Lea Salonga
CountryPhilippines 
GenderFemale
BirthdayFeb. 22, 1971
BiographyMaria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga (born February 22, 1971), known professionally as Lea Salonga, is a Filipino singer, actress, and columnist. Recognized by critics and audiences for her powerful, crystalline voice and emotional range, she is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished stage performers of her generation. Over a career spanning more than four decades, she has headlined Broadway and West End productions, appeared in international films and television, released acclaimed recordings, and toured the globe.
Salonga began performing in Philippine musical theatre as a child, making her professional debut at age seven. Her international breakthrough occurred in 1989 when she originated the role of Kim in the West End production of Miss Saigon, later reprising her performance in 1991 when the production transferred to Broadway. She continued her Broadway success with standout performances as Éponine and Fantine in Les Misérables (1993, 2007), followed by major roles in Flower Drum Song (2002), Allegiance (2015), Once on This Island (2017), Here Lies Love (2023), and the musical revue Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends (2025). On film, she earned critical acclaim for her roles in Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (1992) and Sana Maulit Muli (1995). Additionally, Salonga provided the singing voice for the characters of Jasmine in Aladdin (1992) and the titular character in Mulan (1998) and Mulan II (2004). On television, she appeared regularly on That's Entertainment, As the World Turns, and Pretty Little Liars. Furthermore, Salonga has expanded her career to include reality television as a coach on The Voice of the Philippines and its spin-off series, The Voice Kids and The Voice Teens.
As a recording artist, Salonga began her music career at age ten. Her first album, Small Voice, was released in 1981 and received a gold certification. She later signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records, releasing her platinum-certified self-titled album in 1993. Her subsequent releases include I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (1997) and By Heart (1999). She has headlined sold-out concert tours across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, with notable performances at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall, the London Palladium, the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the Dubai Opera.
Salonga is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Laurence Olivier Award (1990), Tony Award (1991), Drama Desk Award (1991), Outer Critics Circle Award (1991), and Theatre World Award (1991), in addition to two Grammy Award nominations (2004, 2019). Often dubbed the "Pride of the Philippines," she is the first Asian actress to win a Tony Award, first Filipino artist to sign with an international record label, and in 2026, she will become the first Filipino artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. President Corazon Aquino awarded her the Presidential Medal of Merit in 1990, President Gloria Arroyo honored her with the rank of Commander of the Order of Lakandula in 2007, and House of Representatives of the Philippines awarded her with the Congressional Medal of Achievement in 2007.
Biography from the Wikipedia article Lea Salonga. Licensed under CC-BY-SA. Full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Salonga began performing in Philippine musical theatre as a child, making her professional debut at age seven. Her international breakthrough occurred in 1989 when she originated the role of Kim in the West End production of Miss Saigon, later reprising her performance in 1991 when the production transferred to Broadway. She continued her Broadway success with standout performances as Éponine and Fantine in Les Misérables (1993, 2007), followed by major roles in Flower Drum Song (2002), Allegiance (2015), Once on This Island (2017), Here Lies Love (2023), and the musical revue Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends (2025). On film, she earned critical acclaim for her roles in Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (1992) and Sana Maulit Muli (1995). Additionally, Salonga provided the singing voice for the characters of Jasmine in Aladdin (1992) and the titular character in Mulan (1998) and Mulan II (2004). On television, she appeared regularly on That's Entertainment, As the World Turns, and Pretty Little Liars. Furthermore, Salonga has expanded her career to include reality television as a coach on The Voice of the Philippines and its spin-off series, The Voice Kids and The Voice Teens.
As a recording artist, Salonga began her music career at age ten. Her first album, Small Voice, was released in 1981 and received a gold certification. She later signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records, releasing her platinum-certified self-titled album in 1993. Her subsequent releases include I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (1997) and By Heart (1999). She has headlined sold-out concert tours across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, with notable performances at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall, the London Palladium, the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the Dubai Opera.
Salonga is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Laurence Olivier Award (1990), Tony Award (1991), Drama Desk Award (1991), Outer Critics Circle Award (1991), and Theatre World Award (1991), in addition to two Grammy Award nominations (2004, 2019). Often dubbed the "Pride of the Philippines," she is the first Asian actress to win a Tony Award, first Filipino artist to sign with an international record label, and in 2026, she will become the first Filipino artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. President Corazon Aquino awarded her the Presidential Medal of Merit in 1990, President Gloria Arroyo honored her with the rank of Commander of the Order of Lakandula in 2007, and House of Representatives of the Philippines awarded her with the Congressional Medal of Achievement in 2007.
Biography from the Wikipedia article Lea Salonga. Licensed under CC-BY-SA. Full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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