Leah Salonga and Darren Criss Image: Facebook/@darrencriss
LOS ANGELES — Actor and singer Darren Criss paid tribute to Filipina Broadway icon Lea Salonga during a Women’s History Month segment on The Kelly Clarkson Show, highlighting her influence on musical theater and her impact on generations of performers.
During the discussion, Criss was asked to name a woman in the Broadway community who had inspired him. He immediately cited Salonga, referring to her as “the venerable Lea Salonga.”
“If you’re a Broadway person, her legacy is mighty,” Criss said.
Criss noted that Salonga’s career has been particularly meaningful to members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, where she has long been regarded as a pioneering figure in international theater.
“Being part of the [Asian American and Pacific Islander] community, she’s been a large shining beacon for a lot of folks and she’s been such an amazing leader in my own life as a fan,” he said.
The actor also reflected on meeting Salonga personally, saying his admiration for the performer deepened through their interactions.
“She’s an extraordinary woman and still a wonderful performer and just a great Broadway gal,” Criss said. “I think anybody that is familiar with her work personally and professionally would agree with me.”
Criss and Salonga have appeared together at various industry events but have not yet collaborated in the same stage production.
Criss first gained international recognition for his role as Blaine Anderson in the musical television series Glee. He later won both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for portraying Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.
Salonga, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Filipino performers in global musical theater, rose to international prominence after winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Miss Saigonin 1991. She later performed in major productions of Les Misérables on Broadway and London’s West End.
Beyond theater, Salonga is also known worldwide as the singing voice of Disney princesses Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan.
Criss’s remarks came as Women’s History Month observances across the United States highlight the contributions of women in arts, culture and public life. In the world of musical theater, Salonga’s decades-long career continues to be widely recognized as a milestone in expanding global visibility for Asian performers on the Broadway stage.