Liza Soberano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Liza Soberano
Soberano in 2016
Born	Hope Elizabeth Hanley Soberano (1998-01-04) January 4, 1998 (age 26) Santa Clara, California, U.S.
Nationality	Filipino-American
Other names	Liza, Hope, Hopie
Education	Psychology
Alma mater	St. Patrick High School (Quezon City, Philippines) Southville International School affiliated with Foreign Universities
Occupation	Actress model singer endorser
Years active	2011–present
Agent	Star Magic (2011–2022) Careless Music Manila (2022–present)
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Partner(s)	Enrique Gil (2014-present)
Signature

Hope Elizabeth Hanley Soberano(English: /ˈlaɪzə/ LY-zə, Tagalog: [ˈlɐjsa sɔbɛˈɾanɔ]; born January 4, 1998), is a Filipino-American actress and model. Known for her lead roles in romantic comedies and drama, she initially played supporting roles in several films and television before her breakthrough in the series Forevermore (2014) opposite Enrique Gil. Tatler Asia named her among the most influential Filipino personalities in Asia and has received recognition from the FAMAS, Box Office Entertainment Awards and PMPC Star Awards for Television.

Named as the "Box Office Queen" at the 49th Box Office Entertainment Awards, Soberano has starred in a string of blockbuster films such as Just The Way You Are (2015), Everyday I Love You (2015), My Ex and Whys (2017) and Alone/Together (2019). Named as one of the "TV Queens at the Turn of the Millennium" at the 33rd PMPC Star Awards for Television, she is also notable for her lead performances in several television series such as Forevermore (2014), Dolce Amore (2016), Bagani (2018), Make It With You (2020) and Trese (2021). She is set to make her Hollywood debut in a supporting role in the horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein (2024).

Early life

Liza Soberano was born as Hope Elizabeth Soberano on January 4, 1998, in Santa Clara, California. She is the daughter of a Filipino father, John Castillo Soberano of Asingan, Pangasinan, and an American mother, Jacqulyn Elizabeth Hanley, who raised her in Santa Clara, California. She was raised in Visalia, California, by her paternal grandparents when her parents separated. When she was ten years old she moved to Manila, the Philippines to live with her father and relatives.

Career

2011–2014: Beginnings

She was offered modeling work for print ads at the age of 12 after moving to Manila. When she was 13, she was discovered by a talent scout and introduced to Ogie Diaz, her new talent manager. Her talent manager urged her to learn Filipino so she could land successful television and film projects because she couldn't speak the language at the time.

Soberano made her acting debut in the anthology series Wansapanataym (2011). She then had a minor role as Claire Raymundo in Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo (2012). Soberano then played the role of Angel in Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo's premier movie Must Be... Love. In 2013 she also starred as Gillian in She's the One with Bea Alonzo, Dingdong Dantes and Enrique Gil. A year later in 2014, she joined the primetime television series Got to Believe as Padilla's other love interest.

2014–2015: Breakthrough with Forevermore

In the successful romantic comedy television series Forevermore (2014), Soberano made her debut as strawberry farmer Maria Agnes Calay with Enrique Gil, who played Alexander "Xander" Grande III, a hotel business heir who gradually becomes Agnes' love interest. The series finale earned a 39.3 percent rating. The success of the TV series made Soberano and Gil gain popularity.

Following the success of Forevermore, Soberano starred in the film based on the Wattpad book The Bet. The film adaptation, initially titled as the same name as its source material was renamed Just The Way You Are (2015).

In October 2015, Soberano and Gil then starred in a romantic drama film with Gerald Anderson, Everyday, I Love You, directed by Mae Czarina Cruz-Alviar.

2016–present: Continued success, loveteam separation and expansion to Hollywood

In February 2016, Soberano starred in the romantic comedy melodrama series Dolce Amore. She portrays Serena Marchesa, a young girl raised in Italy by her adoptive parents. Though she lives a good life, she cannot shake off the feeling that an important part of her identity seems to be missing. In August 2016, it was announced that Soberano had signed as the new face of Maybelline.

In 2017, Soberano starred in the romantic comedy drama film My Ex and Whys opposite Enrique Gil. The film was directed by Cathy Garcia Molina, who had previously worked with her in Forevermore. The film was released in February 2017, grossing ₱31.5 million on its first day and won her the GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Award for Box Office Entertainment Award for Box Office Queen.

In May 2017, Soberano confirmed that she would star as the comics superheroine Darna in planned film adaptation, which was set to be released in 2019. However, due to an injury she suffered during primetime drama Bagani, she chose to withdraw from the role on April 4, 2019. The new adaptation was later reworked as a television series.

The following cancellation of Make It with You due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and its network's franchise renewal issues marked the end of the loveteam pairing with Gil. ABS-CBN Films head Kriz Gazmen stated that although they pitched several projects to the duo and was about to "shoot something" (that was later scrapped following COVID case surges in the country at that time), "the timing was never right," and "Liza made the decision to change [her] career direction.”

In 2022, Soberano signed with Careless Music, an American-Filipino based talent agency and record label founded by her contemporary James Reid in partnership with Far East Movement's Transparent Arts label. With this new career trajectory, she relocated back to the United States and has plans to forge a career in Hollywood, starting with Lisa Frankenstein for Focus Features.

Advocacy and issues

Soberano often uses her influence in Philippine media to promote subjects she cares about, such as mental health awareness, and the need for the government to address the 2020 COVID-19 crisis with "empathy not threats." But she generally avoided being vocal about her opinions and advocacies, because she used to be afraid it would be divisive.

Red-tagging incident

Soon after speaking at an Gabriela Youth event, Soberano became the subject of an alleged red-tagging incident. AFP Southern Luzon Command commander Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. said that Soberano and 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray should not support Gabriela and other rights groups, as fellow celebrity Angel Locsin has done.

Parlade specifically said: "Liza Soberano, there's still a chance to abdicate that group. If you don't, you will suffer the same fate as Josephine Anne Lapira." Lapira, a 22-year-old student activist from the University of the Philippines Manila, had been killed in November 2017 in a clash between army troops and alleged suspected members of Marxist–Leninist–Maoist New People's Army. Parlade clarified, however: "Is she an NPA? No, of course not. Not yet."

In response, Soberano's legal counsel Juanito Lim Jr. said that the actress is not afraid of the statement of General Parlade and that Liza "will continue to exercise her constitutionally-protected right to free speech and expression without fear or restraint from anyone."

Personal life

In February 2019, Soberano and Enrique Gil publicly confirmed they had been a couple since October 24, 2014. Soberano and Gil were known together as the love team LizQuen.

Soberano is a Roman Catholic. She and her brother, Justin David, received the sacraments of initiation. She is a dual citizen of the United States and the Philippines.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video appearances

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Liza Soberano para niños