIMANDO, BUDDY REYES, and DAVE ORPILLA. Makeup BOTSWAYNA. Hair MATT LEDESMA. Shot on Location at The Manila Peninsula.
