Dolly de Leon on her success after 'Triangle of Sadness': 'Maybe the big break is a myth'

Despite bagging historic nominations for her outstanding performance in the film "Triangle of Sadness," Dolly De Leon said that she does not feel she had a big break.

In an interview with Dr. Anna Tuazon in "Share Ko Lang," Dolly said that she prefers not to label the success she recently achieved.

"I think that it's really so many years of working, three decades of working, nagkataon lang na itong pelikulang ito na nakatanggap siya ng recognition overseas. And then dahil nagkaroon ng recognition overseas, binigyan ako ng pansin ng mga tao dito," she said.

Dolly said the way people look at her in the Philippines changed, thinking that she had a big break because of that recognition from other countries.

"I don't know, siguro meron tayong colonial mentality na akala natin 'pag maganda sa ibang bansa, ibig sabihin maganda na siya," she said. "Maybe the big break is a myth because I really, first of all, I don't really feel it that much na I had a big break."

Dolly said she had flashes of realization when a trusted friend pointed it out to her, but it only lasted for a brief time. She said she feels the same as before, except that now, she has more work and can choose the jobs that she wants to do.

"Relatively konti lang ang nakaka life-changing, 'yung 180 degree big break talaga, and so para siya 'yung aspiration ng marami," she said. "Pero doon sa mga taong nakaranas na from afar, at least from an outsider point of view, 'Uy malaki 'yan. Huwag natin maliitin 'yung nangyari.'"

The actress said she knew that "Triangle of Sadness" is good film and that it would earn attention worldwide. But she did not think that it would be her big break.

"Siguro nasanay lang ako na ilang taon akong nagtratrabaho lang tapos kung anong mangyari, mangyayari tsaka nakarami na po ako na mga projects na iniisip ko baka ito na 'yung big break pero hindi naman po nangyari," she said.

"So, at that point, kumbaga jaded na ako. Ang inisip ko trabaho ulit 'yan, so parang no, hindi ko talaga ine-expect."

Dolly is on a roll in her career. In December, she made history by being the first Filipina to be nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for "Triangle of Sadness." She was also nominated for a BAFTA and attended the Oscars.

In June, she was announced as a new cast member of the second season of "Nine Perfect Strangers."

In the same month, Dolly was invited to become a member of the 2023 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Dolly is also part of not just one but two Cinemalaya entries this year: Dustin Celestino's "Ang Duyan ng Magiting" and Carl Joseph Papa's "Iti Mapupukaw."

—Carby Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News