Theater icon Lea Salonga to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Lea Salonga is among the celebrities set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the 2025-2026 batch, making her the first Filipina to receive this honor.
The Tony Award-winning actress shared the good news on her Instagram story, posting a screenshot of the Billboard article announcing this year's recipients.
"Just now woke up to this bit of amazing news! To the Manila International Film [Festival], many thanks for nominating me to be part of the class of 2025-26!" she added.
For their part, the MIFF celebrated the feat, highlighting Salonga's contribution to music and live theater.
"From Broadway to Disney to the global concert stage, Lea has been a trailblazer and a voice for generations. Her impact on the world of music, theater, and film is undeniable—and her legacy continues to open doors for countless Filipino and Asian artists worldwide," they wrote on their Instagram post.
"This recognition is not just for her extraordinary talent, but for everything she represents: excellence, integrity, and cultural pride," they added.
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Salonga and stand-up comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias are the only honorees under the Live Theater/Live Performance.
This year's 35 honorees also include Miley Cyrus, Josh Groban, actors Demi Moore, Emily Blunt, Timothée Chalamet, Stanley Tucci, Rachel McAdams, and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, the sole recipient from the Sports Entertainment category.
Salonga joins celebrities with Filipino roots recognized in the iconic landmark, such as Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, comedian Rob Schneider, and pop star Bruno Mars.
Salonga made history in 1989, becoming the first actress of Asian descent to win a Tony Award for a lead role after starring as Kim in Miss Saigon on the West End. She also won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
The award-winning Broadway and theater icon also played the role of Fantine in Les Misérables in the 1995 staging, and was the singing voice of Disney's Mulan in the 1988 film and Jasmine in the 1992 film, Aladdin.
She made her theater debut in the play The King and I. Two years later, she landed her first lead role on stage as Annie in the 1980 Philippine production.