Liza Soberano

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.[4][11]

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.[12]

In the successful romantic comedy television series Forevermore (2014), Soberano made her debut as the 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.[13][14] The success of the TV series made Soberano and Gil gain popularity.[15][16][17]

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).[18][19][20][21]

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.[22][23][24]

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.[25]

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.[26] 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.[27]

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.[28][29] 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.”[30][31]

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.

In September 2020, Soberano became the subject of various online "rape comments" as part of public reaction to an incident where her internet service provider supposedly prioritized her connection repairs because of elitism due to her expressing disappointment with the service.[45] Noting that there was no excuse for such online harassment, Soberano decided to lodge a formal case against one of the commenters, saying "“I was really upset because the fact that it is a rape joke, it is not something that should be taken lightly," and "I know that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, that is true, but at some point you have to be respectful to others online. I want people to learn that there are consequences to everything, like rape jokes, because that is not a light matter."[46]

In October 2020, Soberano spoke at an online event organized by Gabriela Youth, the youth arm of the women's rights group Gabriela. In her speech, she noted how the rape comment incident made her realize "the importance of standing up for [her]self", saying:

"As a woman, as a Filipino artist, I think that women and influencers alike should start speaking up. They can contribute not only awareness about these issues, but also encouragement and confidence to our fellow women and children — that they need to learn to stand up for themselves."[47]

Soon after speaking at an Gabriela Youth event, Soberano became the subject of an alleged red-tagging incident.[48] 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.[49]

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.[49] Parlade clarified, however: "Is she an NPA? No, of course not. Not yet."[49]

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."[50]

Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros also chided Parlade,[48] saying:

Don't use your position as a general to scare and threaten these women. Your threats and harassment are unacceptable. By silencing them, you are tolerating the violence, rape, and abuse being experienced by many Filipinos.[48]