Dolly De Leon to shoot TV series with Nicole Kidman in Germany for six months

The Hollywood actors' strike has ended, allowing international star Dolly De Leon to discuss her exciting projects abroad with the entertainment press.

"Pwede ko na sabihin ang mga projects ko dahil tapos na ang actors' strike sa Hollywood," said Dolly, during a media conference in Quezon City on Nov. 21. (I can talk about my projects because the actors' strike in Hollywood is over.)

Dolly said she will fly to Munich, Germany, to shoot for six months with Oscar winner Nicole Kidman in the TV series "Nine Perfect Strangers."

"I am excited to meet Nicole Kidman. Hindi pa kami nagkikita. Mag-start pa lang kami mag-shoot sa January and doon ko pa lamang siya ma-me-meet," she said.

Dolly added: "Balita ko method actor daw siya. Hindi ko lang sure masyado kung makakapag-bond kami  because sa method acting lagi silang in-character. I'm also excited to work with Murray Bartlett na sobrang napakahusay na aktor. Siya yung sa The Last of Us and The White Lotus. Marami kaminn scenes together ni Murray dahil yung character niya at character ko magiging close. So excited ako makatrabaho siya at saka si Liv Ullman, an Ingrid Bergman actress."

(I heard that she is a method actor. I'm not too sure if we can bond because, in method acting, they are always in character. I'm also excited to work with Murray Bartlett who is a very good actor. He was in The Last of Us and The White Lotus. Murray and I have a lot of scenes together because his character and my character will be close. So I'm excited to work with him and Liv Ullman, the Ingrid Bergman actress.)

After starring in the hit movie "A Very Good Girl," Dolly stated that she had not accepted any local projects.

"Sa ngayon I'm in the middle of reading scripts. Pero for next year wala pa so far kasi yung Nine Perfect Strangers anim na buwan ako sa Munich. Yung buong kalahati ng 2024 hindi na ako available. So right now, we're reading scripts, considering things, and we'll see if any of those scripts will work out. But I would still love to work here. 

(Right now I'm in the middle of reading scripts. But for next year, because of 'Nine Perfect Strangers,' I'll be in Munich for six months. For the whole half of 2024, I'm no longer available. So right now, we're reading scripts, considering things, and we'll see if any of those scripts will work out. But I would still love to work here.)

"Marami pa rin directors dito sa Pilipinas na hindi ko pa nakaka trabaho na gusto kong ma-experience. And because I love our industry here I want to be a part of that change that is currently happening in our industry. I want to make it possible," she said.

(There are still many directors here in the Philippines that I have not yet worked with and I want to experience working with them. And because I love our industry here I want to be a part of that change that is currently happening in our industry. I want to make it possible.)

When asked about the local stars she would love to collaborate with in the future, Dolly answered: "I want to work with Mikhail Red, and Raymond Red. Gusto ko makatrabaho lahat ng Red. Pati si James Red. Nakatrabaho ko na siya sa isang soap dati. I want to work with people like Jodie Sta. Maria. I've never worked with her. I want to work with Vilma Santos. Jericho Rosales. Kapag may nagtanong bakit hindi ko binaggit si ganito? Ibig sabihin naka-trabaho ko na siya."

Dolly said she's excited to be a member of the Screen Actors Guild who will vote at the Oscars. "I requested that they send me screeners. Yes! Makakapanood na rin ako ng sine ng libre!" (Yes! I can watch movies for free.)

The Golden Globe nominee for the critically acclaimed movie 'Triangle of Sadness" has pointed out that Filipino movies joining the Oscars should raise money for promotion.

This year, the Philippines submitted the film Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing), an animated movie that won Best Film at the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Film Festival, for the Best International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards. The 2024 Oscars will be held in Los Angeles, California on March 10. 

"We need at least P6 million. Kasi ang fee pa lamang ng PR person is US$20,000. Kasi yung PR sila lahat ang gumagawa ng trabaho. Sila ang humahawak ng schedule ng interview, sceenings, booking restaurant. So malaking pera talaga ang kailangan. Balita ko marami na rin ang tumutulong. We're doing a lot of activities to make sure it takes off. It has to happen soon because by the middle of December, sarado na ang voting. I believe the movie needs to be seen by many people," Dolly said.

The award-winning actress also said she begged off from the Oscars to vote in the Best International Feature Film category because she has lent her voice to the animated Filipino flick.

Managers in PH

Dolly has also joined CreaZion Studios, her talent management in the Philippines. She received a warm welcome from key people of the talent management group at the press conference. "Sila ang manager ko sa Pilipinas."

"We have the same values. We love the Philippine cinema. We were very alike in so many ways. Dahil doon, I realize that it can be a good partnership. It's something that I need to stir me. Wala naman kasi akong alam sa side na yun ng industriya. Alam ko lang umarte. They are experts when it comes to that side that I'm not and I'm not familiar with. 

"So nakita we have the same vision for Philippine cinema. We have the same passion for Philippine cinema, we have the same love for the industry. I want to work with people like that. For me, the mark of a true artist is someone who constantly wants to improve and change. CreaZion has that," she said.

Dolly added: "I had a manager one year kami pero they decided na masyadong stressful i-manage ako. So nag-resign siya. Tinanggap ko naman yung resignation niya. Maganda naman yung breakup namin and we're still good friends. Mahal ko pa rin s'ya. It's just doesn't working out. It wasn't the kind of partnership that would help us."

She also revealed that she will be starring in two more Hollywood movies: Grand Death Lotto and Between the Temples.

So how has Hollywood and fame changed Dolly? The actress said: "Mas confident na ako ngayon. Hindi na ako masyadong mahiyain. Introvert kasi talaga ako eh. Mahiyain. Hindi na ako ganun ka-insecure."