Laysla De Oliveira, who portrays Cruz Manuelos in the Paramount+ series 'Lioness,' reflected on her character's development throughout the third season, emphasizing moments of vulnerability and the evolving relationships within the show. De Oliveira noted that while she enjoys the action sequences, she particularly values exploring the quieter, more tender aspects of Cruz's personality.
"Exploring tenderness in Cruz is always such a gift," De Oliveira stated, recalling creator Taylor Sheridan's description of Cruz as a "feral cat with a heart of gold." This season saw Cruz navigate a deepening relationship with Josie Carrillo (Genesis Rodriguez), a connection De Oliveira described as a significant step for Cruz, who hasn't often experienced a sense of safety. "Josie is a safe space for Cruz," she explained, "I don’t think Cruz is someone who has felt safe most of her life."
One pivotal moment for Cruz this season, according to De Oliveira, was her declaration that Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña) "made her." De Oliveira viewed this as Cruz's "biggest moment in the whole season," signifying her recognition of Joe's influence on her life and purpose. The rescue of Joe by the QRF team, with Cruz taking a central role, led to a significant embrace between the two characters.
"I love that Cruz takes Joe into the helicopter and just holds her," De Oliveira said. "You can say to somebody you love them, but sometimes a hug goes a longer way." She characterized this as their "first moment of true tenderness" and "beautiful to see," suggesting it symbolized Cruz reciprocating the care and recognition Joe had shown her since the beginning of the series.
De Oliveira also commented on working with Thad Luckinbill, who plays CIA officer Kyle McManus, and expressed hope for potential future seasons to further explore Cruz's personal life and growth. She acknowledged Cruz's suitability for leadership roles, drawing parallels to Joe's position, but deferred to Sheridan regarding future storylines.