If you’ve marveled at actor Laysla De Oliveira’s physicality as operator Cruz Manuelos on the Paramount+ series Lioness, you may be surprised to learn that the she had never picked up a dumbbell before being cast on the spy thriller.
‘This journey, although now familiar to me, is completely new,’ the 34-year-old says of her work with celebrity trainer Duffy Gaver. ‘It’s become a part of my everyday routine, which I am so thankful about.’
Over the course of three seasons training with Gaver, Laysla’s built both muscle and confidence in the gym. ‘Walking around feeling strong physically and also mentally has changed my everyday,’ she says.
In the latest episode of the Women’s Health video series Strong Like, the duo reveal the full-body routine that transformed Laysla into a Lioness.
Laysla De Oliveira’s full-body workout
After beginning with a brief warm-up on the treadmill, Laysla continues to get her blood pumping with sets of 5, 10, and 15 push-ups and bodyweight squats.
‘My proudest achievement in the gym so far is probably the push-ups,’ Laysla says. ‘When I started, I couldn’t do them. We started from scratch, and here we are.’
Once fully warmed up, Laysla moves on to the equipment. First up are two back-focused exercises – lat pull-downs followed by single-arm dumbbell rows. She then moves onto her lower body with goblet squats done while standing on a slant board. ‘You gotta always take care of that booty because you want it to pop,’ she says.
Finally, she hits arms with another pair of exercises: bicep curls and tricep extensions. ‘I used to be a lower-body girly, but after my arms started changing… I do enjoy an upper body [workout],’ she says.
When not filming on (or training for) Lioness, Laysla prefers to dial back the intensity just a bit – picking and choosing the exercises that work for her to craft her own workout routine.
‘It’s probably half of this, 30 minutes a day,’ she says. ‘But it makes me feel strong, safe, and happy in my body.’ What more can you ask for?
To see Laysla in action, click play on the latest episode of Strong Like above.
Video Executive Producer Dorenna Newton
Video Set Producer Angel Lenise Pyles
Video Director of Photography Danny Dwyer
Video Editor Kyle Orozovich
Want to train like Liz Earle?
Her PT, Michael Garry, has created a 4-week training plan exclusively for members of the WH COLLECTIVE. It’s designed to remove one of the biggest barriers to fitness: time. You’ll train for just 35 minutes three times a week – Liz’s exact strategy to build muscle, boost metabolism and support long-term health. Tap the link below to unlock 14 free days of training and start Liz’s plan today.
Amy Wilkinson is a contributing entertainment editor at Women’s Health, where she edits the magazine’s celebrity cover stories and writes health features. She has previously held editor titles at Entertainment Weekly and MTV News. In 2021, Amy completed her 600-hour teacher-training at Core Pilates NYC to become a comprehensively trained Pilates instructor.
