By Neil Ramos
At A Glance
- Liza Soberano opens up about the financial realities, constant auditions, and challenges of rebuilding her career in Hollywood after leaving behind success in the Philippines.
Liza Soberano is opening up about the challenges that came with leaving behind an established career in the Philippines to pursue opportunities in Hollywood.
Speaking on the "Painfully Human Podcast," the actress reflected on her decision to relocate to Los Angeles and the realities of starting over in a highly competitive industry.
The actress acknowledged that the move has significantly changed her financial situation.
She also addressed criticism from those who questioned why she occasionally takes on influencer work and smaller brand partnerships.
For Soberano, the answer is straightforward.
"When I first moved to LA, it really hurt me when people would say, 'Oh, laos na siya. We don't see her anywhere. Oh, laos na siya. She's only doing these small little influencer gigs.'"
"Guys, that's how I stay alive," she said.
The actress explained that while much of her income still comes from Asia, she now has to cover expenses in the United States, where the cost of living is considerably higher.
"I'm not making as much money as I did before and on top of that, majority of my money still comes from Asia, but I'm living in the US, so the conversion is crazy."
As a result, she takes on projects that help support her financially while she continues working toward bigger opportunities.
"I have to do all these little gigs every now and then because that's how I pay my bills."
Beyond the financial adjustments, Soberano said she has had to adapt to a different pace and process in Hollywood.
Much of her time is spent attending auditions, taking classes, and investing in training. She also pays for coaching sessions to prepare for self-tape auditions despite having no certainty that a role will follow.
Rejection, she said, has become a normal part of her routine.
"In America, I do three to four auditions a week and I get rejected constantly."
Despite that, the actress said the experience has been rewarding because it continues to push her outside her comfort zone.
"But I'm loving it now because I'm learning and growing so much."
Since relocating to Los Angeles, Soberano has already landed notable international projects. She made her Hollywood debut in the 2024 film "Lisa Frankenstein" and was recently announced as part of the voice cast of "Forgotten Island," an upcoming animated feature from DreamWorks Animation.
