Liza Soberano is opening up about the realities of pursuing a Hollywood career, revealing that life in Los Angeles has meant earning less money, facing constant rejection, and taking on influencer gigs to make ends meet.

Speaking on the "Painfully Human Podcast," the actress addressed criticism from those who have questioned why she occasionally accepts smaller brand partnerships and social media campaigns despite having been one of the Philippines' biggest stars.

"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,'" Soberano shared.

Her response was straightforward.

"Guys, that's how I stay alive."

Soberano explained that while much of her income still comes from Asia, she now faces the significantly higher cost of living in the United States.

"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," she said.

As a result, she occasionally takes on projects outside of acting while continuing to pursue bigger opportunities in Hollywood.

"I have to do all these little gigs every now and then because that's how I pay my bills."

The actress also spoke candidly about the challenges of starting over in a highly competitive industry, where success often requires patience, persistence, and substantial personal investment.

Much of her time is spent attending auditions, taking classes, and working with acting coaches. Even preparing self-tape auditions comes with costs, she noted, with no guarantee that a role will follow.

Rejection, meanwhile, has become a regular part of the process.

"In America, I do three to four auditions a week and I get rejected constantly."

Still, Soberano said she has learned to embrace the experience, viewing every setback as an opportunity to grow.

"But I'm loving it now because I'm learning and growing so much."

Despite the challenges, the actress continues to make strides in the international entertainment scene. Since relocating to Los Angeles, she has landed notable projects, including her Hollywood debut in the 2024 film "Lisa Frankenstein." More recently, she was announced as part of the voice cast of "Forgotten Island," an upcoming animated feature from DreamWorks Animation.