Liza Koshyused her YouTube fame to help launch her acting career, and her best movies and TV shows prove that was a great move. After starting out on Vine, a social media platform that was home to six-second videos, she made the jump toYouTube, where she built a massive following that totals nearly 24 million followers across two channels. In 2016, Liza Koshy made her acting debut in Tyler Perry’sBoo! A Madea Halloween, another addition toPerry’sMadeamovies, marking a brand-new chapter in her entertainment career.
Since then, Liza Koshy has gone on to star inFreakishfor Hulu, and produced, co-created and starred inLiza on Demand, a comedy series exclusive to YouTube Premium. Alongside her live-action performances, Liza Koshy has shown her talent as a voice actor, loaning her voice to movies and shows likeHamster & Gretel,Primos,My Little Pony: A New Generation, and the latest live-action entry intheTransformersfranchise,Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Revolving around a widowed writer who begins a romantic relationship with a younger actor whom her daughter works for as his personal assistant,A Family Affairis another solid romantic comedy, with a stellar central performance from Nicole Kidman. Her chemistry with Zac Efron elevates the movie as a whole, which follows a lot of the tried-and-true romantic comedy beats, while trying to say something more about finding love as an older woman, as well as navigating thorny family dynamics.
While it is a supporting role inA Family Affair, Liza Koshy is wonderful as Genie, best friend to Joey King’s Zara, and shows her support when Zara finds out that her mother is dating her terrible boss, played by Zac Efron. As the movie progresses, Genie starts to feel neglected by Zara, whichallows Liza Koshy to dig a bit deeper into her character than she might normally do. She does it well, and she is a great addition toA Family Affair’s cast.
Good Burger 2
Cast
A sequel to the 1997 film spin-off of a Nickelodeon sketch series, Good Burger 2 is a comedy film directed by Phil Trail. Dexter and Ed are reunited at the Good Burger restaurant after twenty-six years. Dex, the ever-sly inventor, is given his old job back as he attempts to climb out of the hole created by his most recent failed invention.
Released a staggering 26 years after the first film,Good Burger 2attempts to recapture the magic ofGood Burger, and largely succeeds thanks to a welcome return by Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell as Dexter Reed and Ed, roles they originally played in the Nickelodeon sketch show,All That. Picking up decades later,Good Burger 2follows Dexter, who returns to work for Good Burger and reunites with Ed after his failings as an entrepreneur.Good Burger 2carries the same tone and humor of the original, making it a worthy sequel.
Good Burger 2attempts to recapture the magic ofGood Burger, and largely succeeds thanks to a welcome return by Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell as Dexter Reed and Ed.
Liza Koshy plays a somewhat smaller role inGood Burger 2as Wilma, a technician for MegaCorp. The company is a massive corporation that is attempting to turn Good Burger into a major global franchise, stemming from the CEO’s desire for revenge against her incarcerated brother, who owned another burger joint.Of course, it’s all quite silly, but Liza Koshy perfectly fits the tone of theGood Burgeruniverse, and does an admirable job with her limited screen time.
Playersis a romantic comedy that follows Mack (Gina Rodriguez), a New York City sportswriter who has developed “plays” alongside her best friend and the rest of their crew that allow them to easily hook up with people. In typically rom-com fashion, Mack ends up meeting someone who makes her question throwing her whole playbook in the trash as their relationship progresses. Rodriguez is delightful as Mack, andPlayersis a welcome addition to the expansive genre.
Players Cast & Character Guide
Netflix’s rom-com Players includes acting powerhouses like Gina Rodriguez from Jane The Virgin and Damon Wayans Jr. from New Girl.
One of her most recent roles, Liza Koshy fits into the likeable ensemble cast perfectly. She plays Ashley, who is friends with Mack and Damon Wayons Jr.’s Adam, and is eventually roped into joining their crew alongside another co-worker and his brother. Liza Koshy rose to fame through her comedic talent, andshe does a great job inPlayers, fitting in with the rest of the crew, and using her gift for physical comedy, especially facial expressions, to great effect.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
DreamWorks Animation presents Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, an animated action-adventure film that follows high-schooler Ruby Gillman as she tries to fit in at Oceanside High. When Ruby finally discovers that she’s directly descended from the protectors of the seas, the Krakens, she’ll have to dig deep to protect her school and the oceans themselves from the popular but dangerous mermaid, Chelsea.
While it doesn’t reach the heights of otherDreamworks films likeShrekorPuss inBoots: The Last Wish,Ruby Gillmann, Teenage Krakenis still a charming animated family movie. The film follows a shy Kraken girl named Ruby Gillman who desperately wants to fit in at her high school. Despite that wish, Ruby Gillman discovers that she is a descendant of battle-hardened Krakens, and is destined to inherit her grandmother’s throne.Ruby Gillmann, Teenage Krakenis a sweet little film that explores the idea of being true to yourself and not ashamed.
Liza Koshy’s expressive voice and willingness to be incredibly silly work very well for voice acting, and she has proven how great she is at it throughout her career. She is excellent inRuby Gillmann, Teenage Krakenas well, as she plays Margot, an overly dramatic girl who is also Ruby’s best friend. Margot cares a lot about her friends, and shows a lot of compassion and understanding for Ruby Gillmann, while still being silly and over-the-top. It’s the perfect Liza Koshy role.
Hamster & Gretelis an adorable animated TV series that lovingly explores the superhero genre with its titular characters taking center stage. After Gretel, a nine-year-old girl, gets superpowers from aliens, alongside her pet hamster, the two of them form a superhero duo that protects their city, with the help of Gretel’s 16-year-old brother, Kevin. WhileHamster & Gretelis perfect for young kids to get into superhero stories, its humor can often be quite layered, making it a great watch overall.
Liza Koshy is so great in her recurring role as Veronica Hill inHamster & Gretel. Veronica is a blunt and overtly snarky new reporter who likes to weave her own personal issues into the current stories, which can lead to some truly hilarious moments.Koshy does an impressive job at showcasing Veronica Hill’s unique personalityand is often one of the best parts of the show when she does appear.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a 2023 installment in the Transformers franchise where Optimus Prime and the Autobots join forces with the Maximals to counter a global threat. As Earth’s fate hangs in the balance, humans Noah and Elena aid the Transformers in a decisive battle to save humanity.
Though it is a bit of a step down from the surprisingly amazingBumblebee,Transformers: Rise of the Beastswas a worthy follow-up and is still one of the best live-actionTransformersmovies to date. The film is a sequel toBumblebee, and is set in 1994 and finally brings in fan-favorite characters that made their appearance in the belovedTransformers: Beast Warsanimated series.Rise of the Beastsfollows two archaeologists who strike up an alliance with the Autobots and come face to face with several other tribes of Transformers.
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Liza Koshy was given the honor of voicing Arcee inTransformers: Rise of the Beasts, an Autobot sharpshooter who transforms into a motorcycle. Arcee is typically a fan-favorite character and Koshy does a great job at bringing her to life in the new movie.It’s also a bit of a change of pace for Koshy, who isn’t as comedic in her performance as she usually is.
Work It
Work It is a dance competition film directed by Laura Terruso. The plot centers around Quinn Ackerman, a high school student who forms a dance team to win a major competition and enhance her college application. Starring Sabrina Carpenter, Jordan Fisher, and Liza Koshy, the film explores themes of perseverance, teamwork, and self-discovery.
Following a group of high school students from various backgrounds,Work Itchronicles their efforts to win the titular dance competition, exploring the concept of a chosen family and chasing one’s dreams. It draws inspiration from similar movies about a ragtag group competing in a dance competition, but does so with earnestness and wit, making it a worthy addition to the genre. It also features some incredible dance sequences, which are always a joy to watch.
Liza Koshy is given a lot to work with inWork It, where she plays Jasmine Hale, the best friend of Sabrina Carpenter’s Quinn Ackerman. After Quinn enlists Jasmine’s help to teach her how to dance, the two of them decide to start their own group to compete against the school’s top team, which Jasmine was originally part of, searching in unusual places for their squad.Koshy’s unique comedic delivery gives Jasmine Hale so much personality, and she is easily one of the best parts of the film.
My Little Pony: A New Generation
My Little Pony: A New Generation is an animated film that marks a new direction for the beloved franchise. Released in 2021, the film follows new characters Sunny Starscout, Izzy Moonbow, and their friends as they unite to restore harmony to their divided world. Directed by Robert Cullen and José Ucha, this installment introduces fresh adventures and friendships in the magical land of Equestria.
My Little Ponyhas been a franchise since the 1980s, but it really rose to prominence in the early 2010s with the TV series,My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.My Little Pony: A New Generationis the latest film in the franchise, and does a great job of not only respecting what came before but taking it in exciting new directions. It features everything fans of the series love about it: friendship, magic, and empowerment, making it one of the best movies in the entire series.
My Little Pony: A New Generationis the latest film in the franchise, and does a great job of not only respecting what came before, but taking it in exciting new directions.
Liza Koshy is the perfect actress to voice aMy Little Ponycharacter, and she does an incredible job as Zephyrina “Zipp” Storm. Zipp is the older sister of Sofia Carson’s Pipp Petals, and is a rebellious Pegasus princess who enjoys athletics and science.Zipp is often seen as incredibly cool inMy Little Pony: A New Generation, and Koshy is wonderful at slipping into a nonchalant voice, one of the most fun aspects of the character.
Freakish
Freakish centers on a group of high school students who must fight for survival after a chemical plant meltdown transforms locals into predatory mutants. Released in 2016, the film explores themes of resilience and camaraderie as the students navigate the harrowing challenges posed by their new reality.
An underrated Hulu original series,Freakishrevolves around a group of high school students in Saturday detention who must work together to survive with limited resources after others at the school are turned into zombie-like creatures following a nearby chemical plant exploding.Freakishdoes a fantastic job at toeing the line between the horror genre and the teen drama, making it a great series to watch for fans of either genre, or even both.
Other great teen dramas that also act as solid horror series to watch areBuffy the Vampire Slayer,The Vampire Diaries, andChilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Freakishwas the first major role of Liza Koshy’s acting career, and she does an amazing job throughout both seasons as Violet Adams, a student who was one of the survivors at her school due to getting detention for her tendency to lash out and her lack of patience. As a bit of a loner, Koshy does an admirable job at portraying what it feels like to be on the outside looking in, and her decision to not kill a single “freak” gives her a lot of complexity.
Exclusive to YouTube Premium for all three of its seasons,Liza on Demandis a genuinely hilarious look at Liza Hertzler, a gig worker known as a “tasker” who works for the company Taskit, and her journey to make it to elite status for the job. The series is fast-paced, often witty, and sometimes downright silly, but also tackles some heavier social issues through a more light-hearted lens.
Serving as a co-creator, executive producer, director of a couple of episodes, writer on the pilot episode, and star of the entire series,Liza on Demandis the most impressive role of Liza Koshy’s acting career. Given that the series was tailor-made for her and her type of humor, LKoshy knocks it out of the park in every episode and fans of the YouTube star-turned-actress, will find a lot to love inLiza on Demand. Even those who might not think it is for them could find a lot of enjoyment in what feels likeLiza Koshy’spassion project.
