(From left) Liza Soberano and Dolly de Leon. Images: Instagram/@lizasoberano, Instagram/@dollyedeleon
After collaborating on a project, Liza Soberano said that she couldn’t help but admire Dolly de Leon all the more for her “hunger for learning” and fearlessness in taking on challenges after challenges as an actress.
Soberano, a Hollywood ingenue coming from the success of her first Hollywood film, “Lisa Frankenstein,” and de Leon, the country’s first Filipino Golden Globe and BAFTA nominee, recently joined forces as endorsers of a digital banking platform, though this certainly wasn’t their first collaboration together as they had already starred before in the 2019 film “Alone/Together.”
It was no surprise, however, that Soberano was over the moon after she was given the opportunity to work with de Leon on a short film with references to Hollywood and classic moments in pop culture.
“Honestly, behind the scenes, we were just talking about ‘Call of Duty’ all the time. We’re both huge fans of it. We were talking about the gun set-ups [in the game], so that’s what we talked about,” Soberano said as she was sitting down with the press during a brand launch.
Soberano recalled that de Leon’s “hunger for learning” is what caught her attention the most, as the latter is “unapologetic” in her dreams despite her success.
“In terms of acting, being someone incredibly talented yet so hungry to learn and experience things is what I picked up from [Dolly]. She’s so fearless and so unapologetic about dreaming big and reaching for the stars,” she said.
‘Second home’
Soberano also shared that she now considers Los Angeles, California to be her “second home,” although nothing compares to Manila. But along the way, she’s been exploring its “vibrant culture” while in the hunt for a “place to live” in the city.
“Iba pa rin ang Manila for me, but I found ways to make LA more homey. I’ve been immersing myself in its vibrant culture. It’s very diverse there and there are many people to learn and be inspired from,” she said. “I’m just trying to explore and find my people there, and my group of friends. I’m also looking for a place to live.”
While touching on her booming career, the “Lisa Frankenstein” star is still reeling from the praise she received from critics, journalists, and film enthusiasts in the US.
“It’s still very unreal to be part of such an incredible project surrounded by incredibly talented people who are also so down to earth. I’m so grateful to be part of this whole process and I’m inspired to work harder and grind more,” she said.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Soberano said she will divide her time between the US and Asia to fulfill her commitments in acting, modeling, and brand endorsements.