From Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed to Forgotten Island, Dolly de Leon Shows No Sign of Slowing Down

As her career continues to reach new heights through projects like Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, Forgotten Island, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dolly de Leon reflects on the journey that led her here.

With years of acting experience and her name appearing on multiple projects this year, Dolly de Leon hopes for one thing: that this is not yet her peak. She admits, though, that at the beginning of her career, she felt like everything she did was just routine. So when she finally picked up the pace and began to truly enjoy her craft, she hoped that this was only the beginning of the success she had worked hard for over the years.

De Leon has a lot going on. She currently stars as a Filipina detective in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, whose final episode is set to premiere in a few days. But even as one project comes to a close, another chapter of her career is already unfolding. Just a few weeks ago, she appeared in the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, while Forgotten Island is on the horizon.

Her role in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed isn’t just a milestone because she is part of the cast, but also because of the Filipino representation through her character, Sofia Gonzales. But if she were to clarify what made her say yes to the project, she only needs two words: Tatiana Maslany. “I’ve been a huge fan of hers since Orphan Black for a very, very long time. I’ve always loved her work. So, when I found out that she was the lead, that was enough reason for me to want to do it in a heartbeat,” she says.

De Leon emphasizes that when choosing a project, she always considers the people she’ll be working with. Once that’s in place, connecting with the character becomes an added bonus, just as it was with her role as Sofia Gonzales, whom she sees as a tough woman. “She works in a patriarchal society in a police station in New York which is a very big [and] vibrant city. It’s a city that never sleeps. So, for an Asian woman to be working there among men means she’s very tough and she’s very strong. A force to be reckoned with. I was really excited to play someone like her,” she explains.

But her reasons for taking on Forgotten Island, a DreamWorks animation inspired by Philippine mythology, and Avatar were quite different. For Forgotten Island, the project felt close to her heart because of its connection to her heritage, while Avatar presented the challenge of lending her voice to another fantasy animation. With these major projects taking up her time, she admits she still wants to do more.

“There’s no such thing as shortcuts. You really have to work yourself. You have to work your way to wherever it is you want to go. And if there’s someone out there who achieves success right away, then they’re very lucky. Not everyone has luck on their side so hard work is a big part of it. It was decades of hard work, struggles, rejection, and constantly waiting for opportunities to come.”

Looking ahead, De Leon isn’t limiting herself to Hollywood or local productions. Instead, she’s drawn to projects where collaboration, creativity, and a sense of adventure come together. She also hopes to work with more young creatives, believing there’s always something new to learn from the next generation. “I just want to enjoy life and I just want to live in the moment and take whatever life gives me and have fun while doing it. That’s it. I just want to have fun.”