Lea Salonga Quotes

Powerful Lea Salonga for Daily Growth

About Lea Salonga

Lea Salonga, born on February 22, 1971, in Quezon City, Philippines, is a renowned Filipino-American singer-actress, best known for her powerful voice and versatile acting skills. Raised by musically inclined parents, she began singing at the tender age of six, eventually performing in school productions and local talent shows. Her breakthrough came when she won the lead role of Kim in the original Asian production of 'Miss Saigon' at the age of 17. This marked the beginning of her international career, leading to her casting as Eponine in the West End production of 'Les Misérables.' Her performance in the 10th Anniversary Concert of 'Les Misérables' earned her a Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1996. In 1998, Salonga made history by becoming the first Asian actress to play two Disney princesses simultaneously, voicing Mulan in the animated film 'Mulan' and Fa Mulan in 'Mulan II.' She reprised her role as Mulan in the live-action remake in 2020. Salonga's music career spans various genres, from operatic arias to contemporary pop. Her albums, such as 'Lea Salonga' (1987), 'The Lea Salonga Album' (1995), and 'Voyage' (2016), showcase her remarkable vocal range and versatility. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Salonga is also known for her philanthropic efforts, particularly in supporting children's welfare organizations in the Philippines. Her resilience, talent, and dedication have made her a beloved figure in both the Filipino and international entertainment industries.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Dreams are validating, but actions lead to results."

Lea Salonga's quote emphasizes that while dreams serve as a source of inspiration and validation, it is the actions we take that ultimately yield tangible results. Essentially, she suggests that having aspirations is important for motivation, but real progress comes from putting those dreams into action through effort and commitment.


"When you're given an opportunity, grab it with both hands and hold on as tight as you can."

This quote from Lea Salonga emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise, holding them firmly, and making the most out of them. It suggests that when an opportunity presents itself to us, it's crucial to embrace it wholeheartedly with both hands, as if our lives depended on it, and make every effort to hold onto it as long as possible to maximize its potential impact or benefit in our lives.


"I learned that I could be strong and still be vulnerable at the same time. And I learned that it's okay to not always be okay."

This quote by Lea Salonga conveys a powerful message about embracing our multifaceted nature as human beings. It suggests that strength is not synonymous with invulnerability, but rather acknowledges that even in our strongest moments, we can still be vulnerable. The quote also affirms that it's perfectly acceptable to experience emotional turbulence and not always feel okay - a reminder that vulnerability and authenticity are essential aspects of our humanity.


"I have a voice now. I can make myself heard. That is a very powerful thing."

This quote highlights Lea Salonga's recognition of the power that comes with self-expression, particularly through her voice as an artist. It underscores the importance of having a platform to express oneself and be heard, which can empower individuals to make significant impacts in their communities and beyond. The quote serves as a reminder that everyone has a unique voice, and utilizing it can lead to meaningful change.


"I don't know where life will take me next, but wherever it is, I hope I continue to inspire and to be inspired."

This quote suggests a sense of openness and optimism about the future, as well as a desire to maintain a positive influence on others while also being influenced by experiences and people in return. It implies that the journey of life is unpredictable but the speaker hopes to continue impacting lives positively and growing personally.


I was 28, and my mom was living with me. I had to decide. You have to claim it; you can't ask permission. After a gig in Singapore, she went home, I went to New York on my own, I packed her stuff in boxes and sent it home. I don't think she liked me for a while for doing that. It was something I needed to do to carve out my own space.

- Lea Salonga

Doing, Gig, Needed, Singapore

I want every Filipino woman empowered with information regarding all options available to her regarding family planning.

- Lea Salonga

Woman, Want, Family Planning, Regarding

The thing about Sondheim is that it does get very cerebral. You do need a faculty with words and a love for the lyrics to not just pull it off, but to have an appreciation for it.

- Lea Salonga

Love, Need, Very, Sondheim

When I was about 6, my cousin was very active in a Filipino repertory company, doing musicals and plays. Her aunt was one of the founders of the company, and she told my mom that there were these auditions for 'The King and I,' and that they needed kids. I auditioned, got in and the love affair started from there and just kept going.

- Lea Salonga

Love, Very, Auditions, Aunt

It's in your DNA to be a Filipino; how can you just turn your back on it?

- Lea Salonga

Back, How, DNA, Filipino

The nice thing about doing a pop opera - in the way that doing, say, 'Miss Saigon' or 'Les Miz' would be - is that, because the convention is set from the beginning that this is an opera and everything is sung, there is never that feeling of 'Why is this person bursting out into song?' because the whole thing is sung.

- Lea Salonga

Beginning, Doing, Opera, Bursting

I seem to have a soft spot in my heart for Australia and Australian actors. After having worked with one in 'Cinderella' and a multitude of them in 'Cats,' I've wanted the opportunity to actually perform 'down under.'

- Lea Salonga

Down, Australian, Seem, Soft Spot

I play video games a lot... I love to read... I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter, who are my most favorite people in the world.

- Lea Salonga

Love, Play, Read, Favorite People

'Allegiance' is pretty much a book musical. You know, people talk and then they burst out into song.

- Lea Salonga

Song, Pretty, Musical, Burst

I took some voice lessons here and there as a teenager but nothing too serious. I started taking it more seriously when I was in Miss Saigon. I needed to improve my technique in order to survive doing that show as many time a week as I was doing it. It's not an easy show to sing, so I needed all the help I could get.

- Lea Salonga

Voice, Here, Some, To Survive

I have no inner monologue.

- Lea Salonga

Inner, Monologue

In the modern operas that 'Miss Saigon' and 'Les Miz' are, nobody breaks out into song from conventional book dialogue. Everything is sung from beginning to end, including the recitative.

- Lea Salonga

Song, Including, Operas, Les

I think I will always be performing; I don't think I can take that away. Because I really just enjoy it. I like getting up to sing; I like the challenge of learning new material and singing it in front of an audience.

- Lea Salonga

Enjoy, Away, I Think, New Material

I would love to do some straight drama. A lot of times it's not up to the actor, it's up to the producer. It's up to the powers that be.

- Lea Salonga

Love, Some, Straight, Powers

I was doing TV work, theatre work, and some film work in the Philippines when I left.

- Lea Salonga

Theatre, Doing, Some, Philippines

All the Disney Princess films are iconic and beautiful, so to have been a part of all that was really a wonderful part of my life. It's all fabulous, too, that I have a daughter that appreciates the whole Princess thing.

- Lea Salonga

My Life, Films, Appreciates, Disney

I think that if an audience is truly appreciative of a performance, they will show it. Sometimes though, there are little differences, and there are audiences that are very reserved even though they are enjoying the show.

- Lea Salonga

Think, Audience, Very, Appreciative

I have a half-brother who is very, very, very gay, many cousins, best friends who are all members of the LGBT community, and for me to not say anything would be hypocritical. There is a lot of prejudice. People think it is abnormal. No, it's just another normal.

- Lea Salonga

Hypocritical, Another, Very, Members

The thing about World War II is that everyone knows about the concentration camps in Europe - in Nazi Germany and Poland and Auschwitz and the other camps - but, no one really talks about the camps that were here in the United States.

- Lea Salonga

Here, Other, United, Camps

I'm interested in just about anything that's right for my voice, and that's a good fit for my personality in the part as well. 'Evita' has always been a dream part for me, but it's really, really high to sing. I'd love to do Elphaba - heck, I'd even do Glinda. For me, I'd do anything to get into 'Wicked!'

- Lea Salonga

Love, Voice, Been, Wicked

Love your enemies... it's not always an easy tenet to live by... and I have more often than not been inclined to wish my enemies ill than well.

- Lea Salonga

Love, Always, Been, Enemies

I pride myself in the fact that in the six months tour of Cinderella, I didn't take one show off.

- Lea Salonga

Fact, Six, Months, Tour

When I'm doing a one-on-one with somebody, I have to speak in a language that that person can understand, using a vocabulary that they instantly get, and I always have to feel my way around to figure that out. It's a lot of fun, and it's also really challenging - challenging in a different way from performing.

- Lea Salonga

Language, Doing, Feel, Vocabulary

I can't be an ingenue forever, and I wouldn't want to be.

- Lea Salonga

Want, Forever, Ingenue

I don't think I would've been performing this long if I didn't love it sincerely to the degree that I do. It's not enough to like it. Dilettantes like things. Professionals love things and I consider myself a professional.

- Lea Salonga

Love, Think, Sincerely, Consider

I just refuse to date actors. I've done that, and I don't want to do that anymore. It's just the stress of traveling and being away from each other so much.

- Lea Salonga

Stress, Date, Other, Refuse

I watch a lot of TV - 'Perfect Strangers,' 'Family Matters,' 'Who's the Boss?' - then I go over my notes in the script, lock it into my head and go to bed.

- Lea Salonga

Bed, Over, TV, Lock

I'd love to do just straight theatre. I'd love to do film and television, too.

- Lea Salonga

Love, Straight, Too, Theatre

I was 17 when I auditioned for 'Miss Saigon.' I really grew up doing that show. I pretty much knew, almost a year into 'Miss Saigon,' that I was going to be a performer, that I was going to be singing and acting.

- Lea Salonga

Singing, Doing, Pretty, Performer

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