Lea Salonga shows up for the job

Broadway icon Lea Salonga recently offered a refreshing perspective on her illustrious career, emphasizing a grounded approach despite her global acclaim. For the Filipina musical theater actress, the world truly has become her stage, yet she views her remarkable journey not through the lens of immense pressure, but as a commitment to her craft.

Salonga, who first captivated international audiences as Kim in Broadway’s Miss Saigon, is once again poised to make history as the first Filipina to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, she remains remarkably humble about such monumental achievements.

During a candid discussion on Rappler Talk Entertainment, Salonga explained her pragmatic philosophy: "I try not to think about it per se. I try to think of this as my job. This is my career, this is what I do for a living, this is how I take care of myself, how I take care of my family." Often hailed as the "pride of the Philippines," she admits this title feels like a "big, high thing to think about," preferring instead to focus simply on "going into the room and doing good work."

Her dedication to her roots is evident in her return to the Philippine stage after a six-year hiatus, last seen in the 2019 production of "Sweeney Todd." She is currently lending her exceptional artistry and vocal prowess to an all-Filipino staging of Stephen Sondheim’s "Into The Woods," reprising the role of The Witch, a character she first brought to life over 30 years ago at the age of 23.

Revisiting the role of The Witch holds a unique appeal for Salonga. Comparing it to Shakespeare, she notes that performing such roles repeatedly allows for continuous learning. Amusingly, she also finds liberation in portraying the "ugly" witch: "When you’re ugly there’s no expectation for you to do anything pretty, so I just found it really liberating."

Looking ahead, Salonga expressed a desire to portray Mama Rose from Arthur Laurents and Sondheim’s "Gypsy" for Filipino audiences. She highlighted her admiration for Sondheim's knack for creating deeply human characters, particularly his insightful writing for women.

Throughout her career, which includes iconic turns as Eponine and Fantine in "Les Misérables" and her Olivier and Tony Award-winning performance in "Miss Saigon," Salonga embraces every role. She remains versatile, adapting her performance to whatever the production and creative team envision. Beyond the stage, her voice has graced animated characters such as Mulan, Princess Jasmine, and, most recently, Celine in Netflix's "K-pop Demon Hunters" (2025).

Ultimately, while Lea Salonga stands as a powerful symbol of Filipino representation on the grandest international platforms, her message is clear: true representation comes from showing up prepared and performing with excellence. "You don’t necessarily have to try and represent your people," she asserts. "You do that just by walking in the room and by being excellent, by doing all of the things and you know, living your truth…you are already representing who you are."