Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Showbiz fans are familiar with the expression "she grew up right before our very eyes," but often, it’s used in an exaggerated manner. However, when it comes to describing Lea Salonga, the same expression seems like an understatement.

Lea Salonga began her professional career in theater at the early age of seven, appearing in The King and I. From then on, she appeared in several productions while at the same time recording albums, shooting commercials, making appearances in TV shows and films and attending regular school.

Fans were witness to Lea’s transformation from a little girl with charming dimples and her hair in pigtails to a young woman with a gorgeous smile and her hair in a bun. Fans were at awe with her impeccable talent, which seemed to blossom more and more as the years went by by. And when Lea (who was only 17 at the time) got the role of Kim in the mega-musical Miss Saigon, eventually winning the prestigious Laurence Olivier award and several other notable acting awards, Lea became "theater royalty."

Now, Lea is prepping for the role of a lifetime: that of Grizabella in the production of Cats, the musical which ran for a record-setting 21 years in Broadway, set to hit the stage in July in a limited two-week run. The Asian Journal had an exclusive interview with the lauded actress recently as part of the media promotion for the upcoming musical.

Dressed in a simple black ensemble accented by a diamond-encrusted C-shaped brooch, Lea’s vivacity during the interview filled up the whole room—whether she was contemplating on adopting another cat, hinting at her techno-geek side (she can’t wait to get her hands on an I-Pad), recalling her challenging roles to date (from Kim in Miss Saigon to Fantine in Lés Miserablés,), revealing her greatest influences and inspiration (the late Zenaida Amador, Baby Barredo and of course, her mom), talking about her daughter’s mimicking of Penny, a character from the animated movie Bolt, emphasizing the importance for women to get screen for breast cancer (she supports ICanServe Foundation) or sharing the scoop of possibly doing another movie with Aga Muhlach as her leading man. Lea might have practically grown up with a spotlight over her head and is one of the most accomplished women of her generation, but her passion never wanes.

It goes without saying that it is that very passion combined with her remarkable talent which made Lea the internationally renowned actress that she is today. Still she admits to getting the jitters when onstage.

"I’m thinking what could go wrong. And it still haunts me. But for the most part, once I start in a show, then I don’t have to think about it. Then the adrenalin kicks in and I calm down eventually," she says.