Latest news with #DeLeon
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Dolly de Leon talks about being in 'Nine Perfect Strangers,' 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'
There is no stopping Dolly de Leon's star rising in Hollywood as the Golden Globe nominee for Ruben Östlund's "Triangle of Sadness" bagged not one, but two, TV series – "Nine Perfect Strangers" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender." In the Netflix series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender," which is executive produced by Ryan Halprin among others, the talented De Leon told us, "I play the Fire Nation twins Lo and Li who are behind Azula in her quest for the throne. We've already shot Season 2 last March and I was so excited to be part of such an iconic show playing twins no less which I've never done so I am so excited about that too." Another Fil-Am actor, Jon Jon Briones also joins De Leon in Season 3 as he portrays Piandao. In Hulu's Season 2 of "Nine Perfect Strangers," meanwhile, De Leon joins no less than Nicole Kidman who portrays the enigmatic healing guru Masha Dmitrichenko, Christine Baranski (Victoria), Annie Murphy (Imogen), Mark Strong (David), Henry Golding (Peter), Murray Bartlett (Brian), King Princess (Tina), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Wolfie), Lucas Englander (Martin) and Lena Olin (Helena). De Leon portrays Agnes, an ex-nun-nurse in the wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps where Masha has her controversial treatment methods. In an exclusive virtual interview, De Leon talked to us about her experience and her journey in the unconventional world of Masha. Photo courtesy of Hulu I actually got the good news from my team. The good news was that I was being invited to play Agnes. So, first of all, I was already very flattered by that. It's Fifth Season, the company of Nicole Kidman, and Hulu. So, it was a big deal for me. Then when I read the script, that's when it really became more intense for me because I really fell in love with Agnes, the character that I played here, and my reaction was disbelief. I couldn't believe it, until now. I still can't believe that I'm actually in the show. It's very strange. Who would have thought that I, who always played lawyers and doctors here in the Philippines, would end up playing one of the nine perfect strangers in a series called "Nine Perfect Strangers" starring Nicole Kidman. I really couldn't believe it. It was surreal. Very surreal. You mentioned Nicole Kidman. Talk about working with her now as your co-star and executive producer. She was really so much fun to work with. I went in there a little bit nervous because I didn't know what to expect from her, but she's very nice. She's super sweet. Very warm. She's adorable. We had a lot of fun on set because we did some scenes together. She made me feel very comfortable. She did not make me feel intimidated at all. She made me just enjoy working with her, doing the scene together, and having fun with it. What was your most memorable scene with her? My most memorable scene with her. It might be a spoiler, but it's a scene where she psychoanalyzes me. She psychoanalyzes my character and tries to get down to why Agnes behaves a certain way. I'll never forget that, because that's the one scene that we have together, just the two of us. For me, that was really something special that I could not believe would ever happen to me, to be working with someone like her in that capacity. You mentioned your character, Agnes? She's a former nurse and nun. Can you tell us more about your character? And why do you think she joined this controversial wellness retreat with Nicole, aka Masha? I think that Agnes was going through a crisis of faith, so she was starting to question her beliefs, and she was lost. Completely lost. So, she left the convent, got an invitation to join the wellness retreat. Agnes is very open to finding all means of a solution to her problem of finding herself again and finding out more about her faith. So, she thought that she could find her answers there from Masha, who was played by Nicole. And that's why she went there. She went there with a very open mind, willing to do anything to get down to the root of her problem. You have a lot of memorable scenes in the series. Can you just talk a little bit about them, like that scene where you screamed, was that a gut reaction, or from the director, or from the script? That was from the script. It was really there. Early on, it was already in the script, and I had to do that nine times. Can you believe it? I had to do it nine times. And by the eighth time, I was already beginning to lose my voice. I was so tempted to tell (director) Jonathan (Levine), I can't do it anymore. If you're going to make me, do it one more time, I can't do it anymore. I'm going to lose my voice, but I didn't. I fought the urge to tell him that I couldn't do it again, because I'm not going to disappoint myself because I would be most disappointed if I couldn't do it again. So, I plowed through it and thank goodness by the ninth time, okay, that was the last time when I really could not do it anymore. When he said, okay, it's good. We'll work with that. And how about the preference of Agnes to sleep on the floor? How are you in real life? Do you also try sleeping on the floor? Oh my gosh, no, I cannot sleep on the floor. I already have back pains sleeping on the bed alone. I already wake up uncomfortable, even if I have a soft bed. Still not enough to make me feel good. So, no sleeping on the floor. No, no, no. Cannot do that. Will not do that. I am not as strong as Agnes. Agnes is one strong woman. I am nothing like her. She's incredible. Photo courtesy of Hulu That scene. Oh, my gosh, I was really worried about that scene. Because it's a very, very emotional scene. I was really so anxious about that day, about going into the set and doing that scene because it required a lot, not just a lot of emotions from me, but it also required a lot of technical choreography, because we had to make sure that we were doing it right. So, it was a bit of a challenge to do that scene, but the whole crew were so supportive, Jonathan was so supportive. Our director of photography Frank (Lamm) was also so supportive and so helpful. They just made everything so easy for me. When you're working with a team that is very helpful, very caring, they care only about your safety, they only care about your comfort, it really makes our job as actors so easy. That's one of the things that I value about the show, how much they were looking out for us and making sure that we had all the support that we could get to make our jobs easier. How about dancing with the group when you have some hallucinogenic drinks? How freeing and liberating was that scene? Oh, it was so liberating. I had so much fun doing that scene. That was my favorite scene. It was really so much fun to just dance, let go and just have fun with it. We were dancing like no one's watching. I did some dancing in "Ghostlight," but that wasn't the same here. It was really just wild out-of-this-world dancing. It was so liberating and freeing. That's why I love being an actor, because you can just go, let go and just because you're not really yourself, you're playing a character. So, no one can ever blame me. They can always blame Agnes, the character I'm playing. Were you able to get a chance to go around town, do some sightseeing or shopping? Oh my gosh, yes, we were able to do that. I stayed in Munich for six months, and in some months during that period, we also went to Austria, to Salzburg. I love Salzburg. I love Munich, where we stayed for a long time. I really love those places. So yeah, I was able to go around, look at these places. It became my home for some time, so Munich was really a special place for me. I consider it a second home. People are nice. It's so safe to go out at night. You can walk alone in the middle of the night, and you're completely safe. Nothing bad's going to happen to you. And it's not so congested there. It's not overpopulated. I really loved it so much. And Salzburg was also a very special place I loved. I love the way there is nature in the middle of a city. That's what I loved about it the most. But how was it filmed in the snow and getting cold for a person from a very warm country? In the beginning, I was really scared about that. I was worried about that. But that's what I love about Hulu, about how they took care of us when we got there, before we even started shooting, they already made us put on our costumes, go outside and see if we could stand the weather. So right then and there, they already asked, are you feeling okay? Do you need more? Because they even had an electric jacket for heat, and we tested it. I went outside and tested it, and by the time we were filming already, we were shooting. I was completely protected from the elements. So, I was scared in the beginning. But because they really took care of us there. They made sure that we were safe. We felt safe. And I didn't get sick, not once. So, they even gave us flu shots, vitamin drips and all that. So yeah, it was fine. By the time we were shooting the scene, it was okay. I was completely fine. I wasn't freezing or anything. What was your reaction when you went into the set, this humongous wellness center? Oh, wow. Yeah, that was amazing. To see this whole set, it was huge. It was a huge set, and it was so detailed. Just the details were incredible, and it really felt like we were in Austria. It really felt real. For me, that's a very important aspect of being an actor is to make the set completely believable. And they really did that. They did their job so well. Photo courtesy of Hulu Lena Olin is such an elegant woman. Same with Christine Baranski, both very elegant women, but they can also be very funny and quirky. I love them so much. They're just incredible. And very sweet, very nice and very kind. Henry, of course, is a good friend. Same with Annie. I really connected with Maisie Richardson-Sellers. We became super-duper close, and until now, we're still in touch. We still contact each other. I just idolize Mark Strong. I've always loved Mark's work ever since. So, when I knew that he was cast, I was so excited to meet him. And when I met him, I was like, oh, he's just a regular guy, you know? So, it's so refreshing to meet people like him who are so talented, yet so grounded and so down-to-earth. What was the most challenging scene? The most challenging scene for me was the confessional because it's always challenging to be working alone in a scene. I always build from my scene partner. I take a lot from them. But when I'm all alone in a scene, I have no one but myself to rely on. So that was really challenging for me. Have you ever gone to a therapy session like this? Never. But I would like to. I've heard a lot of stories. I've met a few people who have done something like that, and I heard it's really effective. They have that, I think, in California and in some parts of the US. I would love to do that. But I've never done it. I've never tried it. If you were given a chance to be stranded on an island or in the Alps with nine strangers, who would you want to be stranded with? Oh my gosh. Oh, I would love to be with my kids. I would love to have my kids there. I definitely want to have Bear Grylls there because he's good with the outdoors, and I'm sure that he's going to make sure that we survive. Maybe I also want to be with someone who can make me laugh, like maybe Robin Williams. God bless his soul. And Ninoy Aquino. Maybe I'd love to be with Ninoy Aquino. I'm sorry. They're all dead people, but I would love to, because he seems like a really great conversationalist. I think that spending time with Ninoy Aquino on an island we would never run out of things to talk about. And I would have learned so much from him. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced for Cumberland County bomb threat hoaxes after online relationship with minor
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A man has been sentenced to more than 6 years in prison for making hoax bomb threats in Cumberland County, and distributing child porn in retaliation against a minor he met on the popular gaming platform Roblox. According to the United States Department of Justice, Nathaniel Sean DeLeon, 20, of Tulare, California, was sentenced to 78 months' imprisonment for distributing child pornography and making a bomb threat hoax in connection with a campaign of retaliation against a Cumberland County minor in 2023. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The DOJ says DeLeon met a then-16-year-old on the gaming platform Roblox and began an online relationship. Upon the relationship's end, the DOJ says DeLeon proceeded to 'swat' the minor victim 23 times. DeLeon told law enforcement that the victim had a gun and killed, or was about to kill, another person and repeatedly sent them to the victim's house in Cumberland County from June to November of 2023. In addition, on November 30, 2023, DeLeon, falsely identifying himself as the minor victim, told a suicide prevention worker via an internet messaging platform that the minor had placed pipe bombs in the classrooms and bathrooms of Big Spring High School in Cumberland County and was outside the school with a shotgun. The DOJ says 650 students were evacuated, but no explosive devices were found inside the school. DeLeon also distributed a sexually explicit video of a minor victim on two occasions inNovember 2023, per the DOJ. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the DOJ to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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GMA Network
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Dolly de Leon, Jonjon Briones joins cast of ‘Avatar: the Last Airbender'
Two Filipino actors have been announced to take part in Seasons 2 and 3 of Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.' In an announcement Wednesday midnight, Netflix revealed a list of 7 new cast members, which includes Dolly de Leon and Jonjon Briones. De Leon is set to play twins Lo and Li, who would be elderly advisers and fire-bending instructors for Fire Princess Azula. Meanwhile, Filipino-American Briones will be playing swordmaster and White Lotus warrior De Leon and Briones join the growing list of Filipino actors in the cast, including Lourdes Faberes who is set to play Earth Kingdom officer General Sung. The series is also led by Filipino-Canadian actor Gorden Cormier as Aang, the titular 'Last Airbender.' Piandao, who would serve as a swordsmanship instructor for both Sokka and Prince Zuko. Other characters were also cast, such as Fei (Madison Hu), Yangchen (Dichen Lachman), Ursa (Lily Gao), Jeong Jeong (Terry Chen), and Hama (Tantoo Cardinal). In a separate tweet, the series' main cast confirmed that they have finished shooting the 2nd season of the show and have begun production on the 3rd season. Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' premiered its first season last February 2024 and was renewed for Seasons 2 and 3 last in March 2024. The series released a teaser for the upcoming second season, showing actress Miya Cech as 'Toph' for her first appearance in the series. Welcome the new faces joining the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender in Seasons 2 and 3. — Avatar: The Last Airbender (@AvatarNetflix) May 20, 2025 — Jiselle Anne Casucian/LA, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
THC vape pen with fentanyl warning to Parents: What you need to know
DRYDEN, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — It's a message that no parent wants to receive in their inbox: a local school district warns families and staff about a vape pen found with fentanyl in it that a student in the area got hold of. Although the student was not enrolled in Dryden Central School District, the student was close enough in mileage that the district thought the risk was too close not to send a statement. These TCH pens found with fentanyl have become a growing concern among experts and educators nationwide, becoming more dangerous and common. One of those educators who was a former addict, Michael DeLeon, says he has over 100 cases across the country where law enforcement has detected fentanyl in vapes. For years, Michael has been on a mission to end this crisis. He has traveled to schools across the nation to spread awareness and inform students that this is real and extremely dangerous. 'An unsuspected kid puts a vape in their mouth to hit their vape, and it has fentanyl in it, they're going to die if someone's not nearby with Narcan,' says Michael DeLeon When educating, the Steered Straight founders remind families, students, and educators that this is scary and happening daily. He reminds parents that they don't need to scare their kids because scaring them won't work. DeLeon says the best way is to educate them, empower them, and steer them. 'This is going to get more common, more common than ever,' said DeLeon, reminding that 'We're going to see more unlicensed selling vapes and we're going to see more counterfeit and rogue vapes sent into this country.' So, his advice to parents is to start talking to their children and make it known that one hit could kill. 'The three most dangerous words a parent could ever utter are not my kid because it's never your kid till it's your kid. Prevention through education is the key,' said DeLeon. For more information to better educate on this crisis, you can head over to his website, Steered Straight. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Education lifted him from the barrio. He paid it forward in Fort Worth schools
Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Italo Carl Candoli and General Dynamics Vice President of Engineering Charlie Anderson agreed in 1981 to partner in improving the schools' curriculum and to instruct teachers about applicable math and science skills. Anderson sought to cut down the training time for new hires, seeking a more educated crop of applicants. For example, Fort Worth instructors were teaching drafting by hand when General Dynamics was using computers for blueprint drawings. Anderson assigned Steve (Estevan) De Leon, aeronautics engineer and University of Texas graduate, as a loaned executive to the district in 1982-1984. Born and raised in San Antonio's barrio west side, De Leon knew a good education opened opportunities to aspiring students and a way out of poverty. Ms. Wharton, Brackenridge High School math teacher, recognized his math aptitude and encouraged him to pursue a science career. De Leon intentionally took her math classes for four years, seeking her guidance and encouragement. After high school, De Leon took an entry test for a jet engine mechanic at Kelly Air Force Base. Scoring high, he landed the job, earning a salary higher than most new hires. He joined the Air Force reserves and went active duty in 1964 to maintain search and rescue helicopters in the 48th Air Rescue Service in Vietnam. De Leon said he learned in the service the importance of working as a team, especially in war. After six years of military service, he yearned to learn more about aeronautics and entered UT engineering school in 1972. As one of few Latino aeronautic majors, he offered the dean of engineering, Earnest F. Gloyna, his recruiting skills to attract more Latino/a people, Black people, and women to the school. He assured the dean he and other Latino engineering students would more successfully attract minority students than a professional recruitment company. He founded the Pi Sigma Pi Society in 1972 and co-founded the Texas Alliance for Minority Engineers (TAME) in 1976 to increase the number of minority engineers. The UT dean recommended De Leon to Anderson to help recruit more minority engineers to General Dynamics. At the time, the federal government pressured the company to diversify its staff. De Leon quickly proved his worth as an engineer, recruiter, and executive in the community. When Candoli asked for a General Dynamics partnership, De Leon fit the specifications to represent the company in the 'Partners in Education' endeavor. He recruited PhD physicists and engineers to the classrooms to teach science and math. He and other engineers reviewed the district's science and math text books and wrote practical applications. For example, the formula for calculating volume was applied to determining the volume of fuel in airplane wings. De Leon coordinated the donations of computers and calculators to FWISD schools. To assist the district's science and math teachers, De Leon organized one-day symposiums at the General Dynamics Training Center on how to teach practical engineering skills. He established a homework hotline to assist students from single-parent families or parents who didn't finish high school. Manned by engineers and teachers, the hotline guided students through their science and math assignments. Hotline tutors referenced the same textbooks that the students studied. Impressed with the success of the General Dynamics/FWISD partnership, Candoli and De Leon expanded the partnerships to several businesses. The program developed into Adopt-A-School in 1982 with IBM, Bell Helicopter, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and other major Tarrant County companies. Corporations parented adopted schools with their expertise, resources, and time on behalf of students and teachers. Dr. H. Richard O'Neal, president of the FWISD school board, sounded a familiar note in the 1985 Adopt-A-School Annual Report, saying, 'Many people these days bemoan the state of public education. But here in Fort Worth, we have a loyal and dedicated cadre of businessmen and women who are taking action rather than complaining.' Candoli stated, 'Every segment of our school district has been favorably impacted. ... For teachers and other staff members, Adopt-A-School volunteers have lightened the workload while enriching classes.' For example, Criminal Court Judge Pete Perez, Justice of the Peace Manuel Valdez, Domestic Relations Court Judge Maryellen Hicks, and other judicial staff and attorneys mentored Polytechnic High School students two hours a day. They provided tours of courtrooms, explained legal procedures, and offered internships. Another example: Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and Northside High School teamed up to provide tours of the college, taught how to scrub for surgery, allowed school staff to attend medical lectures, and hired students as summer research assistants. In 1985, Candoli wrote a glowing evaluation of De Leon's loaned executive work to Anderson. He stated, 'Steve De Leon is totally committed to the role that business and industry must play in the improvement of education. ... (He) gave a bit extra in encouraging and assisting minority students to participate in rigorous academic programs.' Jaime Escalante, esteemed calculus teacher of Mexican American students in East Los Angeles, told his students, like the Mayans, math was in their blood. De Leon, a former Fort Worth resident who today lives in North Richland Hills, proved his veins flowed with math cells and compassion. His calculus for soaring educational success was the partnering of business smarts, receptive students, and a cooperative school district. Author Richard J. Gonzales writes and speaks about Fort Worth, national and international Latino history.
