After breaking barriers in Hollywood with her acclaimed performance in “Triangle of Sadness,” veteran actress Dolly de Leon believes the next milestone for Filipino artists is to bring authentic Filipino stories to audiences around the world.
Speaking during CSA’s “Beyond Talent: Dolly De Leon on Craft, Career and What’s Next,” the Bafta and Golden Globe nominee reflected on her flourishing international career and shared that the growing recognition of Filipino talent has created opportunities that seemed impossible before.
“For me, what’s really important is that we tell our stories. We’ve spent enough time telling other people’s stories and representing them. Let’s talk about us because we have so many stories to share with the world. I want us to be authentically Filipino,” de Leon said during the event.
De Leon rose to international prominence after portraying Abigail in Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or-winning satire “Triangle of Sadness,” earning historic Best Supporting Actress nominations at the BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards — the first Filipino actor to receive acting nominations from both organizations.
Since then, she has built an impressive international résumé that spans prestige television, streaming franchises and major studio animation. Her latest projects include Apple TV+’s “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed,” where she plays Detective Sofia Gonzalez; Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Seasons 2 and 3 as the royal twins Lo and Li; and DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island,” where she voices Lola Fatima in an original feature inspired by Philippine mythology.
Of all her recent international projects, however, de Leon said “Forgotten Island” stands out as the most personally meaningful because it allows Filipino culture and mythology to reach a worldwide audience through a major Hollywood studio.
De Leon said early audience reactions have made the experience even more rewarding, especially after hearing about standing ovations and positive reviews following advance screenings.
“It’s a wonderful feeling that our story, as Filipinos, is now being appreciated around the world. People are beginning to see that our stories are worth telling and that we’re interesting people. We’re funny, we’re talented, and we have so many stories to tell. That’s why I’m proud to be part of this animated film, and I can’t wait for everyone to watch it.”
Beyond featuring Filipino-inspired characters, de Leon emphasized that the film was carefully developed authentically, from its mythology to its portrayal of Filipino values.
“It’s super Filipino-based. They really did their extensive research to get our stories right — from our folklore and mythical creatures to our culture of family and friendship. The only thing that’s not Filipino is the language because they want to reach a broader audience,” she added.
Meanwhile, working on “Avatar: The Last Airbender” became another reminder of how far Filipino representation has come, as she found herself surrounded by fellow Filipinos both in front of and behind the camera.
“I was surprised by how many Filipinos were there. My body double was Filipino, one of our directors was Filipino, and there were Filipinos working throughout the production. It’s something to be proud of because we’re no longer just behind the scenes. We’re also being recognized in front of the camera.”
Having witnessed the industry’s evolution firsthand over the past few years, de Leon believes Hollywood is becoming more open to diverse voices.
“I think Hollywood is opening its doors now. The timing of ‘Triangle of Sadness’ was just right. If it had happened in the ‘80s, I don’t think I would’ve gotten work after that. But now the world is different, and there are so many opportunities. It’s almost our turn. Soon we won’t be the underdogs anymore.”
Even as she takes on more international roles, de Leon said she has remained intentional about preserving her Filipino identity onscreen, including the way she speaks.
“I’m very happy playing my roles with my natural Filipino accent. I’m not concerned about sounding American. If they want to cast an American, then they should cast an American. I’ll use my own accent or variations of our Filipino accent because that’s who I am.”
Asked what advice she would give young Filipino actors dreaming of breaking into Hollywood, de Leon stressed that success comes from practice and preparation.
“Keep working even if you’re not getting a job. Read scripts, find friends who share the same passion, rehearse together, watch as many films and shows as you can and learn from the greats. Acting is doing, so expose yourself to as much art and as many creative people as possible,” she ended.