The Bold and the Beautiful’s Lisa Yamada Wins Big — and Takes Her Talents Beyond the Soap World
From Forrester Intern to Emmy-Winning Star
When Lisa Yamada joined The Bold and the Beautiful in 2023, fans couldn’t have predicted the wild ride her character Luna would take them on. What began as a sweet, naive intern storyline spiraled into one of the most shocking transformations in recent soap history — complete with betrayal, seduction, murder, and madness.
Luna’s dark descent into chaos, tied to her bloodline as Sheila Carter’s granddaughter, has kept viewers glued to their screens. But for Yamada, the unpredictable character arc became a career-defining role that showcased her fearless range and emotional depth.
Now, her bold performance has earned her one of daytime’s highest honors.
A Golden Moment at the Daytime Emmys
At the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards, Lisa Yamada took home the coveted trophy for Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama, marking a major milestone in her blossoming career.
“Still reeling from last night,” she wrote on Instagram after her win. “There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude to everyone who’s helped me get here. My heart is so full.”
She thanked her Bold and Beautiful family for creating “a space where I can be vulnerable and pour my heart into every scene,” and paid tribute to her fellow nominees, saying, “Having my name listed alongside yours was truly an honor.”
Her speech, however, became one of the night’s most moving moments when she turned her attention to her parents.
“I come from two immigrant parents who helped me navigate an industry that was so foreign to them,” she said tearfully. “Even when we didn’t have much, they never hesitated to pay for every acting class, every headshot, and drive me to every audition.”
Mental Health Advocate and Role Model
Beyond the red carpets and the cameras, Yamada uses her growing platform to advocate for mental health awareness. During Mental Health Awareness Month, she opened up about her own struggles in a heartfelt Instagram post, encouraging fans to seek help and break the stigma surrounding emotional wellbeing.
Her openness has resonated with viewers, many of whom see her as both a rising actress and a relatable voice for a generation navigating self-doubt and anxiety in the public eye.
Before the Fame: From Zombies to Soaps
Before shaking up daytime television, Yamada gained international attention for her role as Hyo-Ryeong in Netflix’s global hit All of Us Are Dead. The South Korean zombie thriller followed a group of high school students trapped in a deadly outbreak — and Yamada’s intensity and vulnerability stood out in a cast of breakout stars.
It was the perfect training ground for the high-stakes emotion and grit required on The Bold and the Beautiful.
What’s Next: From the Runway to Bel-Air High
Yamada’s next move proves she’s just getting started. The actress will play Amber, a recurring character in Elle — the highly anticipated Amazon Prime prequel to Legally Blonde. The new series will follow a young Elle Woods navigating high school life in Bel-Air long before her Harvard Law days.
Yamada’s Amber is described as one of Elle’s closest friends, bringing warmth, humor, and a dash of youthful confidence to the series.
A Star Whose Future Shines Bright
With her Emmy win, breakout soap role, and growing impact beyond the screen, Lisa Yamada is quickly establishing herself as one of television’s most exciting new talents. Whether she’s surviving a zombie apocalypse, shaking up Forrester Creations, or sharing scenes in Elle Woods’ world, Yamada brings authenticity, passion, and heart to every project she touches.
And if her journey so far is any indication, she’s only just begun.