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Lea Salonga
Salonga in 2021
Born
Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga

(1971-02-22) February 22, 1971 (age 53)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1978–present
Works
Spouse
Robert Charles Chien
(m. 2004)
Children1
Relatives
AwardsFull list
Honors
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels
Websiteleasalonga.com
Signature

Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga, OL (/ˈlə səˈlɒŋɡə/ LAY-ə sa-LONG; born February 22, 1971) is a Filipina singer and actress. Primarily known for her work in theatre, she has starred in musicals on the 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 she was honored as a Disney Legend in 2011.

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

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1971–1989: Early life and career beginnings

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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]

Artistry

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Honors and legacy

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ de Leon, Ed (June 12, 2020). "Lea nainis na sa nagpipilit sa kanyang maling pangalan" [Lea is tired of insisting on her wrong name]. Pang-Masa (in Tagalog). The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Aquino, Maine (February 3, 2018). "IN PHOTOS: Celebrities born in February". GMA Network. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Salterio, Leah (August 21, 2017). "Lea, Gerard Salonga throw surprise party for their mom's 80th birthday". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  4. ^ "Lea Salonga's father Feliciano Salonga dies". Rappler. January 31, 2016. Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lea Salonga at home and playing her own song was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Baldono, Krista (February 6, 2020). "The Voice Teens coach Lea Salonga's fascinating journey as the country's premiere global artist". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  7. ^ Bautista, Veltisezar (1998). The Filipino Americans from 1763 to the Present: Their History, Culture, and Traditions. Bookhaus. ISBN 0931613140.

Book sources

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