Lea Salonga
Biography
Lea Salonga is a Filipino singer and actress whose career has moved between musical theater, film, television, and recording. Born in Manila, she made her professional stage debut at seven in Repertory Philippines' production of The King and I. After originating the role of Kim in the West End's Miss Saigon in 1989, she repeated it on Broadway in 1991 and won both a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award, becoming the first actress of Asian descent to receive that Tony. She later played Éponine in Les Misérables and appeared in Flower Drum Song. For Disney, she sang as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (1992) and as the voice of Fa Mulan in Mulan (1998), and she acted in Yellow Rose (2019). She has also coached on The Voice of the Philippines, appeared in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, released albums such as Small Voice and By Heart, and performed at Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House.
55years old
Turns 56 on February 22in 132 days
- Born Manila
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga (birth name)Also credited as Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 34 years1992 to 2026
Every film, newest first
- 2026Forgotten IslandIMDb rating 7.5
- 2019Yellow RoseIMDb rating 6.6
- 1998Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron MackintoshIMDb rating 8.7
- 1998MulanIMDb rating 7.7
- 1992AladdinIMDb rating 8.0
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Big break
In early 1992, while Salonga was in Miss Saigon, Disney casting director Albert Tavares saw her perform and left a note. After an audition with "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid, she was cast as Princess Jasmine's singing voice in Aladdin.
First role
At seven, Salonga began her professional stage career in Repertory Philippines' production of The King and I. She went on to take the title part in Annie in 1980 and again in 1984.
A first
Salonga put out her first album, Small Voice, in 1981. It went Gold in the Philippines, and that same year she also made her film debut in Tropang Bulilit.
Lea Salonga movies on Netflix
Worked with
Lea Salonga shares two films with Frank Welker, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
James Hong's page
Jim Cummings's page
Robin Williams's page
Judi Dench's page
Corey Burton's page
All films by John Musker
All films by Ron Clements
Barry CookDirector, 1 film, 1998
All films by Barry Cook
Awards
Eight awards and honors from 1990 to 2022, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Awards | |||
| 1991 | Best Actress in a Musical | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 2022 | Asia's Most Influential Philippines | Won | |
| 2021 | Asia's Most Influential Philippines | Won | |
| 2011 | Disney Legends | Honored | |
| 1991 | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Won | |
| 1991 | Theatre World Award | Won | |
| 1990 | Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical | Won | |
| Order of Lakandula | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.