Dolly de Leon recalls first time meeting friend Iza Calzado

Award-winning actresses Dolly de Leon and Iza Calzado. Images: Instagram/@dollyedeleon and @missizacalzado

At a time when she was — as she put it — a “nobody,” Dolly de Leon revealed having a delightful first encounter with her now friend Iza Calzado.

During a recent guesting on the Kapamilya talk show “Magandang Buhay,” de Leon received several recorded messages from friends and colleagues from the entertainment industry, including Calzado. In her reaction to the outpour of love, the Golden Globe nominee opened up about the first time she met the “Starting Over Again” actress.

“[T]he first time I met her sa taping ng isang show — ano ako do’n diction coach ako — siya ‘yung lumapit sa’kin, na ‘di niya ‘ko kilala. Lumapit lang siya [at sabi niya,] ‘Hi, are you the diction coach of this actor?’ Sabi ko, ‘Yes,'” shared de Leon, who added how Calzado’s warmth gave off the feeling that they’ve known each other for years.

(The first time I met her during a taping of a show — I was a diction coach then — she approached me first, when she did not know me. She just came up to me and said, “Hi, are you the diction coach of this actor?” I said, “Yes.”)

“‘Yung ang warm, warm niya [sa’kin] na parang antagal na naming magkakilala. And nobody ako no’n ha. ‘Yan si Iza Calzado for you. She’s really such a warm human being. Anlaki ng puso (The way that she was very warm toward me that it seemed like we’ve known each other for a long time. And I was a nobody then. That’s Iza Calzado for you. She’s really such a warm human being. She has a big heart),” she expressed.

Earlier, an emotional de Leon also revealed how the mom of one was among those who helped her when she was gearing up for the premiere of “Triangle of Sadness” at the Cannes Film Festival. The Ruben Ostlund feature, for which she received international acclaim, won the Palme d’Or on the 75th edition of the film festival.

The theater arts graduate shared that at the time she had no dress and money, and was clueless about what goes on during a festival and premiere. She sought assistance from the “SEC-registered nonprofit, nonstock organization” AKTOR: League of Filipino Actors.

“Iza was one of those who helped; siya (her), si Paulo Avelino, si chair Dong [Dingdong Dantes]. Tinulungan talaga nila ‘ko, as in anlaki ng tulong nila (They really helped me, as in their help was huge),” shared the single mom to four kids.

It was also through Calzado that de Leon got connected to fashion designer Rajo Laurel, who created the “ALON” stunner that the best supporting actress nominee wore at the 76th British Academy Film Awards.

“Iza suggested that I reach out to Dolly as there was a huge buzz about the film @triangleofsad that she was doing. I reached out to Dolly on Instagram offering my services back in Sept 2022,” shared Laurel in an Instagram post.

Meanwhile, in her video greeting for de Leon, Calzado said that she’s grateful for her friend “because she is a true testament of God’s mighty plans for all of us.”

“Yung tinatawag talaga nating, ‘Kung ano ang para sa’yo ay talagang darating para sa’yo sa takdang panahon (It’s really what we call, “What’s intended for you will truly come to you at the right time),” expounded the 41-year-old former Kapuso actress. EDV