In The Naked Gun reboot, Liza Koshy plays a rookie detective in a precinct full of chaos, slapstick, and old-school comedy. But during our conversation, it was clear her journey to that role goes far deeper than punchlines.

Koshy, who grew up in Houston, Texas, opened up emotionally about what it means to star in a major studio film alongside legends like Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson and how her connection to Latino culture has shaped her sense of belonging in Hollywood.

"I couldn't have written something this specifically perfect in my bucket list," she said, nearly in tears. "I started in physical comedy, in wordplay, slapstick... and now I get to do all that with people I admire."

"He Takes a Knee to Talk to Me"

Koshy's stories from set paint a hilarious and unexpectedly tender portrait of Liam Neeson, who plays her commanding officer in the film.

"He's 6'4", I'm 5'0". But he doesn't feel so tall because he takes a knee when he talks to me. That hurts his back—he's 73! But it shows how kind he is. He's generous, sweet, and just silly. I can't wait for people to see him be so dumb in this movie."

Her delivery is part admiration, part stand-up set—but always sincere. For Koshy, who grew up watching The Naked Gun franchise with her family, sharing screen time in the reboot isn't just a career milestone—it's a personal full-circle moment.

Why Liza Koshy Speaks Spanish

One of the most surprising things Koshy revealed is that she speaks fluent Spanish. Not because she's Latina (she's Indian and German-American) but because of the environment she was raised in.

She attended a dual-language immersion school in Houston from kindergarten through fifth grade. Spanish was everywhere: at school, in her neighborhood, and with her closest friends—many of whom were Latina.

"I do speak Spanish... and I also love tacos, but I'm not Hispanic," she joked, echoing what fans often tell her.

That early exposure gave her not just language skills, but a cultural fluency she still carries. She credits her Latina friends and neighbors for helping shape her humor, rhythm, and even her comfort in front of the camera.

"I Feel Seen"

As the only young woman of color in her on-screen police department, Koshy says her role represents more than a paycheck—it's a statement.

"She's the youngest in the precinct. She's a woman of color. She's enmeshed in this madness of men," Koshy said. "It felt like stepping into Hollywood as the new generation. Like the baton is being passed."

In The Naked Gun, she doesn't just show up—she holds her ground. And for Koshy, that visibility matters. It's why, in our conversation, she got choked up. "I feel seen," she said, simply.

What's Next for Liza?

After The Naked Gun, Koshy is keeping the momentum strong. She recently voiced a hilarious animated cameo in Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, and she's currently filming a new action comedy with Arnold Schwarzenegger, where she plays his feisty stepdaughter.

She even pitched a future movie idea:

"I want to be the ethnically ambiguous adopted daughter of a Hollywood power couple. Not-so-naked family comedy? Let's go."

Originally published on Latin Times