‘Leaving Comfort Behind’: Filipino Actor Leo Consul Reveals Secret Recipe to Successful Career in Indonesia

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Sometimes opportunities don’t knock. So, instead of waiting for chances to come to you, you have to proactively create them—if needed, build doors that would pave the way for the goals you want to achieve.

Often portrayed as a dreamy world of red carpets, diehard fans, and ‘light-camera-action’, many people are drawn to the assumption that the entertainment scene is an easy-to-navigate path. This perception, however glamorous, can be deceiving.

Behind the seemingly effortless performances onscreen lie years of hard work, dedication, auditions, rejections, and continuous self-improvement. The reality of the entertainment industry is far more complex than the illusion painted.

In this feature, the multihyphenated Filipino actor Leo Consul sheds light on his craft—revealing the tireless preparations, sacrifices made, and profound commitment needed to thrive in the competitive world of entertainment.

Behind the Characters Portrayed, Who is Leo Consul?

Known for his captivating roles in the hit Indonesian primetime dramas, Terpaksa Menikahi Tuan Muda (Forced Marriage), Cinta Yang Tertukar (Switched at Birth), and Love Story, Leo Consul has become a household name in the country’s entertainment industry. While seemingly smooth sailing, this resonant pursuit of acting did not come as easily as it seemed to the Philippine-born actor.

With the lack of opportunities in the Philippines—despite his persistent efforts—Leo found himself in unfamiliar territory as an English and Math teacher in Indonesia. While this could have marked the beginning of a new career after completing that degree in Journalism with a minor in Broadcasting, fate had a different course charted for him.

True to the words of his professor in college, who said he’s supposed to be in front of the camera, in 2018, years after that hosting stint in Eat Bulaga Indonesia, a pivotal moment arrived when a director in Indonesia recognized his potential in acting.

“I didn’t even audition for that role. They gave me the role and they said, ‘There’s the actor’s soul in your eyes.’ It’s [a story about] a Filipino who went to Indonesia and fell in love with an Indonesian girl.”

Getting that role placed a lot of pressure on Leo. But it also opened up a lot of opportunities. The rest, as they say, is history.

Beyond Acting: What Other Roles Can Leo Consul Do?

While initially drawn to the allure of fame and glamor, Leo’s perspective on the entertainment industry has deepened over the years. Reflecting on his years in the spotlight, he has evolved and discovered a greater purpose beyond his career. At present, he’s engaging in charity work, which allows him to impact the lives of children by providing education opportunities for them. “I am supporting UNICEF in the Philippines. I’m also doing Kiva—a non-profit microfinance organization that helps small businesses all over the world. I’m not earning from it, but the money is just circulating and helping people in hopes of reaching more. That’s the goal.”

Leo is also gifted with talents in dancing and singing—in fact, he was a former band member before getting that leading man role. But out of the limelight, his favorite thing to do aside from traveling is cook. “Cooking is one way to get to people’s hearts. I am always in the kitchen. I love experimenting with new recipes and stuff like that. In every country I visit, I always take one special dish from there and then bring it to my kitchen and put a spin on my own. Most recently, I released my cookbook in Indonesia.”

With this passion for writing—aside from the Culeonary—and inspired by his favorite book, The Kite Runner, Leo has authored the inspiring book, A Thousand Miles in Broken Slippers, which chronicles his journey from a poor village in the Philippines to building his career in Indonesia.

If time permits, Leo usually goes on trips away from Jakarta. He would go hiking and stay overnight to catch the sunrise in the morning or watch the sunset in the afternoon. If time is not in his favor, as he’s not that fond of clubbing, then he’s usually at home and playing with his pets—that’s two dogs, two cats, eight birds, and two turtles. He also loves to play badminton and tennis from time to time.

Amidst Criticism: How Does Leo Consul Handle Setbacks?

Despite it being part of the job, like most ordinary people, Leo used to take criticism a little too personally back then. He would often look down on himself, self-pitying, and ask if he deserved the roles given to him. “But I take it differently now. It’s like I’m boosted. Like, ‘Oh come on. Criticize me. I’ll prove you wrong.’ Something like that. It does not discourage me anymore. People in public will always criticize you. You have to learn to handle it really well.”

As a Filipino working in Indonesia, Leo admitted that it was quite difficult to navigate things in the industry. He was constantly questioned about why he was working in Indonesia, and why he was not going back to the Philippines. But for someone who has hurdled through so many difficulties, Leo proved to be a tough one to beat.

“They would always attack me. But instead of taking it too hard, I would take it as a joke and would reply to them like: ‘Oh, I haven’t gotten a promo ticket yet to go back to the Philippines.’ You don’t have to take it literally. They don’t know my life story. So, why be bothered?”

Leo found it easier to wittingly answer those intrusive questions. Through the years, he learned that the provoking thoughts and hatred spouted by the public are just people’s ways of easing through their insecurities. “Once you go to that level, you’re going to be the same with them. So, if there’s someone who’s going to get annoyed, that’s you. Not me.”

On Crossing Cultural Boundaries: How Did Indonesia Change Leo Consul?

After living in a conservative country for more than a decade now, Leo has undergone a significant transformation in terms of cultural awareness. Notably, as the majority of Indonesians practice Islam, productions have to adhere to religious guidelines, resulting in limitations on certain scenes and language choices that are respectful of these beliefs.

In addition, there is also this tricky sense of comparison between Filipinos and Indonesians, most particularly in the world of pageantry. Leo shared how challenging it is to navigate support for both sides, as supporting one often leads to questions from the other.

However, despite these distinctions and dilemmas, the actor has found a lot of similarities between the Philippine and Indonesian cultures.

“It’s a very diverse culture, and I met a lot of people who are not that far off when it comes to being hospitable. You know, they are very warm and friendly.”

Into the Future: How Does Leo Consul Navigate Himself in the Digital Age?

As someone who has backgrounds in journalism and broadcasting, Leo admitted that social media is quite alarming. As his former professor puts it: the industry is a sunset industry. “What can we do? As an artist, how do you say that it’s tough to compete? Especially, like, your work is solely on TV. You have this fear of whether they are going to support you or not. It’s hard for us to keep up.”

Nonetheless, with so many possibilities at hand, one can totally get creative with social media. Despite his busy schedule in his acting career, Leo still graces the people supporting him with his online presence on Instagram and TikTok from time to time. “People will always have their opinions and interests. But if you know you’re doing the right thing, you don’t have to think about other people’s opinions. Social media is a good platform to reach out to people.”

On Acting: What Has Changed in Leo Consul Through the Years?

Needless to say, Leo’s love for acting runs deep. He has grown well in the industry and learned so much, not only from the people he has worked with but as well as from the roles he has played. “It has been so much fun. I learn something from the characters. And every time [I have a new role], there is this side of me that I didn’t know that I was able to bring out because of this character.”

Known for his versatility in acting, Leo has always been intrigued by the prospect of embodying characters that stand in stark contrast to his personality. While this endeavor demands extensive preparations to breathe life and authenticity into each role—sometimes becoming too immensely immersed in his characters—the unwavering support he receives from the people around him gives him the boost he needs to further his craft.

Over the years, he has become more comfortable in his craft, becoming more vocal and slowly finding his voice to make better dialogue, adding more depth to his character. “I realized that [the roles you play] are not your character. It’s you. You’re giving life to that character. So, if you don’t believe in something, if it opposes your principles in life, you have to tell them. There’s nothing wrong. There’s no harm in trying. Sometimes, they can be open to opinion and criticism—if that’s what’s needed in the script and story.”

As someone who loves Forensic Files and Crime Scenes, if given the chance, Leo shares that he would love to try playing the role of a psycho. “I want it as dark as possible. Like, someone who’s a serial killer. I wanted to know their motives. I want to know what’s on their minds—how they come up with their plans and how they kill someone.”

Not that he’s planning to kill someone, but he feels that as an actor, he has to learn to do something out of his comfort zone. “I cannot be forever like the cutie-cutie one. I like being the romantic kind of guy, but if needed, I am open to trying out something different. Like, the mature roles or something like that.”

Leo’s dream collaboration also includes working with Indonesian actress and film producer, Christina Hakim. “She’s a seasoned actress in Indonesia. She doesn’t have to speak, but the facial expressions, the body language—she’s a legend.” He also looks up to the award-winning actress, Judi Dench, and that’s why he loves The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie.

Insights: How Does Leo Consul Balance Life and Career?

With such high demand for production, especially since they air two and a half hours daily, Leo needs to sharpen his mind in memorizing lines and effectively conveying them. “Sometimes, you go to one team and they just read you the lines, and you have to just listen to them. You don’t even have time to read because we have no time. We are airing at night.” He has also learned to adapt to different diction and pronunciation.

Leo also candidly recalled the grueling shoots they had during the pandemic. With strict imposition on isolation, confining the cast and crew, the impact was so profound that he pushed himself to his limits. He recalled a point where stress started to manifest in peculiar ways, like finding himself conversing with a toilet bowl. “I lost it. It was crazy. That was one of the experiences I won’t forget because it took a toll on me. My role was sort of a bodyguard, so I would do all the fight scenes and then do emotional scenes at 3 a.m.”

Despite everything—the glitz, glamor, and challenges faced—Leo sees everything as a humbling experience.

“It’s easy to get there, but it’s hard to stay there. There are lots of factors affecting you. It can change overnight. But for me, it’s always humbling. Fame and money, these are just bonuses. You should always go back to your purpose. Because my core values are always aligned with wanting to help people.”

While Leo’s life may have orbited around the entertainment industry for now, he envisions a future beyond the spotlight. As an introvert, his aspirations lean towards a quieter life, like owning a charming restaurant in the picturesque south of France. That’s why he’s actively working to secure his future through hustle and savings.

On top of the travel show he’s doing in Indonesia and the project waiting for him in the Philippines, Leo Consul is currently working on a project in Singapore—which he reveals as something that he has never done before. “I don’t really see myself staying here [in the entertainment industry] for good. One day, they’re going to forget me. So, I want to be remembered for the work that I did. That’s why I want to explore more so that they will remember my craft as an actor.” 

Photo: em.baun

Photography Assistant: Nicco Mendoza

Hair & makeup by Apichai Kotsri

Interviewed by: Lynette Lee

Overall Coordination: Mary Jane Manglicmot