LAPIRA. Appealing contrast.
We were watching the new sitcom, “Super Fun Night,” when we noticed that one of series star Rebel Wilson’s two bosom buddies and sidekicks looked Asian, possibly even Fil-Am. We checked the cast credits and saw the name, Liza Lapira. Bingo!
It’s unusual for a Fil-Am talent to get a regular role on a US TV sitcom, especially one as initially successful as “Super Fun Night,” so we dug up more info on “our” Liza:
Her parents migrated from the Philippines and she grew up in New York. While she was there, Liza did theater (“As You Like It,” “The School of Wives”) and acted in small films. Early movie credits include Tony Scott’s “Domino” and “The Big Bad Swim.” She was also in J.J. Abrams’ “Cloverfield” and “Table for Three.”
In 2009, she played Agent Sophie Trinh in “Fast and Furious”; in 2010, she was Alva in “Repo Man,” and in 2011, she portrayed Liz, the friend of Emma Stone in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Clearly, Liza is no clueless newbie in the biz!
Major role
On TV, her first major role was as a regular cast member on “Huff.” She was also in both seasons of “Dollhouse,” and had recurring roles in “Dexter,” “ER,” “Monk,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Law and Order” and “The Sopranos.” She had regular roles as Agent Michelle Lee in “NCIS” and Lisa in “Traffic Light.”
On “Super Fun Night,” Liza makes a good impression because she doesn’t try to compete with Rebel’s more physical and “crazy” comedic persona. Instead, she plays her scenes nerdy and just a bit daft, and the contrast is appealing.
We hope that, in the coming weeks, Liza’s character will be given a subplot all her own, so she can really stretch her comedic wings—and fly high! If her star continues to shine, she could in time become one of the few Fil-Am talents to make in on the current US TV-film scene, along with Rob Schneider, Tia Carrere and Hailee Steinfeld.