Liza Soberano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Liza Soberano
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Soberano in 2016
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Hope Elizabeth Soberano
January 4, 1998 Santa Clara, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 2011–present |
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Hope Elizabeth Soberano (born January 4, 1998) is a talented American-Filipino actress and model. She started her career playing supporting roles in comedies and dramas. Now, she takes on main roles in movies and TV shows.
Liza has won many awards, including a FAMAS Award and several Box Office Entertainment Awards. Tatler magazine even named her one of the most influential people in Asia in 2022 and 2023.
Born in Santa Clara, California, Liza moved to Quezon City, Philippines. She began modeling at age thirteen. Her first TV appearance was in the fantasy series Wansapanataym (2011). She became well-known after starring in the drama series Got to Believe (2014). She gained even more fame for her role in Forevermore (2014). This show was the first of many projects with actor Enrique Gil.
Liza became very successful in romantic films like My Ex and Whys (2017). For this movie, she was named Box Office Queen. Later, she wanted to try different types of roles. She voiced a character in the animated series Trese (2021). In 2022, she went back to California to act in Hollywood. She recently starred in the horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein (2024). Many people describe Liza as one of the most beautiful Filipino actresses of her time. She also speaks out about important topics like gender equality, women's rights, and mental health.
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Liza Soberano's Early Life and Family
Hope Elizabeth Soberano was born on January 4, 1998, in Santa Clara, California. She is the only child of John Castillo Soberano and Jacqulyn Elizabeth Hanley. Her father is Filipino, from Pangasinan, and her mother is American, from San Jose, California.
Liza's parents separated soon after she was born. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, Jeff and Divina. Jeff was in the U.S. Navy, and Divina was a bank teller. Liza has five half-brothers and three half-sisters from her parents' later marriages. Liza and her grandparents later moved to Visalia, California. She felt so close to them that she called them "mommy and daddy."
Childhood Dreams and Moving to the Philippines
As a child, Liza dreamed of becoming a nurse or joining the U.S. Army. She was inspired by her grandfather's military service. She also became interested in modeling after watching America's Next Top Model. However, she thought it was an unlikely career for her.
At age ten, Liza moved to the Philippines to live with her father in Pangasinan. She started to love acting after watching Filipino drama shows. These included Tayong Dalawa, Agua Bendita, and Mara Clara. She enjoyed them even though she didn't know the language yet.
After a few years, her family moved to Quezon City. At thirteen, she began appearing in TV commercials and print ads. A talent scout found her on social media and introduced her to manager Ogie Diaz. Liza signed with Diaz, who told her to learn Filipino to get acting jobs.
Liza Soberano's Acting Career
Starting Out: Early Roles (2011-2015)
Liza began her acting journey in 2011 with a small role in the fantasy series Wansapanataym. The next year, she got a regular role in the drama series Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo (2012). She played a supporting character and learned a lot about acting. She said this show helped shape her work ethic. Since then, she has been the main provider for her family. During this time, she also took acting and singing lessons.
Before her first movie, Must Be... Love (2013), she started using the stage name Liza Soberano. This name came from her middle name. In Must Be... Love, she was part of a love triangle. Critics thought the movie had too many old clichés. Later that year, she appeared in She's the One (2013).
Breakthrough and Rising Fame
Liza's big break came in 2014. She played the love interest in the second season of Got to Believe. She felt this role was a turning point for her career. Critics praised her performance in the show.
Next, Liza starred with Enrique Gil in the romantic drama series Forevermore (2014). The show was filmed in La Trinidad, Benguet. It told the story of two teenagers from different backgrounds who fall in love. Liza played a fruit farmer. The show was nominated for a Star Award. Liza was also named Most Promising Female Star in 2015.
In 2015, Liza starred in two movies with Enrique Gil: Just the Way You Are and Everyday I Love You. In Just the Way You Are, she played a shy American girl. Critics didn't love the movie, but they said Liza brought charm to her role.
She then starred in Everyday I Love You. This movie was filmed in Negros Occidental. Liza played a woman whose boyfriend falls into a coma. She then falls in love with another man. Critics praised Liza's natural acting and appealing presence. Both films were very successful, earning over ₱100 million each. Liza and Enrique won an award for Most Popular Love Team.
Becoming a Star: More Success (2016-2020)
In 2016, Liza reunited with Enrique Gil in the romantic drama series Dolce Amore. This show was filmed in Rome and Florence. Liza played Serena Marchesa, a young aristocrat. She is forced to marry her childhood friend but leaves for Manila. There, she falls in love with an impoverished man. Liza learned Italian for the role. Critics praised her acting skills and versatility. She was nominated for a Star Award for Best Drama Actress.
Liza starred in the romantic drama My Ex and Whys (2017) with Enrique Gil. She played a blogger who has to work with her ex-boyfriend. The director wanted Liza to show a different side of her acting. Liza found it challenging to play a character dealing with heartbreak. Critics liked her character and her chemistry with Enrique. The film earned over ₱400 million, making it one of the highest-grossing Filipino films that year. Liza won the Box Office Queen award. Also in 2017, she played Pia Wurtzbach, a Miss Universe 2015 winner, in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya.
In 2018, Liza starred as the warrior Ganda in the fantasy series Bagani. She had to perform stunts and train in wushu. During filming, she broke her arm. The series faced criticism because some felt the characters did not accurately represent indigenous Filipino ethnicity. Liza defended her heritage, saying she is part Filipino. Despite the criticism, she was nominated for Best Drama Actress.
The next year, Liza and Enrique Gil starred in the romantic drama Alone/Together (2019). They played a college couple facing relationship problems. Liza attended classes at the University of the Philippines Diliman to prepare for her role. Critics praised her strong performance. The film was a big success, earning over ₱380 million.
In 2020, the pair starred in the romantic drama series Make It with You. Filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia, Liza played a struggling overseas worker. She cut her hair short for the role to look different. Production for the show stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series was later cancelled.
New Directions: Career Expansion (2021-Present)
Liza wanted to try new types of roles and not always be seen as part of a romantic on-screen pair. She found an opportunity in the Netflix animated series Trese (2021). She voiced the main character, Alexandra Trese, a detective who solves supernatural crimes. Her voice acting received mixed reviews.
In 2022, Liza returned to the United States to pursue an acting career in Hollywood. She heard about a horror comedy film called Lisa Frankenstein (2024). Liza was encouraged to try out for a supporting role. She loved the script, calling it an "all-in-one project."
In Lisa Frankenstein, Liza played Taffy, the step-sister of the main character. She found the role interesting because Taffy had a complex personality. Liza worked closely with the writers and director to create Taffy's background. She also watched teen movies for inspiration. The film did not do well at the box office. However, critics generally praised Liza's performance. Many called her a "breakout star" and a "scene-stealer."
Also in 2024, Liza was a jury member at the first Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival. Her next project is a coming-of-age drama called Patron Saints of Nothing. She will star alongside Brandon Perea and Jon Jon Briones.
Liza Soberano's Advocacy and Support
Liza Soberano is a strong supporter of gender equality and the rights of women and children. She often speaks about social issues. She believes it's important to spread awareness to future generations. Liza identifies as a feminist. She says society has often taught women and children to stay quiet about their struggles.
In 2020, she worked with the human rights group Gabriela National Alliance of Filipino Women. She spoke during the International Day of the Girl Child about free speech and creating safer spaces for young women. After this, she faced criticism and false accusations from some government officials.
Liza also supports several charity organizations. These include the ICanServe Foundation, Chosen Children Village, and Anawim Home for the Elderly. In 2021, she became an ambassador for Save the Children Fund. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Liza and Enrique Gil raised money to help families and children with online learning.
Promoting Mental Health and Body Positivity
As a child, Liza was teased about her weight and skin issues. Because of this, she speaks out against body-shaming and bullying. She also actively promotes mental health awareness. In January 2022, she launched a podcast called An Open Mind, which had 12 episodes.
In 2024, Liza shared her own struggles with mental health. She said it came from years of focusing only on work and not fully experiencing her childhood. She also campaigns for affordable mental health care for communities in the Philippines.
Liza Soberano's Personal Life
Liza Soberano has dual citizenship in the United States and the Philippines. She started dating Enrique Gil in 2014. They publicly announced their relationship in 2017. Their relationship ended in October 2022, which Liza confirmed in March 2023.
Liza prefers to keep her personal life private. She doesn't share much about her family on social media. She fears that people close to her might receive unwanted criticism. She has a very close relationship with her siblings, especially her paternal half-brother, Justin. She said she would do anything for him.
Liza loves her acting profession. However, she has said that being a "celebrity" was not something she always wanted. She enjoys everyday activities like grocery shopping, cooking, and doing home repairs.
In 2024, Liza joined the Screen Actors Guild. She has been a spokesperson for many popular brands. These include Maybelline, Samsung (Galaxy Z Flip 3), Cetaphil, GCash, and Jollibee Foods Corporation. She is also the Chief Advocacy Officer for the digital banking company Maya. Liza has studied psychology and considered becoming a mental health counselor.
Liza Soberano's Awards and Achievements
Liza Soberano's most successful films include Just The Way You Are, Everyday I Love You, My Ex and Whys, and Alone/Together. Her movies as a main actress have earned over ₱1 billion worldwide. This makes her one of the highest-grossing Filipino actors of all time.
Her popular TV shows include Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo, Got To Believe, Forevermore, Dolce Amore, Bagani, and Make It With You.
Liza has received six Box Office Entertainment Awards. She won Most Popular Love Team with Enrique Gil three times. She was also named Most Promising Female Star of the Year in 2015. In 2018, she became Box Office Queen. In 2020, she was named Princess of Philippine Movies and Television. She has also been nominated for several Star Awards for Television and Star Awards for Movies. Additionally, she received two German Moreno awards: the Power Tandem Award in 2015 and the Youth Achievement Award in 2020.
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