Dolly de Leon on first Hollywood film, working with Kathryn Bernardo
Dolly de Leon
“Of her generation, she is up there on the list of very talented actors,” said actress Dolly de Leon of young star Kathryn Bernardo. The two will begin working together in the screen drama “A Very Good Girl” later this month.
Dolly was asked why she agreed to work on the film to be helmed by Petersen Vargas for Star Cinema. “First of all, I always admire studios that are willing to up their game, get out of the box, and do new things. That’s what Star Cinema is trying to do now—create materials that are relatable to more people. This is a good thing because Star Cinema is breaking boundaries. They’re now more exploratory, experimental and creative. I’m excited that they are making that change,” Dolly explained. “Second is that Petersen is a very talented indie filmmaker. I’m looking forward to collaborating with him and Kathryn.”
Dolly said she was pleased that she has a lot in common with Kathryn in terms of how they work as artists. “We’re both Aries. We’re both quite stubborn, but we can also be flexible. We’re natural-born leaders—Aries people are like that. They are also very passionate about everything. I guess that’s why we’re both very passionate about our craft,” she mused.
Establishing relationships
“We both know what we want, especially how we want to work on the set. I’m very excited because I will get to work with a very talented actress who takes her job seriously,” said Dolly, adding that she first met Kathryn when the latter was only 13.
“Back then, she was very soft-spoken and quiet. Today, she is still soft-spoken and modest, which is nice, but she is now her own woman. She has opinions, and that’s what I love about her. She grew up to become a beautiful human being inside and out. I was able to watch her movies. Napakahusay n’ya!”
Dolly said she met with Kathryn and Petersen recently, in order “for us to get to know each other.” She added: “It’s important that when you’re working with people, you establish a relationship with them. That day, we talked about things that we want established while we’re working, as well as how we can support each other.”
She continued: “This film is very different for both of us. It’s a story of reckoning between two self-made women. It is about how they navigate life being the empowered businesswomen that they are.”
Dolly also pointed out that Kathryn has no love interest in the movie, and explained why. “It’s a testament that women can survive on their own, with no dependence on another person, romantically.”
At the recent Parangal ng Sining organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, where Dolly was an awardee, she was asked whether she now prefers to make mainstream films over indie movies, which she has long been identified with. “I want to keep doing indie films as much as possible, more than studio films,” she declared. In fact, she is featured in two finalists at the upcoming Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, namely Carl Papa’s “Iti Mapukpukaw” (The Missing) and Dustin Celestino Jose’s “Ang Duyan ng Magiting.”
Dolly also did her very first independent Hollywood film, titled “Between the Temples,” alongside American actor Jason Schwartzman. “It’s a fabulous experience because Jason was fun to work with. He’s a great and warm guy. He is very supportive,” she said.
Dolly also has a cameo in Paul Feig’s action-comedy “Grand Death Lotto,” starring John Cena, Awkwafina and Simu Liu. However, the actress said she couldn’t talk about her role for fear of spoiling the story for its audience. She did let on that it was shot in Atlanta, Georgia, and that she got to work closely with Sean Scott Williams.
Supportive
“Paul, the director, is very talented, irreverent and funny, but at the same time, he’s very gentlemanly. Officially, that’s my very first Hollywood studio film, and it was great. It felt good to be part of it. I felt very safe on the set. Everybody was so supportive. The culture there was that we’re all equals and we work as a team. I appreciated that.”
She will be flying to Germany in August to work on the second season of a series that is currently streaming on Prime Video. “It’s an eight-part series, the title of which I cannot reveal yet. For this, I will be staying in Germany until March [of 2024],” she said.
Dolly just finished the local adaptation of the Korean film “Keys to the Heart,” which also stars Zanjoe Marudo and Elijah Canlas under Reality MM Studios.
“Elijah is not only gifted with talent, he is also gifted with charm, charisma and kindness—that’s what I love about him. I’m so proud to have been able to work with him. I play his mother there. Zanjoe plays my elder son. He is super OK. He has always been very chill as a person,” Dolly said of her young coactors.
She is also part of the unreleased “Simula sa Gitna” by Antoinette Jadaone, which stars Maris Racal and Khalil Ramos. Another indie that Dolly is part of, Teng Mangansakan’s “Salome,” is currently in postproduction, she reported.
