LIST: Movies and series starring acclaimed actress Dolly De Leon to add to your watch list
It's Dolly De Leon's era and we're just living in it.
The 53-year-old Filipina actress has been the talk of town as she's receiving accolades for starring in the Palme d'Or-winning Triangle of Sadness. De Leon may not have taken home the Golden Globe for best supporting actress this year, but she's still cheered on by many Filipinos for the amazing feat. Who knows, maybe she'll get an Oscar?
Even before her international stint, De Leon has made her mark on the Filipino film industry. Here are some films and series to add to your watch list to witness this star's acting prowess.
Triangle of Sadness
This 2022 dark comedy, directed by Ruben Östlund, follows the story of how a luxury cruise for the super-rich suddenly sinks, leaving models and influencers stranded on a deserted island to fend for their survival. In the film, De Leon plays Abigail, a cleaning lady on the cruise who suddenly becomes the captain of the shipwreck.
Triangle of Sadness also stars Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean Kriek, Woody Harrelson, and Vicki Berlin.
On the Job
In the third episode of HBO miniseries On the Job, De Leon stars as Inday Arcega. The six-part series, directed by Erik Matti, centers around crime syndicates that temporarily release contracted prison inmates to commit political assassinations for those in power.
Folklore
This HBO series is a horror anthology based on Asian superstitions and myths. For the Philippine edition, titled 7 Days of Hell, De Leon is police officer Lourdes who finds her son afflicted with a mysterious curse. This episode takes on the Filipino "albularyo" and "mangkukulam" and is directed by Erik Matti.
Midnight in a Perfect World
This 2022 film is another horror tale that takes viewers to an almost-Utopian Manila where people disappear if they're caught outside after midnight. Four friends test whether or not this is a hoax and find what really lurks in the strange darkness.
De Leon stars as Ella alongside Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Glaiza De Castro, Anthony Falcon, and Dino Pastrano.
Midnight in a Perfect World is available to stream on MUBI.
Historya ni Ha
A Lav Diaz-directed and written film, Historya ni Ha follows Hernando Alamada, a heartbroken ventriloquist who chooses to communicate with the world only through his puppet Ha. Together with Ha, he accompanies a nun, a sex worker, and a teenage boy to a remote island where gold has been discovered.
This MUBI streamable flick stars John Lloyd Cruz, Mae Paner, and Dolly De Leon.
Verdict
This 2019 film tells the story of battered wife Joy and her 6-year-old daughter Angel who get brutally beaten by their alcoholic patriarch Dante. While the man has been put to jail, Joy learns that justice takes time.
Verdict received accolades after its release, earning a special jury prize at the 2019 Venice Film Festival and getting selected as the Philippine entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards. The Max Eigenmann and Kristoffer King starrer didn't get nominated, however.