H.E.R. Makes Voice-Acting Debut in 'Forgotten Island,' a Love Letter to Filipino Culture

H.E.R. can now add voice actor to her long list of titles. The Grammy and Oscar-winning singer stars as Jo in“Forgotten Island,”an animated adventure about two best friends who discover a portal to Nakali, a mythical island filled with Filipino mythological creatures. The film, written and directed by Joel Crawford, opens in theaters today, September 25, 2026, and features a predominantly Filipino cast, including Liza Soberano, alongside Dave Franco and Jenny Slate.

For H.E.R., whose heritage is Black and Filipina, the role is deeply personal. In an interview with PEOPLE, she opened up about what it means to see Filipino culture celebrated in a major studio film, complete with Tagalog dialogue and traditions.“Filipinos aren’t really given this moment to celebrate,”she said.“There’s never been a film created around Filipino culture celebrating the culture where people are speaking Tagalog.”Her message was simple and powerful:“We finally get to be seen.”

The film arrives at a time when audiences are hungry for authentic cultural storytelling, and it gives young viewers a rare chance to hear their language and see their traditions reflected on the big screen. Whether you’re here for the mythology, the star power, or the family-friendly adventure,“Forgotten Island”is worth a trip to the theater this weekend. Will you be seeing it? Let us know in the comments.