Renowned Filipino actress Dolly de Leon, who garnered international acclaim for her role as Abigail in “Triangle of Sadness,” has embarked on a new chapter in her career, bidding farewell to the character that earned her Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. De Leon, currently in Germany preparing for the Hulu series “Nine Perfect Strangers,” reflects on the challenge of letting go of Abigail, acknowledging its impact on her well-being.
“I was carrying Abigail for a long time,” de Leon reveals during a Zoom interview. “She was getting in the way, without me being even aware of it. It was driving me a bit crazy.”
Despite the struggle to move past “Triangle of Sadness,” de Leon seamlessly transitions to two diverse projects showcased at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, showcasing her versatility. In “Between the Temples,” a comedy, she portrays the Jewish stepmother of a depressed cantor (Jason Schwartzman), offering a character with peculiar controlling tendencies.
“She cares deeply about her stepson, but she just has a really weird way of showing it,” de Leon explains. “She wants everything perfect and done according to her own standards. And she believes her stepson is capable of doing more, but she’s just so frustrated that he’s not putting in the effort into making his life better.”
In “Ghostlight,” a poignant exploration of grief, de Leon takes on the role of Rita, a member of an amateur theater group who helps an emotionally damaged construction worker heal after their performance in “Romeo & Juliet.” Rita’s journey prompts de Leon to reevaluate her own professional path.
“I empathized with her,” de Leon admits. “But it also made me realize that I might be putting too much stock in my hardships as an actor. There are a lot of people going through much tougher challenges in their lives.”
The success of “Triangle of Sadness” has propelled de Leon into new opportunities in the U.S., yet it comes with its own set of challenges. “The downside is people still talk to me about Abigail,” she notes. “And sometimes, it’s like, ‘Can we just get over it?’ It’s like everyone’s expecting me to match that performance. But I’ve tried to not let that get in the way of how I work, because that’s going to screw me over. It’s time to let that go and just find the truth behind all the characters that I’m going to play in the future.”
Consciously steering away from roles reminiscent of Abigail, de Leon expresses her desire to explore a diverse range of characters. “I want to stay away from that as much as possible,” she affirms. “It’s not fun playing the same character every single time. I want to explore other people.” As she continues her journey, Dolly de Leon remains committed to authenticity and the pursuit of varied roles that challenge and inspire her craft.
