The long-standing international presence of Filipino talent across musical theatre and cinema will receive a permanent civic marker in Los Angeles. Lea Salonga will be awarded the 2,855th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during an official ceremony on 4 September 2026.
Honoured in the category of Live Performance, the fifty-five-year-old singer and actress becomes the first Filipina in history to receive a dedicated star along the celebrated boulevard.
The public unveiling will take place outside 6255 Hollywood Boulevard, hosted by television personality Sibley Scoles. Fellow Disney star Ming-Na Wen will appear as a guest speaker to celebrate the milestone.
A Career Defined by Firsts
Salonga’s international ascent began in 1989 when she originated the lead role of Kim in the West End production of Miss Saigon. Her performance earned the Laurence Olivier Award before transferring to Broadway, where she became the first Asian woman to win a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
She continued to dismantle long-standing racial barriers on the American stage, becoming the first Asian performer to play Éponine in Les Misérables on Broadway. She returned to the production in 2006 to play Fantine, and took on the role of Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables: The World Tour Spectacular.
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Her Broadway portfolio extends across decades, including leading performances in Flower Drum Song, Allegiance, Here Lies Love, and the 2018 revival of Once on This Island, which earned a Grammy nomination. She recently shared the Broadway stage with Bernadette Peters in Stephen Sondheim’s musical revue Old Friends.
“Lea Salonga is a true trailblazer whose extraordinary talent and decades-long career have inspired audiences around the world,” Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez stated. “We are thrilled to honour her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and especially proud that she will be the first Filipina to receive this iconic recognition. 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.”
The Voice of Royal Childhoods
Outside theatrical halls, Salonga’s vocal precision shaped the animated childhoods of entire generations. The Walt Disney Company officially named her a Disney Legend after she provided the singing voices for Princess Jasmine in 1992’s Aladdin and the title warrior in Mulan and Mulan II.
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Her screen presence extends into contemporary television and animation. She appeared in HBO Max’s Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin and lent her voice to animated projects including Centaurworld, Little Demon, and the hit production KPop Demon Hunters.
She will soon lead the voice cast as the primary antagonist in DreamWorks Animation‘s upcoming feature Forgotten Island.
A Weekend of Historic Celebrations
Over her forty-five years in public performance, Salonga has sung for six Philippine presidents, four American heads of state, and members of the British royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales.
The unveiling of her Hollywood star begins a weekend of honours in California. On 6 September 2026, Salonga will receive the Icon Award during the closing gala of the third annual Manila International Film Festival at The Beverly Hilton.
The festival committee, acting as a member organisation of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, submitted the formal nomination that secured her place on the Walk of Fame, celebrating an artist who opened global doors for Southeast Asian performers.
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