She was an award-winning Broadway star - but still struggled to land roles
Summary
Lea Salonga, an award-winning Broadway star from the Philippines, faced difficulty landing roles early in her career due to her Asian heritage. She became the first Asian actress to play a lead role in Les Misérables without auditioning, paving the way for greater Asian representation in theater. Today, she performs alongside new Asian actors who continue to benefit from her trailblazing efforts.Key Facts
- Lea Salonga won a Tony Award in 1991 for her lead role in Miss Saigon.
- Despite her talent, she struggled to get other acting roles because casting agents did not imagine Asians in many roles.
- She was cast as Eponine in Les Misérables without an audition because the same producers wanted to give her a chance.
- Salonga was the first Asian actress to play a principal role in Les Misérables, a role traditionally played by white actors.
- Her casting was seen as a test to see if an Asian actor could succeed in that role.
- Salonga believes her success opened doors for others of all ethnic backgrounds to play various roles.
- Currently, she acts alongside Nathania Ong, a younger Asian actress playing Eponine, showing progress in representation.
- Ong acknowledges Salonga as a role model and a pioneer for actors of color.
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