Why is Filipino actress Liza Soberano learning Korean through Duolingo?

Liza Soberano (real name: Hope Elizabeth Hanley Soberano), a Manila-based actress, recently revealed her latest endeavour — taking Korean language lessons. According to local media reports her Hollywood aspirations were put on hold due to the ongoing actors' strike and therefore prompting her to explore diverse opportunities.

Liza affinity to Hollywood perhaps comes from the fact that California is her birthplace (January 4, 1998). 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. Her first Hollywood venture, the horror comedy "Lisa Frankenstein," directed by Zelda Williams and featuring Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton, is in post-production and could release later this year. Such delay may spell trouble for aspiring actors for whom time is precious. But she isn’t dwelling on the negatives.

Liza's ambitious dreams of directing and producing have led her to establish her own production company. She frequently visits South Korea to explore opportunities and meet with production companies and agencies. Her aim is to bridge the language barrier by learning Korean, albeit casually through Duolingo.

Her fascination with Korean culture and entertainment began during her childhood, and she became a fan of K-pop groups like Girls Generation, Super Junior, and 2NE1. Her interest in Korean entertainment resurfaced in 2018 through BTS, Momoland, and BLACKPINK. To promote her 15-episode series “Liza in Korea”, produced by JJ Global Group, Liza sat for an interview. The series offers viewers a 10-minute glimpse into Korean culture from her perspective and premiered on YouTube on September 13.

Liza gained recognition as one of Hollywood's "exciting young actors" to watch, according to "Town and Country" magazine, despite not yet making her Hollywood debut. Liza's career took off at the age of 16 when she starred in the popular TV series "Forevermore," making her one half of the beloved LizQuen duo and establishing herself as a top young talent in the Philippines.

With a substantial Instagram following (17.7 million) and a status as one of the Philippines' most admired "love teams," she's now exploring opportunities in both the Philippines and the US. Despite her successful career spanning over 13 years, she continues to seek inspiration from versatile American actresses like Zendaya and Angelina Jolie — known for their role selection and humanitarian work.

Liza has been the Philippines ambassador for Save the Children since April 2021, actively advocating for children's rights and participating in campaigns.

In an interesting revelation, actor Enrique Gil, Liza's longtime boyfriend, confirmed that their relationship remains strong, despite their busy careers. But they are tight-lipped about their evolving relationship.