MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ first Olivier and Tony Awards Best Actress winner, Lea Salonga, recalled a recent encounter with Filipino fans in Broadway that went viral online.
In a talk recently in Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati for their upcoming play “Request sa Radyo,” Salonga and her alternate in the play, Dolly de Leon, were asked by the play’s co-producer, Tony Award winner Clint Ramos, about how much of being Filipino are they putting in for every international project.
According to Lea, she would only consciously inject her Filipino roots and culture if she is portraying a Filipino character, such as the Filipino doctor counterpart of her Erzulie, the goddess of love role in “Once on this Island.”
Otherwise, if she is to portray a non-Filipino character such as Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd,” she makes it a point to study even the character’s dialect and accent.
“Sometimes, you know, when people identify you as somebody who’s Filipino, sometimes that’s taken advantage of,” Lea fretted, bringing to mind her recent viral encounter with Filipinos that watched her in “Here Lies Love” on Broadway.
“That’s true,” Dolly said in agreement.
“Yeah,” added Clint.
“I mean, you know this… when you have your privacy invaded and then you’re told, ‘Ay! ‘Di ba Pilipino ka? Dapat magpa-picture kayo sa’min.’ What does that have to do with anything?” Lea pointed out.
“I’m like, ‘What makes you entitled to my private time? You’re not! Sino ka ba?” she added.
“Yes, sure, you’ve seen me on TV from when I was seven but nah-ah!”
It can be recalled that in July last year, a video showing Lea declining a photo request from Filipinos went viral as the request was made backstage during Lea’s private time.
“Just a reminder… I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you,” Lea wrote on her X account.
In another tweet, Lea shared an old interview of her in which she elaborated her boundaries as an artist.
“My husband constantly reminds, ‘You have fans and you should be grateful and feel blessed that you have them.’ I do, I truly do. But when personal boundaries and space are violated, then how am I supposed to react?” she said in the video.
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