Laysla De Oliveira says the tender moments in Lioness Season 3 were some of the most rewarding scenes she got to play. In the penultimate episode, Cruz takes Joe into the helicopter and holds her — and De Oliveira called it Cruz’s “biggest moment in the whole season.”
“I was talking to [creator] Taylor [Sheridan] recently, and he said, ‘Cruz is a feral cat with a heart of gold,'” De Oliveira told DECIDER. “I thought that was perfect.”
Cruz’s Journey Through Three Seasons
Cruz Manuelos, played by De Oliveira, started as the lioness recruited by Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña) in Season 1. Her job was to take down a billionaire terrorist and war profiteer by getting close to his daughter, Aaliyah (Stephanie Nur).
In Season 2, Cruz joined Joe’s QRF team and began developing feelings for Josie Carrillo (Genesis Rodriguez) as they guided her through her own lioness journey.
Season 3 finds Cruz and Josie living and working together, both consumed with getting Joe back after Cruz’s shocking abduction. De Oliveira admits she had no idea what this season would bring when she signed on.
“I had no idea what I was getting into this season,” she said. “I just knew that I’d be doing it again.”
The Soft Side Of A Fierce Character
De Oliveira loves the action scenes, but she treasures the moments where Cruz grows. She described Josie as a safe space for Cruz, noting that Cruz hasn’t felt safe most of her life.
“Josie is a safe space for Cruz,” she said. “I don’t think Cruz is someone who has felt safe most of her life.”
She also pointed to the episode where Cruz calls Joe the person who “made her.” De Oliveira called it Cruz’s biggest moment.
“For her to say it out loud is a big deal,” she said. “She’s in such a vulnerable position, wanting to save the person who gave her another shot at life. Joe helped give her life meaning.”
The Helicopter Hug
The penultimate episode, titled “Kiss the Girls,” features a rescue mission led by the QRF team, with help from Kyle McManus (Thad Luckinbill) and double agent Oleksandra Balakin (Elizaveta Neretin).
After the rescue, Cruz takes Joe into the helicopter and holds her. De Oliveira saw that embrace as a powerful moment.
“I love that Cruz takes Joe into the helicopter and just holds her,” she said. “You can say to somebody you love them, but sometimes a hug goes a longer way.”
What A Season 4 Might Hold
De Oliveira is hopeful about a fourth season, though she admits she hasn’t had many conversations with Sheridan about Cruz’s future.
“If Cruz isn’t included in a potential Season 4, fans would riot,” she joked. “She’s the series’ OG Lioness!”
She wants more of Cruz’s personal life explored if the show returns.
“My favorite season of Lioness is Season 1,” she said. “That’s the season I felt the most artistically fulfilled. If we do get a new season, I would want more scenes to explore Cruz’s growth.”
Taylor Sheridan As Actor
De Oliveira spoke warmly about working alongside Sheridan, who appeared in the season as an actor rather than a director.
“He’s amazing,” she said. “He truly loves acting. You’d think he’d be in the director’s chair or in the tent away from the rest of the cast, but that’s not the case. He pulls up his chair beside us and does everything we do.”
She recalled seeing Sheridan on the Ukraine set.
“I’ve never seen him happier than when he stepped onto our Ukraine set, and it looked the way that it looked,” she said. “He looked at our set designer, and he was like, ‘This is the best set you’ve ever built.’ He’s truly a kid at a candy store when he’s acting.”
Cruz’s First Real Relationship
De Oliveira described Cruz and Josie’s relationship as the first adult relationship for Cruz. She noted that Cruz may never have lived with a partner before.
“What she enjoys and loves in Josie is that she doesn’t have to hide anything,” De Oliveira said. “They work together and have experienced similar things. They have the same boss.”
She also wished for a scene after Episode 5 where the pair could process what they had done.
“I almost wish there had been a scene after Episode 5 where they discuss what they had to do,” she said. “That would have been really fun.”
A Gift From Sheridan
The “feral cat with a heart of gold” description came from Sheridan himself. De Oliveira said it fit perfectly.
“That’s what makes Cruz such a dynamic character,” she said. “Sure, Cruz punches people, and she’s really tough, but she can also have a softness about her.”
What Fans Should Watch For
As Season 3 heads toward its finale, the relationship between Cruz and Josie remains central. De Oliveira hopes audiences keep watching for the quieter moments.
- Cruz’s call to Joe in “Kiss the Girls” — her biggest moment of the season.
- The helicopter hug — a tender embrace after the rescue.
- The bond between Cruz and Josie — a first adult relationship for Cruz.
- Sheridan’s return as an actor — a rare chance to see him in the cast.
De Oliveira’s enthusiasm for Cruz’s growth is clear throughout the interview. She sees the character as a feral cat with a heart of gold, and she wants that heart shown more often.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.