Lea Salonga to become first Filipino to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Lea Salonga is about to make history as she becomes the first full-blooded Filipino to be honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The award-winning actress and singer is among the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s Class of 2026 under the Live Theatre/Live Performance category. 

Her ceremony will be held in early September.

It will coincide with the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) – running from September 3 to 6 in Los Angeles – where Salonga will be granted the MIFF Icon Award during its closing night. 

MIFF was also responsible for Salonga’s nomination to the Walk of Fame.

Level of notoriety

In an interview with ABS-CBN News on July 25, 2025, Salonga described the Walk of Fame honor as “surreal,” noting that it is often reserved for individuals with a “certain level of notoriety.”

“I guess that means that I’ve gotten this level of notoriety,” said Salonga.

When her decades-long trailblazing career was mentioned, Salonga, 54, admitted that it is nice to see that people in her industry still find her relevant and as someone to look up to.

“It feels like there’s still a great deal of responsibility… to continue to do what it is that I do well,” she added.

From the Philippines to the international stage

Salonga began her career as a child performer in Philippine musical theatre, later gaining international recognition for originating the role of Kim in the 1989 West End production of ‘Miss Saigon’. 

She reprised the character on Broadway in 1991.

Her performance as Kim earned her the 1990 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1991.

She also played the role of Eponine in the 1993 Broadway production of ‘Les Misérables ‘.

For Disney fans, she is best known as the singing voice of Mulan and Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’.

Salonga returned to the Philippine stage in ‘Into the Woods’ as the Witch in August 2025 and in early 2026 as Madame Thénardier in ‘Les Misérables The World Tour Spectacular’.

She is also part of the voice cast of DreamWorks’ ‘Forgotten Island’, along with Filipina actress Liza Soberano and Fil-Am singer-songwriter H.E.R.

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