Lea Salonga on Q TV

Lea Salonga, the Philippine-born singer who won the hearts and awards of the theatre world as Kim in the mega hit musical Miss Saigon, and also starred as the singing voices of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Fa Mulan in the Mulan films, joins us in studio Q for a feature chat.

[@btanie]

I am not Filipino.....I think all Filipinos should rightly be proud of her.

[@raqsxz03]

She’s our pride. Filipino pride. ❤️

[@leticiachiok8057]

We're so very proud of her...Lea Salonga is a living legend in the Philippines' musical arts. She has paved the way for Asian theater actress/singer land leading roles (as well as supporting roles) in the West End and Broadway musicals and perform world-wide.

[@marcusvonhohenlohe]

Nope, not all when fame went thru her head. Now that she’s aged and losing lead roles to younger and more talented ones, the reality might have hit her that she can’t be on top of her game after all these years. She’s not marketable anymore, her name alone doesn’t sell in Broadway as evidenced by the poor reception of the play ALLEGIANCE. She can’t carry a stage play anymore just by her name alone. She might have been successful in Les Mis because there are more stellar co-stars with her. Not even her Tony and Lawrence Olivier could salvage her at the box-office nowadays. Pathetic. There’s a saying in the Phil that goes “If you don’t look back to where you came from, you won’t be able to proceed to your destination.” Talking about being diplomatic, she can’t even treat some of her fans nicely, come on! She sounds so plastic.

[@gammaron]

Lea Salonga is indeed a national treasure! She is pretty, talented and articulate. Her pride in her country runs very deep.

[@mrbrendyjames]

lea salonga is my favourite eponine. i never thought twice about her race in the character she was flawless and i always associate that character with lea salonga.

[@dadaartful]

Lea you would be a wonderful diplomat for your country. The people of the philippines would be more than proud to have you to represent them. I'm sure you would undertake the responsibilities with passion and love.

[@lalique512]

Ms. Salonga is so incredibly well spoken that to simply listen to her articulate her views and thoughts is sheer joy. This is a fantastic and intelligent interview between two people who know when to speak and listen.

[@charmsmanz6204]

I am very proud of Ms. Lea Salonga... She is very intelligent.

[@ferdzville]

A woman of pure talent, depth and substance... such an inspiration!

[@wewewooo]

this made me listen to her very attentively, her voice is so clear. she perfectly complimented the voice of the interviewer. crystal clear and very nice to hear audible voice.

[@philippinelegendaries1909]

*This is one of her best interviews, thanks dude for being genuinely interested in doing this interview, it shows that you have really prepared.*

[@ALLshALLfALL06]

You keep coming back on this video. Lol

[@amirdarwin6633]

i dont mean to be off topic but does any of you know a tool to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the account password. I appreciate any tips you can give me.

[@MrRodBelt]

Fantastic interview. Lea is surely a Filipino icon who will remain close to my heart as one of the greatest Filipino actor/singer. A great diplomat she would really become to represent my beloved Philippines.

[@nerizasularte8429]

I am a pilipina and i am so proud of leah salonga! She is the pride and treasure of the philippines! Thank you leah for making us proud! Love from davao city, philippines!

[@joelweisberg]

I saw her on Broadway in the original production. When the show came to Chicago with Lea and Jonathan Pryce still in the leads, I saw it several more times. Thirty years have passed yet my love of the show and her amazing performance is fresh in my mind. As wonderful a singer and actress she is this interview was a pleasure to watch as she is so well spoken. Bless your heart Lea you made an indelible mark in musical theater. Completely unforgettable. You are exquiste!

[@royperez8965]

The show never went to chicago with jonathan and lea still in it.

[@joelweisberg]

I’m probably confusing seeing her in NYC with the show that came to the Auditorium theater in my home town.

[@royperez8965]

@@joelweisberg yes i believe you are talking about the 1st Broadway National Tour of the show that started in Chicago I believe in 1993 with Jennie Kwan and Jennifer Paz in the lead role as KIm.

[@joelweisberg]

In fact I was so eager to see Miss Saigon that I traveled to NYC. I stayed a few days and saw it several times. I traveled alone so it was easy to get a single ticket. I saw Miss Saigon six or seven times the same with Les Miserables. That’s over 30 years ago. I love Lea to this very day.

[@royperez8965]

@@joelweisberg i saw the show on broadway over 80 times..I think i saw the show worldwide including the broadway and london revival and the US revival national tour over 120X..saw les mis like i think like 30x on bway.

[@pokemonumbreon1]

i really like lea coz she sounds like she could be any ones best friend shes not like "oh i am the greatest" or any thing like that

[@robr8213]

how can she speak so well?? i'm jealous..

[@HumanSagaVault]

There's really something with her voice, the emotions and the clarity is really therapeutic and very calming. amazing talent

[@89althea]

how can i talk like her . very fluent in our universal language

[@valletina4255]

Besides being a world-class talent that she is, Lea is also so brilliant!

[@MisayG]

She's not only good singer and actor, she's very intelligent..and it shows in this interview.

[@nonette46]

I can only say " I love you Lea" thanks for being a gift that you are to our nation. And to every girl and woman to look up to and carry the essence of a woman. (Dumugo ilong ko)

[@raymonda5476]

A well prepared and intelligent interviewer. A rarity

[@AliSwan91896]

She's so beautiful and intelligent, not to mention that her amazing singing makes me absolutely cry! I love Lea Salonga!

[@jonalynpimentel4437]

She's so beautiful and intelligent not to mention that her Amazing singing makes me Absutely cry, I love Ma'am Lea Salonga.

[@gabrielleung]

Right on. I cannot think of a person who would not be touched by her voice.

[@ladygrinch5947]

Philippines incomparable National treasure!

[@christinecu7835]

I really love the way she talk most specially when she sings... :) she's a treasure in the Philippines. #proudpinoyhere:)

[@jonalynpimentel4437]

I really admire ma'am Lea Salonga, she's the best.

[@donna8]

Wonderful interview. She's a very honest person, beautiful inside and out. I also like the interviewer. It's very rare where they allow the other person to actually answer their questions fully. A lot of them have ego's and butt in when they're in mid-sentence.

[@iancrespo7148]

Shes intelligent and articulate, she'd make a perfect diplomat

[@helm1010]

Lea Salonga's Eponine is the best musical performance I have ever seen.

[@teresitapagsolingan157]

Lea is one of the best singer in the philippines,and she also played musical theater,that why she is very good also actress in movie or in theater.

[@MissTimBurtonFan]

hes one of the best interviewers i have ever seen :)

[@coolmountains25]

lea salonga ur so beautiful and talented i was just listening to a kick ass mulan song. im glad u didn't become a biologist or a doctor, ur songs make me so happy especially mulan.

[@lanneekambal]

a real role model -- both personally and professionally!

[@inmate24601]

The tonal quality of her voice has been a rare pleasure in my lifetime. A voice as sweet as hers simply has to be tangible evidence for the existence of God.

[@amethyst1325164]

Very articulate. I love this interview

[@candyruna]

I really admire Lea Salonga! She's the best! =)

[@Wolfie129]

She is so massively talented! So glad to finally see this interview. Thanks Q! It has to be said again, Jian is an amazing host/interviewer.

[@philippinelegendaries1909]

7:01 that sudden change into Filipino Accent 😂 Watching some of her shows here in yt, I noticed she uses different accents on depending where she's singing/performing. When she's in UK, US or ASIA and it's amusing!

[@SaTrinomaNagkita]

Smart responses from Leah. Not only she sufficiently answers questions fielded by the interviewer, her answers are wide-ranging, touching several related subjects. She is really articulate. I saw almost 23 minutes before I viewed this video but as I listened-along, I didn't noticed that it was eating up my 23 minutes. It was engaging.

[@gevabi]

Lea*

[@cynthiarogacion]

old video....wow Miss Salonga is so cute, smart and very articulate...

[@regpourmoi]

lea is such a well spoken person...

[@eurasianfeline]

Thank you so much for this interview. Just watching her talk about Miss Saigon made me smile.

[@SpaceAudio]

She sings so well, she talks so well. And she's beautiful. Damn, that lap top is sooo thick. LOL

[@celofficial9092]

😂

[@amyojo7]

i love her angelic voice...

[@neallasta]

She is brilliant.

[@codmalt]

Only seen her as Eponine and Fantine in Les Mis and she owned both roles more than the other 2 performers! (Who also were good btw :])

[@esperanzabadinas2360]

Thanks Lea. We really LOVE you! Beautiful Face.

[@dennise7star]

Great interview!! Thank you. Lea is absolutely amazing. I love her. ~Dennise & Co.

[@gammaron]

she's perfect for the job!

[@mimayblue]

Ohhh... I'm inlove with her.... so much

[@kittyneko23]

I love you Lea... I mean this in a good way... I wish you can read this, so at least I can exist in your world, even just for a stranger... I need to see you in one of your concert someday, then I will be very very happy... You are my ultimate idol, more than that, you are very nice person and very talented... I'm more than just a fan... Again in a good way... Well just keep it up, your making people happy...

[@ftnheadbud]

I love this radio station, and am glad I found this clip of her - she was 31 here guys !!?!

[@meredithchandler73]

She was 38 here, not 31. She refers to becoming a mother and she was 35 when she had her daughter. The video was uploaded in Dec 2009 which is when I assume it was recorded.

[@pablodc123]

She is Filipino or Filipina or Pilipino or Pinay because she says the Philippines is "my country" using "Philipppines-born" implies she is something other then that.

[@joalizabeth4410]

probably because there are so many filipinos born outside of the philippines :)

[@14ocie]

she's so beautiful

[@queuesnake704]

Fascinating

[@Blueknightex]

She's not really an actress in TV Dramas or series but a singer/actor in Broadways. I would love to watch her Broadways :) My mom and I have been fans of her music for a very long time. And WOW she can speak English fluently. Pre-med student huh? wow..

[@ariesromingquit5660]

Beautiful lea salonga 👏👏👏

[@mjlvmusic]

I really LOVE Ms. Lea Salonga! :)

[@augustine73]

She did this interview the day after her concert in Toronto. Think its a last minute interview requested by CBC.

[@MikeJustDidit]

lea ur still soooooo beautiful.

[@uberathlete]

@heavyblow true dat, but I always just interpreted that as confidence. Lea is one confident gal, and got some balls, hehe. She's good and she knows it.

[@driftingsouliswritten]

the best interview.... :)

[@querida1314]

totally love this interview ;)

[@rosendo12ful]

@rextin0931 Actor is a term for both male and female in the theater/cinema world like doctor, teacher, dentist, engineer etc. So don't be surprised by that term .

[@NYCprincess7]

Shes my idol!!!!!

[@supremeb4075]

that introduction to her tho.

[@fernandosmyng]

Lea was my crush when I was in college. She was in high school then.

[@RosarySoldier]

Found this video after watching Miss Saigon on KZbin. Thanks for the post. I enjoyed it but wished Lea had withheld producing any sound until after the host finished his sentence. I would wish that even more if I was listening to this on the radio.

[@Poldoha]

aww. I wish i talk like her...

[@13nickrock]

i think Lea is the best Eponine!

[@edwardbliss8931]

Manny Pacquiao, Arnel Pineda from Journey, and Lea Salonga, the only full-blooded Filipinos that are globally recognized celebrities? That's sad.

[@sinserto]

I love her

[@phaerah]

Truly.

[@aninoTV]

She should do the diplomatics in HK, what do you think?

[@SamarkandChan]

God he's got a sexy radio voice She's amazing. :)

[@roxyd05]

"you know...anak you know when he's looking at you, you tats his face.."hehehe

[@nonette46]

Hilarious, dami ko tawa talaga

[@jihun7]

i thinks i usally heard ur voice everynight on radio

[@mc4uify]

This is a great interview..but sad that you describe Lea as merely Philippine-born. She is Filipino, both her parents being Filipinos. Being Philippine-born may not necessarily be synonymous with Filipino (our citizenship laws follow the jus sanguini principle and not merely jus soli).

[@joalizabeth4410]

there are many filipinos who were not born in the Philippines that's why. it only emphasized that she's a native of the Philippines

[@HancockChannel]

? they're playing our song .. based on a relationship between Carole Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch. just a wild guess

[@mimayblue]

Soooo Much Like :D

[@mvillareal15]

he looks a lot like holy marie combs.. and they are both beautiful..

[@Blueknightex]

@makkychavvy LOL yeah the word 'actor' is both male and female. Just like Bachelor (like in terms of Academic stuff like Diplomas and Degrees lol).

[@iJonel]

galing nya mag English!

[@roxyd05]

@nephpie i know it's touch.. sometimes we filipinos have a funny way of saying words... :)

[@parasoul26]

Is this guy the dude from chuck?? haha

[@RonPerillo]

Too bad she doesn't sing here

[@Wj3VUq56a813]

does anybody know who she means by "a neurotic 30-something jewish songwriter" @ 21:11?

[@j.r.fernandez1146]

I was curious about this, too. After some research, I think it's the lyricist from "They're Playing Our Song" which she did in Manila in 2000.

[@meredithchandler73]

@@j.r.fernandez1146 Correct! She is referring to the character she played in They're Playing Our Song (Sonia).

[@ryr98]

@rosendo12ful yes, in grammar it's called common gender noun..

[@yeng2579]

she's pilipina but she's grew up in states thats why she's very well English..😂😂 I love lea salonga very beautiful pilipina.

[@angelajoaquisoriano3933]

Love korea correction she didnt grew up in the usa... Shes 17 yrs old when she 1st visit america

[@frankacuso]

Love korea She grew up and got her education in the Philippines. Her show business career began when she was 7 in the islands. She was an exemplary student that she was the valedectorian in highschool even though she was always absent at school due to showbiz commitments. It was only when she got the role of miss saigon at 17 did she ever stayed out of the philippines that long.

[@yochanatav4884]

She did not grow up in states. If you watch her videos when she was 7/8 years old, she was already speaking English so well. I know she went to International School in the Philippines and because she is in the musical theater at a very young age, she was trained to speak that way. I saw a video of her where I thought she talk with a British accent. I love her!

[@nephpie]

@roxyd05 i think she said touch not tats

[@rextin0931]

@MariGinto73 ACTOR? hmmm :)

[@BONGMACAPAGAL]

I love Lea and she is really great but I don't think her hair extension was done good. It is very obvious.

[@nirvgardengod]

@Blueknightex i like actress better

[@Salivorin]

Who wears a scarf indoors? How hipster can you be, jeez.