Lea Salonga
Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga-Chien, OL (/ˈleɪə səˈlɒŋɡə/ LAY-ə sa-LONG-ə; born February 22, 1971) is a Filipina singer and actress. Primarily known for her work in theatre, she has starred in musicals on West End and Broadway. Her accolades include a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition to nominations for two Grammy Awards. She was conferred with the Presidential Medal of Merit in 1990 and the Order of Lakandula in 2007, and was honored as a Disney Legend in 2011.
For her eponymous album, see Lea Salonga (album).
Lea Salonga
February 22, 1971
- Singer
- actress
1978–present
1
- Gerard Salonga (brother)
- Maniya Barredo (cousin)
- Shay Mitchell (cousin)
Vocals
Salonga began her career as a child in Philippine musical theatre productions and rose to international recognition in 1989 for playing the lead role of Kim in the original West End and Broadway productions of Miss Saigon. For her performance, she gained five awards—the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Theatre World Award, and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her further roles include Éponine in the Broadway and West End productions of Les Misérables, Wu Mei-Li in the 2002 Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song, Fantine in the 2006 Broadway revival of Les Misérables, Kei Kimura in the original Broadway production of Allegiance, Erzulie in the 2017 Broadway revival of Once on This Island, and Aurora Aquino in the original Broadway production of Here Lies Love. In 2023 and 2024, she starred in the West End production of the musical revue Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends.
As a recording artist, Salonga began her music career at age ten. Her first album, Small Voice, was launched 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), Lea... In Love (1998), By Heart (1999), and Inspired (2007).
On film, she portrayed Lisa in the Filipino comedy Tropang Bulilit (1981), and her performances as Sandy and Agnes in the romantic dramas Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (1992) and Sana Maulit Muli (1995), respectively, were widely acclaimed. 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). As a teenager, she hosted the variety show Love, Lea and later appeared on That's Entertainment. Her television acting credits include Lien Hughes on As the World Turns, Aunt Myrna on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Elodie Honrada on Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. 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.
Life and career[edit]
1971–1989: Early life and career beginnings[edit]
Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga[1] was born on February 22, 1971[2] to Ligaya (née Imutan) (b. 1937) and Feliciano Genuino Salonga (1929–2016).[3][4] She has a younger brother named Gerard.[5] At age three, she was trained by her aunt in singing.[6][7] At age seven, she and her family relocated from Pampanga to Manila.[6]
Salonga finished her primary and secondary education as salutatorian and valedictorian, respectively.[8] In an article by The New York Times published in 2000, she said that she planned to enroll at Fordham University.[5][9][10]
As a child, Salonga began singing at family parties.[11] Her cousin, who was active with Repertory Philippines, encouraged her to audition for a production of The King and I, where she made her professional debut in 1978 at the age of seven.[6][12][13] She played the title role in Annie in 1980, later reprising the role in 1984, and appeared in other productions such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1978), Fiddler on the Roof (1978), The Sound of Music (1980), The Rose Tattoo (1980), The Goodbye Girl (1982), Paper Moon (1983), and The Fantasticks (1988).[14]
In 1981, Salonga released her first album, Small Voice, which was certified gold in the Philippines,[15] and made her film debut in the comedy film Tropang Bulilit. As a young performer, Salonga received a Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) award nomination for Best Child Actress and three Aliw Awards for Best Child Performer in 1980, 1981, and 1982.[16][14] From 1983 to 1985, she hosted her musical television show, Love, Lea,[16] and was a member of the cast of German Moreno's teen variety show, That's Entertainment.
In 1985, Salonga and her brother, Gerard, took part in the 8th Metro Manila Popular Music Festival as the interpreters for the song entry titled "Musika, Lata, Sipol at La La La," composed by Tess Concepcion, which won second prize in the Amateur Division. That same year, she opened for the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo in their concerts in Manila.[17][18] She again performed with the group in 1986 and 1987, also appearing on their English-Tagalog album, In Action. As a teenager, Salonga continued to act in films, appearing in Like Father, Like Son (1985), Ninja Kids (1986), Captain Barbell (1986), and Pik Pak Boom (1988). In 1988, she released her second studio album, Lea, and opened for Stevie Wonder in Manila.[17][18]
Artistry[edit]
Musical style and themes[edit]
In her popular music releases, Salonga has sung "simple love songs," common in Original Pilipino Music.[179]
Influences[edit]
Salonga's style and music have been inspired by musical artists such as ABBA, the Carpenters (particularly Karen Carpenter), Olivia Newton-John, the Osmonds, Elaine Paige, and Barbra Streisand.[180] She has noted that these performers provided "clear voices that really helped the listener focus on the lyrics besides the tone and music."[181]
Salonga has repeatedly praised Streisand as one of her favorites for her "mammoth" career in singing, acting, producing, and arranging.[180] During her January 15, 2000 concert at the Philippine International Convention Center, Salonga called Streisand one of her idols.
Philanthropy and activism[edit]
Reproductive Rights and Sex Education[edit]
In 1987, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the United States Agency for International Development, and the Population Center Foundation (later renamed the Philippine Center for Population and Development) established the Philippine Young People’s Project and selected Salonga and Menudo to lead the campaign.[190] Music videos, commercials, and live performances were used to sell the message of responsible sexual behavior and to encourage counseling for discussing and solving their problems.[191] Additionally, Salonga promoted the campaign's program Dial-A-Friend, a telephone hotline that provides confidential counseling regarding mental health, relationships, and contraception.[192]
