Lea Salonga

Lea Salonga began her professional stage career in 1978 with The King and I and went on to star in Annie (1980, 1984), The Sound of Music (1980), and The Fantasticks (1988). In 1981, she released her debut album Small Voice and made her film debut in Tropang Bulilit. She hosted the television program Love, Lea (1983–1985) and appeared in films including Like Father, Like Son (1985), Captain Barbell (1986), Ninja Kids (1986), and Pik Pak Boom (1988). She released her second album Lea in 1988.

In 1989, Salonga originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon in London and reprised the role on Broadway in 1991. She provided the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (1992) and appeared in the film Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (1992). In 1993, she joined Les Misérables on Broadway as Éponine and performed “A Whole New World” at the Academy Awards. She released her international debut album Lea Salonga (1993) and appeared in stage productions including Grease, My Fair Lady, and Into the Woods (1994). Her film and television work included Redwood Curtain (1995) and Sana Maulit Muli (1995). She reprised Éponine in Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert (1995) and in West End and touring productions (1996).

In 1997, she released I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, followed by In Love (1998), and provided the singing voice of the title character in Mulan (1998). She returned to Miss Saigon on Broadway in 1999 and released By Heart (1999). In 2000, she starred in They’re Playing Our Song and appeared in a Philippine production of Miss Saigon. In 2001, she again reprised Kim in Miss Saigon on Broadway and appeared on television in As the World Turns and ER. She starred in Flower Drum Song (2001–2002) in Los Angeles and on Broadway and appeared in the play Proof (2002) and the musical Baby (2004). She reprised her voice role in Mulan II (2004).

In 2005, Salonga launched a U.S. concert tour and performed at Carnegie Hall. She released the album Inspired (2007) and returned to Broadway as Fantine in Les Misérables (2007). She began writing a column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2008 and starred in a touring production of Cinderella (2008–2009). In 2010, she appeared as Grizabella in Cats and performed in Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary. In 2012, she originated the role of Kei Kimura in Allegiance.

In 2013, Salonga performed in Ragtime in concert and became a coach on The Voice of the Philippines (2013–2014) and The Voice Kids (2014–2017), later joining The Voice Teens (2017). She reprised Kei Kimura in the Broadway production of Allegiance (2015), guest-starred on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2016), and starred in Fun Home (2016). In 2017, she appeared in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island, and in 2018, she performed in Annie at the Hollywood Bowl.

In 2019, Salonga appeared in the film Yellow Rose and starred in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. She released the song “Dream Again” in 2020 and voiced a role in Centaurworld (2021). In 2022, she appeared in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin and participated in a workshop of The Song of Bernadette.

In 2023, Salonga appeared in Here Lies Love on Broadway and began performing in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends in London (2023–2024), later appearing in the Broadway production (2025). She reprised her role in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (2024), released the album Sounding Joy (2024), and continued her Stage, Screen & Everything In Between concert tour (2024–2025). In 2025, she appeared on Finding Your Roots, guest-starred on The Cleaning Lady, and provided a voice role in KPop Demon Hunters. She is set to appear in the short film The Vale: Origins.