Lea Salonga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lea Salonga
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Salonga in 2021
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| Born |
Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga
February 22, 1971 Manila, Philippines
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1978–present |
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Works
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| Spouse(s) |
Robert Charles Chien
(m. 2004) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Honors |
 Presidential Merit Award Order of Lakandula |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
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Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga (born February 22, 1971) is a famous Filipino singer and actress. She is best known for her amazing work in musicals, performing on Broadway in New York and in the West End in London.
Lea has won many important awards, including a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award. She was also nominated for two Grammy Awards. In 2011, she was honored as a Disney Legend for her voice work in Disney movies.
Lea started her career as a child in the Philippines. She became famous around the world in 1989 when she played the main role of Kim in the original London and Broadway shows of Miss Saigon. For this role, she won five awards, including the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
She has also played other famous roles like Éponine and Fantine in Les Misérables. On screen, Lea sang for Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin (1992) and for Mulan in Mulan (1998) and Mulan II (2004). She has also been a coach on The Voice of the Philippines and its spin-off shows.
Contents
A Star is Born: Lea's Early Life and Career
Growing Up and First Steps on Stage
Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga was born in Manila, Philippines, on February 22, 1971. Her father, Feliciano Salonga, owned a shipping company, and her mother was María Ligaya Imutan. Lea has a younger brother named Gerard Salonga, who is also a talented musician.
Lea loved to sing at family parties when she was a child. When she was seven years old, in 1978, she got her first professional acting role in a play called The King and I. She then played the main role in Annie in 1980 and again in 1984. She also appeared in other plays like The Sound of Music.
In 1981, Lea released her first music album, Small Voice, which sold very well in the Philippines. She also made her first movie, Tropang Bulilit. As a young performer, Lea won several awards for being the best child performer. From 1983 to 1985, she even had her own TV show called Love, Lea.
Teenage Years and More Music
As a teenager, Lea continued to act in movies. In 1988, she released her second album, Lea. She even performed as an opening act for the famous singer Stevie Wonder in Manila.
Becoming a Global Star: Miss Saigon and Disney
The Big Break: Miss Saigon
In 1989, Lea Salonga got the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. This was a huge opportunity! She had to audition many times, singing songs like "On My Own" from Les Misérables. She impressed everyone with her powerful voice.
Lea won the 1990 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in London. She was one of the youngest people ever to win this award. When Miss Saigon moved to Broadway in New York in 1991, Lea played Kim again. She won a Tony Award for this role, becoming the first Asian actress and the second-youngest actress to win a Tony.
Singing for Disney Princesses
In 1992, Lea's voice became known to millions of children around the world. She sang for Princess Jasmine in Disney's animated movie Aladdin. She performed the song "A Whole New World" from the movie at the Academy Awards, where it won an Oscar!
Later, in 1998, Lea provided the singing voice for another Disney princess: Mulan in the movie Mulan. She returned to sing for Mulan again in the 2004 sequel, Mulan II.
More Musicals, Movies, and TV
Les Misérables and Other Roles
In 1993, Lea joined the Broadway cast of Les Misérables, playing the role of Éponine. She was the first Asian actress to play this part on Broadway. She also performed in the 10th-anniversary concert of Les Misérables in London.
Lea continued to perform in many musicals, both in the Philippines and internationally. She played Sandy in Grease and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. In 2002, she returned to Broadway in a new version of Flower Drum Song. She also played Fantine in a 2007 Broadway revival of Les Misérables.
TV Shows and Coaching
Lea has also appeared in several TV shows. She was in the soap opera As the World Turns and had a guest role in the medical drama ER. More recently, she played Aunt Myrna in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Elodie Honrada in Pretty Little Liars.
Since 2013, Lea has been a popular coach on the TV singing competition The Voice of the Philippines, helping young singers achieve their dreams. She also coached on The Voice Kids and The Voice Teens.
Recent Stage and Screen Work
In 2015, Lea returned to Broadway in a new musical called Allegiance. She received great reviews for her performance. In 2017, she played Erzulie in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island.
Lea also starred in the musical film Yellow Rose in 2019. In 2023, she made her debut as a producer and appeared in the Broadway show Here Lies Love, playing a Filipino character for the first time on Broadway. She also performed in the West End show Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends.
Lea's Voice and Style
A Powerful and Clear Voice
Lea Salonga is known for her amazing voice. People describe it as "golden" and "clear and sparkling." She has a wide vocal range and can sing many different styles of music. She has often said that her natural voice is in the alto/mezzo-soprano range.
Lea's singing can show many different emotions, from soft and gentle to strong and powerful. She has been praised for her ability to hit notes perfectly and control her voice.
Musical Inspirations
Lea has been inspired by many famous singers and groups, including ABBA, the Carpenters, Olivia Newton-John, and Barbra Streisand. She likes singers who have "clear voices that really helped the listener focus on the lyrics."
Giving Back: Philanthropy and Activism
Helping to End Hunger
In 2010, Lea Salonga was named a FAO Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. In this role, she helps raise awareness about world hunger and works to find solutions.
Supporting Equality
Lea is also a strong supporter of LGBT equality. She believes that everyone should have the right to marry whoever they choose. She has spoken out on social media about the importance of respecting all people.
Lea's Music: Discography
Lea has released many albums throughout her career. Here are some of her solo albums and cast recordings from musicals:
Solo Albums
- Small Voice (1981)
- Lea (1988)
- Lea Salonga (1993)
- I'd Like to Teach The World to Sing (1997)
- By Heart (1999)
- Lea Salonga: The Christmas Album (2001)
Musical Cast Recordings and Soundtracks
- Miss Saigon (Original London Cast Recording) (1989)
- Aladdin (Soundtrack Recording) (1992)
- Mulan (Soundtrack Recording) (1998)
- Flower Drum Song (Revival Cast Recording) (2002)
- Mulan II (Soundtrack Recording) (2005)
- Allegiance (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2016)
- Once on This Island (First Broadway Revival Cast Recording) (2018)
Lea on Screen and Stage
Lea Salonga has had a very busy career, appearing in many shows and movies.
Movies
- Aladdin (1992) - Singing voice for Jasmine
- Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (1992)
- Sana Maulit Muli (1995)
- Mulan (1998) - Singing voice for Mulan
- My Neighbor Totoro (2004) - Voice work
- Mulan II (2004) - Singing voice for Mulan
- Yellow Rose (2019)
TV Shows
- That's Entertainment (1986)
- Redwood Curtain (1995)
- As the World Turns (2001, 2003)
- Sofia the First (2012, 2014)
- The Voice of the Philippines (2013, 2014–15) - Coach
- The Voice Kids (2014–2019) - Coach
- The Voice Teens (2017, 2020) - Coach
- Centaurworld (2021) - Voice work
- Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022)
- Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (2024)
Broadway Musicals
- Miss Saigon (1991–1992, 1999, 2001)
- Les Misérables (1993, 2007)
- Flower Drum Song (2002–2003)
- Allegiance (2015–2016)
- Once on This Island (2017–2018, 2018–2019)
- Here Lies Love (2023)
West End Musicals (London)
- Miss Saigon (1989–1990, 1999)
- Les Misérables (1996)
- Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends (2023–2024)
Awards and Legacy
Lea Salonga is often called the "Pride of the Philippines". She gained national fame at a young age, winning awards for Best Child Performer in the Philippines. She was even known as the "Shirley Temple of the Philippines" because of her early success.
For her role as Kim in Miss Saigon, Lea won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1990. When she brought the show to Broadway, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1991. This made her the first Asian actress to win a Tony Award and one of the youngest winners ever.
In 1993, Lea became the first Filipino artist to sign with a major international record label, Atlantic Records. In 2007, the Philippine President honored Lea with the Order of Lakandula for using her talents to help her country and share Filipino culture with the world.
In 2011, Lea was named a "Disney Legend" for her iconic singing roles as Princess Jasmine and Fa Mulan. In 2022, TIME magazine recognized her at the TIME100 Impact Awards for being a "life-long role model for children of color."
Lea Salonga has inspired many singers and actors, especially those of Asian descent, to pursue their dreams in the performing arts.
Books and Writings
Lea has also shared her knowledge and experiences through books and articles.
Books
- Marquart, Linda; Salonga, Lea (2005). The Right Way to Sing. This book helps people learn how to sing correctly.
- Michael, Ted; Salonga, Lea (2012). So You Wanna Be a Superstar?: The Ultimate Audition Guide. This guide offers tips for auditions.
Columns
- "Backstory." Lea writes a regular column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper, sharing her thoughts and experiences.
Images for kids
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Salonga in New York in 2009
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Salonga teaching a master class at Pepperdine University in 2017
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Salonga at a White House state dinner in 2023
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- Filipinos in the New York metropolitan area
- Honorific nicknames in popular music
- List of people with absolute pitch
- Recipients of Presidential Medal of Merit in the Philippines
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
