If there is one word that best describes Dolly De Leon's journey from the local stage to Hollywood, it is "insane."

The actress herself said so.

"That's the only way to describe it," she laughed. "I mean, I never thought this would actually happen. It was something I never imagined."

Yet here she is.

It's been a whirlwind of activities for De Leon since "Triangle of Sadness," a film that did more that introduce her to a global audience. It also earned her historic Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations, several international acting awards, and now, a steady stream of Hollywood projects.

After appearances in productions including "Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed" and the live-action series "Avatar: The Last Airbender," she's back home in the Philippines, enjoying a much-needed break before heading to the United States again next month for work.

So, what's she been up to?

"Na-miss ko 'yung nakatunganga lang ako sa bahay," she shared. "Bumalik ako sa dati kong routine. Nagluto ako, namalengke, nagtanim, nag-alaga ako ng pusa."

The downtime allowed her to reconnect with ordinary life, something she admits she had been missing after spending long stretches overseas.

She also made time to try new things, including yoga and singing.

"Alam niyo ba, may choir group na puwede mong attendan every Sunday? Ang saya-saya," she said. "Chine-cherish ko kasi once mag-work ako, wala na ulit. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam."

Away from cameras, De Leon also turns to another hobby many fans probably wouldn't expect.

She now proudly describes herself as an "intense gamer."

Her favorites include "Resident Evil," "Call of Duty Mobile," and "Split Fiction."

"I bought a PS5. Ang mahal-mahal ng bala. 'Yan ang reward ko sa sarili ko. Meron ngang umaabot ng P3,000. Kapag P5,000 na, hindi ko binibili," she joked.

Gaming, she explained, helps her decompress.

"Acting is a very stressful job," she said. "Kahit masaya siya, it is stressful."

There is also the emotional toll of living abroad for months at a time.

"Yeah, 'yung wala kang makausap kasi siyempre hindi ka naman basta makatawag dito dahil baliktad ang oras."

Not that she is complaining.

"As insane as it is, I love it. I love my job. I love what I do. Matagal ko rin itong pinangarap."

The experience has also changed the way she defines success.

"Iba na ang tingin ko sa success," she admitted. "Ngayon, na-realize ko, ang success pala is very simple: to get to do only what you want."

She explained, "Dati kasi tumatanggap ako ng trabaho kahit hindi ko gusto kasi kailangan, and it was hard. Very stressful. Panghihinaan ka ng loob. Pero ngayon, ang saya lang na you don't have to go out there and look for any role. You get to pick and do only those that excite you."

With projects now coming from both the Philippines and abroad, one might think balancing two careers would be difficult.

For De Leon, it isn't.

"It's all about scheduling," she said. "And besides, I don't juggle. When I accept a job here, I finish it before taking on another."

She is set to return to the United States next month to shoot more international projects, including "Boys Like Daniel."

She is also part of "The Chaperones" and the animated feature "Forgotten Island," a project that holds special meaning for her.

"'Forgotten Island' is very Pinoy," she said. "They really did extensive research to get down to the truth of our identity. Andoon din ang culture natin on family and friendship. Very Pinoy. So, to be part of that is just something that I'm proud of."

Despite her increasingly busy schedule, De Leon isn't looking to complicate her personal life.

Asked whether someone is making her heart flutter these days, the actress simply smiled.

"Happy na happy akong mag-isa. Wala akong iniisip na ibang tao."

She then recalled what American comedy legend Carol Burnett once said of marriage.

"Enjoy na enjoy siya sa pagbabasa ng libro, sa panonood ng sine, sa pagtulog sa gabi. Kapag nagkaroon pa siya ng dyowa, kailangan titira pa siya sa ibang bahay," De Leon said with a laugh.

As for whether anyone is currently pursuing her, she quipped, "Wala." 

For now, that's more than enough.

After years of chasing opportunities, the actress who once dreamed of simply making a living from her craft now finds herself living a life she never imagined. One that allows her to choose her work, enjoy the quiet moments in between, and return home knowing success isn't measured by where she is, but by the freedom to live life on her own terms.