She was an award-winning Broadway star - but still struggled to land roles

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. She was an award-winning Broadway star - but still struggled to land roles 50 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Yvette Tan Singapore Getty Images Salonga is seen as a national treasure in her native Philippines The year was 1991 and Lea Salonga already had won a Tony for her performance as the lead character in Miss Saigon - but she was still struggling to find another role. "My agent would be submitting me for auditions, like 'No, we won't see her because she's Asian. They were unable to imagine someone like me playing roles," Salonga told the .

But today it's that scenario that feels unimaginable, in an era when acts like BTS and Blackpink are dominating Billboard charts, shows like Shogun and Squid Games are sweeping the Emmys, and even Asian-led musicals are finding success on Broadway. Salonga herself has since become a global Broadway icon. Revered as a national treasure in her native Philippines, she is also immortalised as the singing voices for not one but two Disney princesses, Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and the lead in Mulan.

The Details

But as her early struggles show, her path to fame was far from easy. The role that propelled her to fame - Eponine in Les Misérables - was only possible because she was able to skip the audition process entirely. "Because the producers of Miss Saigon also produced Les Mis, an invitation to join… so I do appreciate that I had advocates in the office… people who were like 'we gotta get her in'," said Salonga.

Even then, Salonga, who was the first Asian actress to land a principal part in the acclaimed musical, says her role was very much an "experiment". "When I was cast in it, the show had already been running for five years. When they cast me, it was in January, which is usually a slow time.

I think the producers felt minimal risk," she said. "I think I was the only person of colour in that entire company at the time... so , is this a stunt?

What Experts Say

Is this trying to prove a point? Let's see if this is going to work. if it works, the reward would be great.

" Michael Le Poer Trench Salonga was the first Asian actress to land a principal part in the acclaimed musical But stepping into what had always been a traditionally white role was, in her own words, "incredibly stressful". "I stressed out over Les Mis more than I ever did for Miss Saigon… it was an Asian actor in an Asian role - there's really no controversy there. But with Les Mis, it's like, we're going to cast this Asian chick in this show - and there's never been in this show.

" But the magnitude of what that represented was not lost on her. "It meant that anyone who had their sights on Eponine could play it. Because if I could do it - then could, regardless of ethnic background.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.