Lea Salonga Makes History With Her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Photographed by Artu Nepomuceno for the August 2026 Issue of Vogue Philippines
The Broadway icon becomes the first Filipina to receive the honor, marking another milestone in her 45-year career across theater, film, music, and television.
Lea Salonga has long made a name for herself in the field of entertainment, here and beyond. For millennials and older generations, she is best known as Kim in Miss Saigon and as the first Filipina and Asian woman to win a Tony Award. For Gen Z, she is the singing voice behind some of the Disney characters we grew up with: Jasmine of Aladdin and Mulan. After decades of success, the award-winning Broadway icon and Vogue Philippines cover star is set to reach another milestone as the first Filipina to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On September 4, Salonga will receive the 2,855th star on the Walk of Fame under the Live Performance/Theatre category, situated right in front of the historic Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony will be emceed by Emmy Award-winning journalist Sibley Scoles and will feature guest speaker Ming-Na Wen, who voiced Mulan’s speaking role alongside Salonga’s singing voice in Mulan. The recognition honors Salonga’s 45-year career on the global stage.
Salonga has continued to pursue her craft and, in this phase of her life, remains dedicated to her roots. She is part of DreamWorks’ upcoming animated feature Forgotten Island, which follows a group of Filipino children as they navigate an island filled with creatures from Philippine mythology. Salonga lends her voice to The Dreaded Manananggal, the most feared mythical creature on the island of Nakali. In addition to her voice acting, she also contributes to the film’s official soundtrack alongside other prominent Filipino artists.
“The function of theater is to show truth, to illuminate the human condition. Sometimes it means happy, sometimes it means not happy at all. Ready or not, here we are,” Salonga said of her craft in an interview with Vogue Philippines for her October 2024 cover story.
Salonga will also receive the Icon Award at the 2026 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF). The award presentation is set to take place on September 6 at The Beverly Hilton. The organization was also behind her nomination for the Hollywood Walk of Fame star, recognizing her landmark career across theater, film, music, and television.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on September 4 at 11:30 A.M. Pacific Time (September 5 at 2:30 A.M. Philippine time).
In this story: Photograph by Artu Nepomuceno. Styling by Neil De Guzman. Fashion Editor: David Milan. Beauty Editor: Joyce Oreña. Hair and makeup by Kusie Ho.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lea Salonga joins fellow Filipino and global talents Liza Soberano, H.E.R., Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Dave Franco, and Jenny Slate in DreamWorks’ upcoming animated feature Forgotten Island. Salonga voices The Dreaded Manananggal, the most feared mythological creature on the island of Nakali.
DreamWorks’ animated film Forgotten Island is scheduled to arrive in Philippine cinemas on September 23, 2026, ahead of its North American theatrical premiere on September 25, 2026.
A Hollywood Walk of Fame star is a permanent public tribute honoring individuals for their achievements in entertainment. Each star is embedded along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles.
A person must be nominated and selected by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame Selection Panel. Nominees are considered based on professional achievement, longevity in their field, and other criteria.
Opened in 1930, the Hollywood Pantages Theatre is the last movie palace built in Hollywood and one of the city’s most remarkable entertainment venues. It has hosted major live performances and was also home to the Academy Awards for a decade.
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- The Women of ‘Forgotten Island’: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, and Dolly de Leon on the Stories that Lead Us Home
- Quiet on Set: Inside the ‘Request sa Radyo’ Preview
- An Exclusive Look at the Making of ‘Forgotten Island’