Broadway legend and international icon Lea Salonga is set to become the first Filipina to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, according to the Daily Tribune. Salonga will be honored with the 2,855th star under the Live Theatre/Live Performance category of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Class of 2026. Her star ceremony is scheduled for September 4 at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time along Hollywood Boulevard, in front of The Pantages Theatre.
Lea Salonga to Make History With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
The ceremony will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning sports and entertainment journalist Sibley Scoles, with actress and fellow Walk of Famer Ming-Na Wen participating as a guest speaker, as reported by the Daily Tribune. Salonga and Wen share a connection through Disney’s animated classic Mulan,
where Salonga provided the singing voice for Fa Mulan and Wen provided the speaking voice. Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez praised the milestone, stating in a statement published by GMA Network, Lea Salonga is a true trailblazer whose extraordinary talent and decades-long career have inspired audiences around the world. We are thrilled to honor 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.
A Celebrated Career Spanning Broadway and Disney
Salonga’s international acclaim grew from her breakthrough performance originating the role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon,
which earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, alongside Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards, according to the Daily Tribune. Her extensive Broadway credits include playing Éponine and Fantine in Les Misérables
—making her the first Asian actress to portray Éponine on Broadway—as well as roles in Once on This Island,
Allegiance,
Here Lies Love,
and Flower Drum Song,
as detailed by the Daily Tribune.
Beyond live theater, Salonga reached global audiences by providing the singing voices for Princess Jasmine in Aladdin
and Mulan in Mulan,
performances that contributed to her being named a Disney Legend in 2011, as reported by the Daily Tribune. Her film and television credits include Yellow Rose,
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin,
Centaurworld,
Little Demon,
and Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters,
according to the Daily Tribune.
Manila International Film Festival Honors and Nominations
The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), which nominated Salonga to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Committee for consideration, described her as a trailblazer who helped elevate Filipino and Asian representation in the global entertainment industry, according to Philstarlife. Following her Walk of Fame ceremony, MIFF will honor Salonga with its Icon Award during the festival’s Closing Night Awards Gala on September 6 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, as noted by the Daily Tribune.
The festival will also feature special screenings of films from Salonga’s career, including Forgotten Island,
Olivia Lamasan’s 1995 romantic drama Sana Maulit Muli
opposite Aga Muhlach, and The Vale: Origins,
according to reports from Philstar.com and Philstarlife.
