Dolly de Leon on breaking free from Hollywood stereotypes

It's a role that feels especially meaningful for de Leon, who, after decades of work in the Philippines and a career-defining international breakthrough, continues to redefine what Filipino actors can look like onscreen. When asked what it means to portray a woman whose competence is simply accepted, de Leon doesn't hesitate. “It is the best,” she says. “That's why I love David Rosen, because he trusted me enough to cast me and give me this role.”

For her, the excitement extends beyond personal achievement. “I wish that this could happen more often, not just to me, but to many other actors who are looking for that kind of representation,” de Leon says. “We are not tropes. We are not caricatures. We are real people, and we are all over the world. Everywhere I go, there's a Filipino. We come in all forms, shapes and professions. I think that it's about time that we're out there.”

Hollywood, on her own terms 

That authenticity extends to Sofia herself. One of the character's most memorable qualities isn't just her confidence, but the subtle Filipino details woven throughout her performance, from the way she speaks to the quiet familiarity of snacks of choice such as cashew nuts (kasoy). What makes the portrayal so compelling is that nothing feels exaggerated. The 57-year-old actress never flattens her accent nor molds herself into a conventional television detective. “My accent choice was my own,” de Leon explains. “I imagined what it would be like for someone who migrated to the United States after college. I didn't want her to try to sound like them.”

Instead, Sofia expects the world to meet her where she is. It's a philosophy rooted in character, rather than performance. “She will not adjust to anyone,” de Leon says. “She will talk the way she talks. She will not change how she says things so people will understand her better. The world will have to adjust to her. Sofia Gonzalez is a 'you can't mess with me. I'll do what I want' person. That's where the accent comes from.”

Even when Sofia isn't speaking, de Leon's performance reveals layers beneath the surface. She shares creating an inner life for the detective and says audiences are only seeing half the story. “We only see her professional life,” she says. “But she does have a personal life, and I think that carries into her professional life.”

De Leon deliberately leaves those details unsaid, preferring audiences to piece them together through Sofia's body language, reactions and interactions. “I would love for the audience to guess what she's like in her personal life. You can see hints of that in how she carries herself,” she says.

For de Leon, whose breakout role in the film Triangle of Sadness catapulted her onto the international stage, success hasn't fundamentally changed what she wants from acting. Instead, it has expanded what's possible. Her relationship with representation, however, has evolved dramatically. “In the beginning, I felt it was a real burden. I actually hated it,” she admits. “I just wanted to work. I love my job. I wanted to do meaningful work, work with like-minded people and make a living. That's all I wanted. I didn't want to carry this burden of representing.”

Today, she sees it differently. “I'm just having fun. If people think I'm representing the Philippines, so be it. I'll try my best to do a great job so I can help pave the way for more actors,” De Leon shares.

It's a mission she embraces not because she feels obligated to, but because she knows how much talent exists back home. “There are so many talented Filipino actors, and they deserve a place in the world that I'm in right now,” she says. 

A dream come true 

Working alongside Emmy winner Maslany was another dream realized. A longtime fan, de Leon expected brilliance and wasn't disappointed. “What surprised me,” she says with a smile, “was that I was able to survive being in a scene with her.” Rather than feeling intimidated, Maslany helped create an environment in which de Leon could simply be present. “She was really able to help me be in the scene with her.”

The experience of filming Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed remains one of the highlights of her career. “It was the best,” she shares. “I learned so much from my co-actors—not just Tatiana, but Jon Michael Hill, Murray Bartlett, the cast, the crew. This is my first Apple TV+ show. It's a dream come true.”

As audiences continue watching Sofia’s story unfold, de Leon hopes they take away more than just an entertaining detective. “I hope she's representative of every powerful woman working in a proverbial man's world who can hold her own,” she says.

Looking ahead, de Leon isn't slowing down. She'll return to the United States later this year to film two independent movies, while continuing to work in the Philippines, a balance she's come to appreciate.

If Hollywood has finally caught up to de Leon, she's already looking toward what's next. One dream role still remains: portraying someone living with psychosis, perhaps something as psychologically demanding as the 2016 M. Night Shyamalan film Split.

Given everything she's accomplished in just the past few years, it feels less like wishful thinking and more like a matter of time.