Lea Salonga has become the first Filipina performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking a landmark moment for the award-winning actress and singer.
The 2,855th star was unveiled on Friday, September 4, outside the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, honouring Salonga in the Live Performance category.
Salonga, who began performing professionally in the Philippines at the age of seven, rose to international prominence as the original Kim in Miss Saigon. Her performance earned her a Laurence Olivier Award in 1990 and a Tony Award the following year, making her the first Asian woman to win the Tony for best actress in a musical.
Her stage career has also included productions of Les Misérables, Once on This Island and Flower Drum Song. She later supplied the singing voices for Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and the title character in Mulan.
The ceremony was hosted by entertainment journalist Sibley Scoles, with Brandy, Darren Criss and Ming-Na Wen among those taking part. Wen provided Mulan’s speaking voice, while Salonga performed the character’s songs.
Reflecting on the honour, Salonga said: “This is surreal. I have walked down this street many times. I’ve stepped on a lot of famous people, and now people get to step on me. Which feels strangely appropriate for show business.”
She also spoke about the unlikely path from child performer in Manila to one of the world’s best-known musical theatre stars.
“I was a little girl in the Philippines who loved to sing and perform,” she said. “I started working when I was very young, and I certainly didn’t have some grand plan for how any of this was supposed to unfold. I just knew that I loved doing it.”
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce described Salonga as a trailblazer whose career had inspired audiences around the world. Her nomination was submitted by the Manila International Film Festival, which will honour her with its Icon Award at a gala in Beverly Hills on Sunday, September 6. ([walkoffame.com](https://walkoffame.com/press_releases/hollywood-chamber-of-commerce-to-honor-broadway-star-lea-salonga-with-a-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-making-her-the-first-filipina-to-be-honored-with-the-coveted-hollywood-star/?utm_source=openai))
Salonga’s Hollywood recognition follows decades of work across theatre, film, television and music. She was named a Disney Legend in 2011 and remains closely associated with the roles that helped bring Asian performers to a global audience.
“I hope that someday a young Filipino kid comes to Hollywood, sees my name and thinks, ‘Oh, maybe I can get here too,’” she said.
