Forgotten Island is brimming with Filipino culture and mythology. But at the center of its magical adventure are two young women, Jo and Raissa, Filipinas who were raised by their Lola with stories of the mystical island of Nakali and whose journey highlights the undeniable power of friendship during even the most trying times. By and large, Forgotten Island is also Jo and Raissa’s movie, who are brought to life by H.E.R. in her first voiceover role and Liza Soberano in her first lead role in a Hollywood movie.
It’s a pairing that feels like it was always meant to be. Like Jo, H.E.R. is more of a Type B personality and more open to being spontaneous and on the fly. At the same time, Soberano embodies Raissa’s Type A personality, preferring things to be done according to a set plan. But more than just finding common ground with their characters, the actresses understand that what they’ve stepped into, just like with Jo and Raissa when they enter Nakali, is so much more than just another project to their already sterling resumes.
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What Surprised H.E.R. the Most About Jo
With 5 Grammys and an Oscar to her name, H.E.R. is no stranger to the spotlight. But Forgotten Island presented a unique opportunity for the Filipino-American musician in that she got to use her acclaimed voice again, but this time for her first-ever voiceover role in an animated movie.
As Jo, H.E.R. gives the character a free-going nature and confident spirit as the extroverted half in Jo and Raissa’s friendship. “She was fun. She brought out a different side of my voice,” H.E.R. says. Studio sessions usually turned into spontaneous recordings where H.E.R. based her delivery on what the vibe was that day or what the directors, Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford, were looking for.
But as she got to know Jo more, she realized the depth of Jo’s layers. The character was more than just a ball of chaotic sunshine. “I think it was how passionate she was behind all of the joy and chaos. We started with the more fun scenes, so when we got to the more emotional ones, I was like, ‘Oh wait a second, there’s a lot under the humor and the laughing it off,’” the Oscar-winner tells MEGA Asia. “Even though I knew some of her backstory, she’s so good at hiding it and pretending everything’s okay, but I was very surprised at how deep her passion was for her friends and family.”
The role allowed H.E.R. to play with her creativity and tap into a side of her artistry she hadn’t done so before. But what made the moment that much more special for the artist was the film’s Filipino focus. Unbeknownst to some, H.E.R. is half Filipino, as her mother is from the Philippines. In fact, she considers Forgotten Island as not just another acting role, but home. “There are so many scenes in the movie that actually, literally feel like my mom’s home.”
In particular, H.E.R. credits the film’s directors and DreamWorks Animation for making her feel welcome and giving her a sense of openness to explore her Filipino roots. From the story, characters, setting, and all the way down to the easter eggs, nuances, and references only Filipinos would fully understand, it hits differently for H.E.R. “Watching it and seeing it come to life, everything about this movie feels like a very personal at-home experience.”
Why Liza Soberano Sees Forgotten Island as a Step in the Right Direction
When it came to Forgotten Island, Liza Soberano was faced with a challenge she was happy to accept. As she’s moving abroad for college, Raissa has an emotional maturity to her, but she is still a teenager. Soberano had to find that sweet spot where young adulthood and youthful excitement intersected in her voice. “Finding the right balance between being a child and being mature” is how Soberano puts it.
To that end, she spoke with her chest voice to sound deeper but still youthful and studied H.E.R.’s voice to find ways to complement it as Raissa. Soberano also approached the movie with a different mindset as compared to her past teleseryes and films in the Philippines. “When it came to the drama of this film, I wanted to make sure that it was still rooted in lighthearted, almost childlike tampuhan (sulking).”
As much as Forgotten Island made for a new acting experience for the actress, Soberano is prouder of the fact that she’s part of a project that champions Filipino culture. Ever since she moved to Los Angeles a few years ago to build her career as a Hollywood actress, Soberano has been one of the most high-profile Filipino stars trying to make it in an industry that is notoriously fickle and selective.
It’s a journey that’s had its ups and downs, but with her first lead Hollywood role under her belt, and in a movie that’s so unapologetically Filipino, Soberano is slowly making that dream a reality. “I just feel very honored and proud,” the actress says on being part of a small but growing list of Filipino talents helping bring the culture to the global stage. She adds, though, that she wouldn’t be where she is today if it weren’t for pioneers like her Forgotten Island co-stars Lea Salonga and Dolly de Leon who helped pave the way for proper Filipino representation in Hollywood and beyond.
Ultimately, Forgotten Island isn’t just a win for Soberano, but a win for Filipinos. As she puts it, “This feels like the beginning of something big for Filipino creatives around the world. I feel like we’re finally going to get the recognition we’ve long deserved. Filipinos are such talented people and are oftentimes the backbone of a lot of industries. There are a lot of Filipino creatives that don’t get the spotlight that often. But it’s starting to happen.”
Forgotten Island comes to cinemas nationwide beginning September 23.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured Image and Photos: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Frequently Asked Questions
H.E.R. voices Jo in her first-ever voiceover role, and Liza Soberano voices Raissa in her first lead role in a Hollywood movie. In the movie, the two protagonists were raised by their Lola on stories of the mystical island of Nakali.
Yes. H.E.R. is half Filipino, with her mother from the Philippines. She has said Forgotten Island feels less like just another role and more like home, given the film’s deep grounding in Filipino culture and detail.
Soberano spoke with her chest voice to sound deeper but still youthful, studied H.E.R.’s voice to complement it, and grounded Raissa’s dramatic moments in lighthearted, childlike “tampuhan,” or sulking, rather than heavy melodrama.
Liza Soberano sees Forgotten Island as a milestone for Filipino creatives, crediting predecessors like her co-stars Lea Salonga and Dolly de Leon for paving the way, and hopes the film signals wider recognition for Filipino talent globally.
Forgotten Island comes to cinemas nationwide beginning September 23, following its full soundtrack release and growing anticipation around its Filipino mythology-inspired story.
