Lea Salonga

thumb|right|Salonga in 2021 Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga (born February 22, 1971), known professionally as Lea Salonga, is a Filipino actress, singer, producer, and columnist. Quotes You have to raise your child the way your child needs to be raised. How Broadway Star Lea Salonga Supports Her Trans Son Nic, 18: 'Meet Your Kid Where They Are' (Exclusive) The worst you can do is believe yourself to be any more than what you actually are. Lea Salonga has something to say Just believe in who you are. Period. Lea Salonga has something to say And if you really believe in your heart of hearts that you have the talent, go for it. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0758964/bio/ It means the world that there is a universe in which these kinds of stories are able to attract interest and wide viewership where we are centering the experiences of not just Southeast Asian people, but it's Southeast Asian women. https://www.pep.ph/news/foreign/186063/lea-salonga-the-cleaning-lady-a748-20250328 And now for me to come in as a woman from Southeast Asia, as a woman from the Philippines, and kind of getting into this mix, it's just one episode, but it's like, it's nice to be able to center women's stories and the stories of women of color. https://www.pep.ph/news/foreign/186063/lea-salonga-the-cleaning-lady-a748-20250328 And it's incredibly empowering to be a part of something like this. https://www.pep.ph/news/foreign/186063/lea-salonga-the-cleaning-lady-a748-20250328 You have to raise your child the way your child needs to be raised, where they are, no matter their background or identity. Literally any kid. Queer or otherwise. https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/parenting/real-parenting/lea-salonga-son-nic-chien-transition-a6837-20250404 As a parent, I want to set my child up for success. I want my child to feel safe and strong and ready to conquer the world on their own terms. https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/parenting/real-parenting/lea-salonga-son-nic-chien-transition-a6837-20250404 I was really concerned with how conservative audiences in the Philippine were going to take it, because my career up at that point was just very wholesome. And I was a child entertainer, performer. I was about to turn the page in a really big way. Because back home actors especially actresses you were really either wholesome or really not. There was no gray area https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/1/7/lea-salonga-recalls-fear-of-being-branded-a-bold-star-because-of-miss-saigon-1259 My first job, my first time in front of a paying audience, first time to get paid for work. I don't remember the paycheck being anything big (it's theater, meaning it wasn’t) but I loved the experience so much! Tony Award winner Lea as she marked her 43rd year as a theater professional https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/03/12/21/lea-salonga-celebrates-43rd-year-of-working-in-theater Musical theater is quite an unpredictable, sometimes think-on-your-feet type of art form. I’ve learned how to raise a child who is their own being. I mean, there are obviously expectations. I’m glad this kid can cook and do his own laundry and doesn’t forget to feed the cat. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/4/3/lea-salonga-shares-how-she-supported-her-child-nic-chien-into-transitioning-1529 But the one thing I’ve learned is that you have to raise your child the way your child needs to be raised. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/4/3/lea-salonga-shares-how-she-supported-her-child-nic-chien-into-transitioning-1529 As a parent I want to set my child up for success. I want my child to feel safe and strong and ready to conquer the world on their own terms https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/4/3/lea-salonga-shares-how-she-supported-her-child-nic-chien-into-transitioning-1529 Just now woke up to this bit of amazing news! Salonga sharing her excitement to learn she will be the first Filipino to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame https://www.ditosapilipinas.com/national/news/article/07/04/2025/lea-salonga-hollywood-walk-of-fame/1750 My son and every single trans kid out there, they are bravely trying to navigate the world as who they are, despite an environment that seems hostile to their existence, so I have to lift up every single kid that has to do this. https://www.justjared.com/2025/06/08/lea-salonga-brings-trans-son-nic-chien-as-her-date-to-tony-awards-2025/ It’s important for me to speak up for kids like my own kid, because trans folks are being erased, as if their existence never happened. But trans folks have been around forever. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/5/17/lea-salonga-graces-cover-of-out-magazine-1019 The only thing that trans folks, any LGBT person wants, is to exist and to live and to love in the way that they were born to. Full stop… https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/5/17/lea-salonga-graces-cover-of-out-magazine-1019 The one thing I’ve learned is that you have to raise your child the way your child needs to be raised… As a parent I want to set my child up for success. I want my child to feel safe and strong and ready to conquer the world on their own terms. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/5/17/lea-salonga-graces-cover-of-out-magazine-1019 It means the world that there is a universe in which these kinds of stories are able to attract interest and wide viewership where we are centering the experiences of not just Southeast Asian people, but it's Southeast Asian women. https://www.pep.ph/news/foreign/186063/lea-salonga-the-cleaning-lady-a748-20250328 And now for me to come in as a woman from Southeast Asia, as a woman from the Philippines, and kind of getting into this mix, it's just one episode, but it's like, it's nice to be able to center women's stories and the stories of women of color. https://www.pep.ph/news/foreign/186063/lea-salonga-the-cleaning-lady-a748-20250328 And it's incredibly empowering to be a part of something like this. https://www.pep.ph/news/foreign/186063/lea-salonga-the-cleaning-lady-a748-20250328 Playing her again 30 years later is going to be illuminating. Salonga on taking of the role of The Witch character, a role she originally played at a stage production in 1994. https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/lea-salonga-returns-to-musical-theater-in-into-the-woods/119253/ This is the most precious human being in my little world. The one who captured my heart from the word go. The one that made me realize how insignificant my life was, until that initial piercing cry at 12:12 PM on May 16, 2006. Lea as she greets her child on his 19th birthday. https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/life/news/lea-salonga-nic-chien-turns-19-a5076-20250516 With each step into adulthood, my heart grows in ways I couldn’t have predicted. That he is, with honesty and courage, growing into who he’s meant to be makes me incredibly proud. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJs1U9eO6A-/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=87e20f28-8608-4a1a-bb00-e2bd99eba6bb This is my 18-year-old. My artistic, sensitive, creative, smart, beautiful, affectionate, loving, incredible 18-year-old. I’m beyond blessed and fortunate to call this one mine. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/5/16/lea-salonga-pens-heartfelt-message-for-child-s-18th-birthday-2353 I'm here in this very strange country with a culture that's so very different from mine. I need to hang on to a little bit of home to not go insane. https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/lea-salonga-and-her-child-nic-share-their-experiences-as-filipinos-in-the-us/122426/ I try to be cool and not get too emotional, but it's like 'Oh wow.' To be able to be that person to someone, it's pretty crazy and really wonderful, and to continue to work in the Philippines where you're with your people, creating theater. Lea reveals that, after singing 'On My Own,' people would come up to her to say how she inspired them to try something. https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/lea-salonga-and-her-child-nic-share-their-experiences-as-filipinos-in-the-us/122426/ Just a reminder… I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you, Salonga addresses the viral video showing her decline to take a photo with her fans waiting outside of her dressings room https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2023/07/17/2281739/i-have-boundaries-lea-salonga-addresses-viral-video-over-alleged-snubbing-incident The story is important but not to the point of emotional manipulation of the audience. It has to supplement the talent. Lea on voice kidss talents sharing their life stories for the show https://www.pep.ph/news/local/19576/lea-salonga-says-about-life-stories-of-the-voice-kids-contenders-the-story-is-important-but-not-to-t It has to be talent first. Because that’s how we got them in the first place. https://www.pep.ph/news/local/19576/lea-salonga-says-about-life-stories-of-the-voice-kids-contenders-the-story-is-important-but-not-to-t You discover how much motivation you actually have. Really. On whether she learns something from the kids as their voice coach https://www.pep.ph/news/local/19576/lea-salonga-says-about-life-stories-of-the-voice-kids-contenders-the-story-is-important-but-not-to-t The funny thing… kids are easy to mold. They’re so easy to teach and they’re so open to suggestions. https://www.pep.ph/news/local/19576/lea-salonga-says-about-life-stories-of-the-voice-kids-contenders-the-story-is-important-but-not-to-t You can basically throw all the stuff at the wall and see what sticks. In her case, she throws everything at the wall and everything sticks. https://www.panaynews.net/lea-salonga-on-working-with-eugene-domingo-in-into-the-woods-shes-an-incredible-actor/ I look at the awards and I'm incredibly grateful. But a career like mine would not be possible without a village, without a support system, without the people who are actively behind me https://www.pep.ph/news/local/183020/lea-salonga-champions-dolphy-national-artist-a738-20240922 It’s a song [about] being a Filipino that’s been transplanted to another country, and you are remembering what it is about home that you remember and love so much. Lea Salonga on singing the song "Hahanapin Ko" (I will look for it) at The Tabernacle Choir world tour in Manila https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/898660/lea-salonga-s-rendition-of-hahanapin-ko-among-most-anticipated-songs-at-the-tabernacle-choir-conc/story/ If [you’re] a mom who remembers the first movements of your child while they were still in the womb, it’s the excitement of that. Lea on how she feels about singing the song "Baby" https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/898660/lea-salonga-s-rendition-of-hahanapin-ko-among-most-anticipated-songs-at-the-tabernacle-choir-conc/story/ External link== Category:Actresses from the Philippines Category:Singers from the Philippines Category:Columnists Category:Tony Award winners Category:Women singers Category:People from Manila Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:Women born in the 1970s