MANILA: Tony Award-winning Filipino singer and actress Lea Salonga (pic) is set to be immortalised with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as she was officially announced as one of the 2025-2026 honourees.
The announcement was made by the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), which had the honour of nominating Salonga under the Live Theatre/Performance category.
“We’re incredibly proud to share that the Manila International Film Festival had the honour of nominating the one and only Lea Salonga for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—and she’s officially been selected!” wrote the organisation on social media on Thursday (July 3).
Salonga celebrated the news by sharing a screenshot of a news item about the 2025-2026 recipients of the Walk of Fame star, encircling her name.
“Just now woke up to this bit of amazing news!!! To the Manila International Filmfest, many thanks for nominating me to be part of the class of 2025-26!” she wrote.
Salonga is the fourth Filipino and the first Filipina to be honoured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after half-Filipino comedian Rob Schneider and singer Bruno Mars received theirs, and Apl.de.Ap is set to receive his alongside his Black Eyed Peas bandmates.
Best known for her groundbreaking role as Kim in “Miss Saigon,” for which she won a Tony, Olivier and other major theatre awards, Salonga has built an acclaimed career spanning theatre, film, music and voice acting.
The 54-year-old is also the singing voice of two beloved Disney princesses, Jasmine in “Aladdin” and Mulan in “Mulan,” which earned her the title of Disney Legend in 2011.
Salonga’s Broadway and West End credits include “Les Misérables,” “Flower Drum Song,” “Allegiance,” “Once on This Island” and, most recently, Stephen Sondheim’s “Old Friends.”
Given her noteworthy contributions to music and the performing arts, the actress-singer has also received honours from the Philippine government, including the Presidential Medal of Merit and the Order of Lakandula.
Joining Salonga in the 2025-2026 Walk of Fame class are other big names across various categories, including Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams, Miley Cyrus, Air Supply, Timothée Chalamet and Marion Cotillard, among others. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
