Why Dolly de Leon couldn’t say no to ‘The Heidi Fleiss Story’

Dolly de Leon found time to come home briefly after wrapping up two international projects.
“I just finished ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed,’ which is a series on Apple TV, and ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ on Netflix,” she confirmed in an exclusive chat with The STAR. “Maybe by May next year, it will come out. I also have a movie, ‘The Chaperones,’ next December.”

As per US entertainment news outlet Variety, American filmmaker India Donaldson is directing “The Chaperones,” which is her sophomore feature after the 2024 drama “Good One.” According to its synopsis, the film is set days after Christmas and follows three slacker friends hired to transport a troubled teen across the country. The film is produced by Robert Pattinson’s Icki Eneo Arlo and Brad Pitt’s Plan B. Dolly will star alongside Paul Dano (“12 Years a Slave,” “The Batman”) in the movie.

Dolly also scored another Hollywood movie, taking on the role of a madam in the biopic, “The Heidi Fleiss Story.”

According to Deadline, the story revisits Fleiss’ rise in the ‘90s as the operator of a high-profile prostitution ring that catered to Los Angeles’ wealthy and powerful, including Hollywood bigwigs. In 1993, she was arrested and later sentenced to prison.

Based on the reported synopsis, the film follows Fleiss in the days leading up to her trial, trying to employ her web of connections to manipulate and blackmail her way out of the charges.

Aubrey Plaza (“Parks and Recreation,” “The White Lotus”) not only stars as the titular role, she also serves as co-producer. The dark comedy marks the directorial debut of Leah Rachel, creator of the Netflix series “Chambers.”

“We’re shooting that in February, ‘The Heidi Fleiss Story.’ I play a Filipina madam who was the boss of Heidi Fleiss. It was an immediate yes, are you kidding me? To play the first madam in Los Angeles, in Hollywood, who was Filipino… of course it was yes,” Dolly said.

The former Golden Globe nominee has already started researching about her character, named Madam Alex. “Bale 17 years old siya nag-migrate to the US, worked in a flower shop, and met a madam — customer sa flower shop at a five-star hotel — na binigay sa kanya yung phonebook niya (who gave her a phonebook), where all her clients were listed.

“(Madam Alex) took over the business and handled a high-class prostitution ring in Los Angeles. Then naging employee niya si Heidi Fleiss, who went on to become the most famous madam.

“Parang astig na Pinay ang nakapag-start ng ganitong operation sa L.A. I’m the only Filipina in the cast, and I’m excited because it’s Aubrey Plaza who is playing Heidi Fleiss.”

Meanwhile, Dolly is expected to be busy as in the coming awards season as a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the body that votes for the Oscars, considered as Hollywood’s biggest night.

The Philippines has fielded Lav Diaz’s period film “Magellan” as an entry to the Best International Feature Film category.

“I have high hopes,” Dolly expressed. “I mean, sana pumasok. Sana! Nakaka-proud na meron tayong ganun na film. Di ko pa napanood — so siyempre wala pa talaga akong opinion (about the film). I wasn’t here when it came out. But sana, sana! I mean, it’s Lav Diaz. It’s about time that we have a film at the Oscars.”

The STAR caught up with the CreaZion artist at Zeen Magazine’s inaugural Zeenfluential Awards at OKADA Cove Manila, which honored Gen Z idols and icons.

Dolly was the recipient of the Zeenfluential Voice Award, alongside broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.

She dedicated the award to “my family, my kids and to the people who trained me and inspired me — Tony Mabesa, Jose Estrella, and you (the young people) inspire me. I learned every day from you. You are the future of the arts, and I couldn’t be any prouder that you have voted for me, and chosen me to receive this cool thing.”

The magazine’s business head, director Real Florido, opened the program with a message urging the mainly Gen Z audience to “be the influence that builds culture, not chaos… be seen, be Zeen.”

Other major winners included SB19 (Zeenfluential P-POP Group), Hey June! (Breakout Artist), Cup of Joe (Music Artist), Kathryn Bernardo (Style Star), and Ninong Ry (Foodie). Gen Z content creators and celebrities served as the presenters.