Laysla De Oliveira tells Ilona Maher how she went from zero pushups to Navy SEAL training for Lioness, and how she got hypothermia on set during the shoot.
- September 21, 2026
AceShowbiz - Laysla De Oliveira is opening up about the physical transformation that turned her into a full-blown action star on Lioness.
In a new episode of the Wave Original Power Hour with Ilona Maher, the actress sat down with host Ilona Maher in the gym to discuss the stunt, weapons and strength training she underwent for her breakout role as special agent Cruz Manuelos. The conversation covered how a former ballerina became an action lead, and the extremes the production went to in order to get her there.
According to De Oliveira, the training pushed her well past her starting point. She told Maher how she went from not being able to do a single pushup to undergoing intense Navy SEAL training. The preparation also included weapons work and stunt choreography.
The actress also shared a harrowing detail from the shoot itself. She explained that the actors were put out in the ocean at night as part of their training, and that she ended up getting hypothermia on set.
Beyond the physical demands, De Oliveira recounted the unusual circumstances of her first audition for Taylor Sheridan. She had to audition for Sheridan on the set of Yellowstone, performing the entire pilot episode of Lioness in between the cast taping scenes of Yellowstone.
The episode also touches on the craft side of the job. Between sets, De Oliveira discussed finding the physicality of a character and attempted to teach Maher how to cry on cue.
Power Hour with Ilona Maher is a Wave Original digital series hosted by the Olympic rugby star and viral sensation, who invites the biggest names in sports and entertainment to the gym to test their limits. New episodes air weekly on Thursdays on the House of Maher YouTube page.
