TORONTO — BLACKPINK superstar Lisa is entering a new phase of her career, stepping beyond the world of K-pop to explore acting, creative independence and a more personal side of life in the spotlight.
The Thai singer and rapper, whose real name is Lalisa Manobal, is the subject of Always Lalisa, a documentary directed by Sue Kim that follows a pivotal period in her life as she established herself as a solo artist and made her acting debut in HBO’s The White Lotus. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on Oct. 12 before streaming on YouTube Premium.
At 29, Lisa has already achieved global recognition as a member of BLACKPINK. But the documentary focuses on the challenges and discoveries that came with building a career outside the group, including launching her own management company, releasing her debut solo album Alter Ego and performing at major international events.
From K-pop trainee to global superstar
Lisa’s journey began when she auditioned for South Korean entertainment company YG Entertainment as a teenager in Thailand.
She became the first non-Korean trainee at the company and moved to South Korea at a young age to pursue her ambitions. Her training involved years of singing, dancing and learning Korean before BLACKPINK debuted in 2016.
The group went on to become one of the world’s most prominent K-pop acts, building a global audience through its music, performances and fashion influence.
Lisa has described her trainee years as a demanding but meaningful experience, comparing the routine of training and living in a dormitory with other aspiring performers to attending boarding school.
However, the documentary also explores the restrictions that shaped her early career. Under the tightly managed K-pop system, aspects of her personal life, including dating and driving, were subject to rules and expectations.
Director Sue Kim describes Lisa’s experience as a kind of “delayed coming of age” — a period in which she began testing boundaries and figuring out what she wanted as an artist and as an individual.
Finding confidence as a solo artist
One of the documentary’s central themes is Lisa’s effort to discover her identity outside BLACKPINK.
Her first solo album, Alter Ego, released in 2025, explored different personas and musical styles as she searched for a sound and image that felt right for her.
The process was not without its challenges. Lisa acknowledged that she initially lacked confidence and was unsure how to begin a solo career after spending so many years working within a group.
She has since described the experience of making her own decisions as liberating, saying she has learned to trust her ideas and pursue projects without constantly seeking permission.
The documentary follows her through performances at Coachella and the Academy Awards, as well as the work involved in establishing her own management company. These milestones illustrate how she has been taking greater control over the direction of her career.
Her acting debut in The White Lotus
Lisa’s move into acting became one of the most significant new experiences documented in the film.
She made her acting debut in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus, which was set in Thailand. She played Mook, a resort employee whose relationship with a security guard becomes part of the season’s storyline.
Lisa has said acting felt different from singing and dancing, the two disciplines she had practised since childhood. She expressed gratitude to series creator Mike White for giving her the opportunity.
White initially had reservations about casting a K-pop star, according to the documentary, but changed his view after meeting her. Kim said Lisa’s personality helped her stand apart from the highly controlled public image often associated with international pop stardom.
For Lisa, the role marked the beginning of a new creative path rather than a departure from music.
More film projects on the horizon
Lisa is already preparing to expand her acting portfolio.
She is set to star in a Netflix romantic comedy inspired by Notting Hill, written by Katie Silberman, and will also appear in Tygo, a South Korean action thriller directed by Lee Sang-yong.
The projects give her opportunities to explore different genres, from romance to action, while continuing to develop her screen presence.
Lisa has said she remains open to trying different kinds of roles. Her willingness to experiment reflects the broader direction of her career, which increasingly encompasses music, acting, business and fashion.
Fame, scrutiny and a more personal story
Despite her global success, the documentary also shows Lisa navigating the pressures of fame.
Her public image has often attracted intense online attention, from her fashion choices to her personal life. The film offers a more intimate perspective, including appearances by her parents and footage from her childhood.
Lisa admitted that watching herself as a young girl learning to dance was embarrassing, even as she appreciated the opportunity to reflect on how far she had come.
For Kim, the documentary was an opportunity to show a side of Lisa that audiences rarely see beyond carefully managed performances and public appearances.
The film also captures Lisa’s playful personality, including her enthusiasm for Labubu collectibles. A photograph of the singer carrying one of the plush toys in 2024 helped fuel the item’s popularity, illustrating how her everyday choices can influence global trends.
A new chapter, on her own terms
Lisa’s growing interest in acting does not mean she is leaving BLACKPINK behind. The group returned in February 2026 with its mini-album Deadline, its first release in more than three years, following members’ individual projects.
Instead, Always Lalisa presents her solo work and acting ambitions as part of a broader process of self-discovery.
After years of training and working within a highly structured entertainment system, Lisa is now exploring the freedom to choose projects, experiment with different forms of expression and shape her own professional identity.
The documentary’s central story is not simply about a K-pop star becoming an actress. It is about an established performer learning to trust her instincts and define what success means beyond the expectations that helped make her famous.
For Lisa, that next chapter is already underway — and acting may be only the beginning.
