Exciting news for fans of Filipina actress Dolly de Leon! As the highly anticipated second season of *Nine Perfect Strangers* gears up for its premiere on Prime Video this May 22, Dolly shared a fantastic update: she's already deep into filming *another* international series!
During a recent video interview, Dolly revealed, "I’m doing a series which I already filmed last March." While she couldn't spill too many details yet as the project hasn't been officially announced, she confirmed, "We’ve already started filming last March. And I’m going back in August to continue filming."
Meanwhile, viewers are eager to see Dolly make her global series debut in *Nine Perfect Strangers* Season 2. Set in a secluded resort nestled within the stunning Austrian Alps, the psychological drama once again features Nicole Kidman as the enigmatic wellness guru, Masha Dmitrichenko. She invites nine strangers for a unique week-long retreat promising "transformational wellness," involving unconventional therapies.
Dolly joins an impressive international cast including Nicole Kidman, Henry Golding, Mark Strong, Christine Baranski, and many more. She takes on the role of Agnes, an intriguing character described as an ex-nun and nurse.
Joining such a star-studded lineup could be daunting, and Dolly admitted to feeling the nerves. "I was really nervous about working with the cast because I’m a huge fan of all of them," she shared, recalling her feelings before flying to Europe for filming. "I’ve admired their work for a long time already."
She also added that she was unsure what the personalities would be like or how working on an American/German set would differ, especially as this was her first international series. But watching her performance as Agnes, holding her own alongside Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy winners and nominees, truly highlights her immense talent and the significant impact she's made since her breakthrough in *Triangle of Sadness*.
Dolly had valuable input in shaping the character of Agnes. She worked closely with director Jonathan Levine, discussing Agnes's journey, particularly her past as an ex-nun. "We worked on her together as a team," Dolly explained, emphasizing that this collaboration and agency over her character was something she deeply valued.
Interestingly, the character Agnes is originally from Manila but entered and studied at the convent in Europe, which is where her transition into a nun happened. Dolly noted, "But she really grew up in the Philippines," adding another layer to the character's background.
Dolly shared that both Jonathan Levine, who directed the initial episodes, and Anthony Byrne, who directed the later ones, were wonderful collaborators. They met with each actor individually, listening to their ideas about their characters and giving them ample space to explore and experiment.
Playing Agnes also prompted Dolly to reflect on her own faith. Raised a devout Catholic, she could deeply relate to Agnes, even though she doesn't currently practice. "Confession was a big part of my upbringing and culture... Although now I’m not practicing, I still was able to relate very much with Agnes because Catholicism is a part of my DNA," she said, adding, "You can always take the person out of the religion but not the religion out of the person." She leaned heavily on her past beliefs and her current faith in a higher power to portray Agnes.
Working alongside Nicole Kidman was another highlight. Dolly expected her to be very serious, given her icon status, but found her to be "fun to work with." Nicole knew how to enjoy herself while remaining fully present in the moment.
She also bonded with Henry Golding, discovering his familiarity with the Philippines from his past travel hosting career, even learning to cook chicken adobo. Dolly felt they connected due to their shared biracial background and called him a "lifelong friend" – describing him as cool, funny, and down-to-earth.
Dolly described the cast as a "happy group," bonding well with Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Aras Aydin, Annie Murphy, Murray Bartlett, King Princess, Lucas Englander, and Mark Strong. She felt each person brought something unique to the dynamic, and she learned a lot from everyone.
One of the most memorable filming moments was shooting a scene during a real blizzard in the Austrian Alps. Despite being the only one from a tropical country and feeling intensely cold, Dolly, a University of the Philippines alumna, loved the experience. "It was so much fun because I love snow. It's really fun and it's very magical to me," she shared, calling it a "very, very special day."
Despite the freezing conditions, the production team ensured the cast was well taken care of, providing hot packs for every conceivable body part and ensuring multiple layers of clothing under their costumes.
Beyond the intense scenes, there were plenty of lighthearted moments. Dolly found the dancing and singing scenes particularly funny and enjoyable, especially improvising and rehearsing songs like the one for Murray Bartlett's character.
Reflecting on the show's theme of living in the moment versus dwelling on the past, Dolly admitted it's a challenge for her. While acknowledging the wisdom of letting go of the past, she believes it's crucial for understanding oneself and learning from mistakes to better navigate the present.
This May marks three years since Dolly captivated the world with her performance in Ruben Ostlund's Palme d’Or winner, *Triangle of Sadness*, at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. She has since taken on notable roles in American films like *Ghostlight*, *Between the Temples*, and *Jackpot!*, delivered brilliant voice work in *The Missing* (Iti Mapukpukaw), and returned to theater in *Request sa Radyo*, leading up to her debut in *Nine Perfect Strangers*.
Looking back at her Cannes experience, Dolly fondly recalled it as the "ultimate experience." As her first film festival, first international project, and first red carpet, it holds unparalleled significance. Despite attending many red carpets since, she maintains that "nothing beats the red carpet of Cannes" – calling it overwhelming, magical, and something she'll never forget. Her recognition from that role, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Best Supporting Performance award and a BAFTA nomination, remains a significant part of her journey.
As for what's next, Dolly is excited about the second global series she's working on, having already signed on for two seasons. She mentioned other projects are also in discussion. It seems there's much more to look forward to from this trailblazing Filipina actress on the international stage.
*Nine Perfect Strangers* Season 2 premieres on Prime Video on May 22 with two episodes, followed by weekly releases.
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