HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA — Broadway icon Lea Salonga officially etched her name into entertainment history on September 4, becoming the first-ever Filipina singer and actress to receive a star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The award-winning singer and actress was honored with the 2,855th star at 6255 Hollywood Boulevard in the Live Performance category. Emceed by Sibley Scoles, the ceremony featured guest speaker Ming-Na Wen, who provided the speaking voice for Disney’s Mulan alongside Salonga’s iconic singing voice.
"To see my name here, to know that it will be here forever is something I’m still trying to wrap my head around," Salonga told the crowd. Reflecting on her roots, she added, "Long before Hollywood, long before Broadway, there was Manila."
Salonga addressed the lack of Asian representation early in her career, emphasizing the importance of those who paved the way for her and other Asians, then and now, in Hollywood. "When I began my career, I didn’t see very many people who look like me doing the things I’ve dreamed of doing on the world's biggest stages and screens... I was incredibly fortunate that there were people who opened doors for me, who took chances on me and who saw what I might be capable of," she noted.
Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, called the moment a milestone for both Salonga and the Filipino community. "Lea Salonga is a true trailblazer whose extraordinary talent and decades-long career have inspired audiences around the world," Martinez stated, "Her achievement is a milestone, not only for Lea, but for the Filipino community and for generations of artists who will follow in her footsteps.”
Salonga was nominated for the Walk of Fame by the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF). She will also receive the Icon Award at MIFF's Closing Night Gala at The Beverly Hilton on September 6.
A Tony Award winner for Miss Saigon, she made history as the first Asian actress to play Éponine in Les Misérables on Broadway, later returning as Fantine. She also became world-renowned for her flawless pitch when she provided the singing voices for both Princess Jasmine (Aladdin) and Fa Mulan (Mulan and Mulan II). Salonga stars as the lead villain in DreamWorks Animation’s fantasy film Forgotten Island, debuting on September 26.
"To everyone who walks down Hollywood Boulevard in the years ahead, please feel free to step on me, thank you all so much, what an extraordinary journey this has been and the best part is I'm not done yet." Salonga said as the crowd cheers.
Across her 45-year career, she has performed for six Philippine presidents, four U.S. presidents, and the British Royal Family, earning accolades such as the Time100 Impact Award and the Gold House Gold Legend Award.
Looking to the future, Salonga shared her hope for the next generation of performers: "I hope that someday, a young Filipino kid goes to Hollywood, sees my name, and thinks, ‘oh, maybe I can get here too.’"
