What's the color of Lea's life?

Lea Salonga will play Grizabella in the musical Cats which will be staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater in July. She will sing Memory, the most popular song in the musical. Cats which first opened in London in May 11, 1981 to rave reviews, won a number of awards including two Olivier Awards for Musical of the Year and Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Musicals and seven Tony Awards. Lea played Kim in Miss Saigon and won the Tony Award for Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award and the Laurence Olivier Award. She played Eponine as well as Fantine in Les Miserables, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, the Witch in Into The Woods, Cinderella, among others. She is the singing voice behind Princess Jasmine in the blockbuster Disney hit Aladdin, and in Mulan and Mulan 2. She is the most beautiful national treasure of the country. Read on.

1. What other talent would you like to have aside from music and acting and why?

A figure skater or a gymnast because there isn’t only athleticism and strength, but there is also grace, beauty and artistry involved. It’s not just about shooting a ball, hitting a ball, ramming your body through it on the defense line. There’s beauty and artistry.

2. Are you afraid of getting old?

No. I am looking forward to it. Not so much that I have good genetics that I actually don’t look as old as I am. I am just looking forward to the wisdom that one can accumulate as one gets older. Life is much more fun the older I get. All of your hang ups, tend to go away….

3. What was the best thing said about you?

She’s normal. That’s the best thing because other people think I am not.

4. What is the most romantic place on earth for you and why?

I have never been there but Paris. I love to go someday.

5. How do you pray?

In a very conversational style. I don’t like doing any of the rote prayers. I like just saying what comes from my heart. And I usually am able to get my answers that way when I pray very directly and very to the point.

6. If you were a movie or a play what would its title be?

I have no idea. Maybe there’s a lot about life that I have to experience. Ask me five years from now.

7. What color describes your life? Why?

Purple, a combination of red and blue. There’s passion but there is also reason. Red for passion, blue for reason.

8. How would you describe your state of mind?

Peaceful. At ease. Happy. Content.

9. If you are Superwoman, who is your Superman?

My husband, of course.

10. What is your greatest fear?

Any of those close to me passing away. That’s one thing I really, really don’t want to see. I love people in my life to live a ripe old age.

11. What makes you laugh?

My daughter. When she’s echoing what I say. And I tell her something factual and she’ll look at me and say ok, if you say so. It’s like she’s a very old woman. It’s funny but it’s also so honest coming from her. My husband, whenever he forgets something it’s just funny and we just both end up laughing. The TV show Wipe Out. It’s fun. When somebody wipes out it’s the most fun ever. It’s like schadenfreude. It’s fun but in the context of the show. You subject yourself to that, people will laugh at you.

12. The best gift you have ever received from a loved one?

The laptop I have now I got it from my husband. You give me tech and I am a happy girl. Don’t give me jewelry or flowers.

13. What role would you not play?

I don’t know. I played a mother before, quite a few times. I would play a drug addict, a lesbian, I would play just about anything. I think I won’t play something that is poorly written. I would not do anything that would require me fully naked.

14. Who is your favorite singer? Why? Your least favorite?

Locally, Martin Nievera because, he does not just sing. He is incredibly funny and he’s smart. I love him to death. He is incredibly entertaining. Jet Pangan, so freaking well at what he does. My husband is a big fan of his. Jet has a manly voice. It’s a macho testosterone-filled rock voice. There’s nothing wimpy or soft about it. It’s awesome to listen to, it’s fun. I have soft spot for Julie Andrews. She’s perfect even if she does not sing anymore. In this country even the worst ones are pretty darn good. I don’t think there is such a thing as a bad singer in this country. I’m pretty proud about that.

15. If you were a tree, what would you be? Why?

Something with strong roots, something like narra or mango… something with very big trunk. It’s something that is sturdy, something that produces something sweet, and mango is versatile, gives you green and yellow, it’s something sturdy and rock solid but gives you something sweet.

16. What is your philosophy in life?

Laugh and have fun. Life is pretty darn short.

17. If you were to confess only one sin to God, what would it be and why?

That would be between me and God.

18. The most photogenic face in the world?

Audrey Hepburn, Angelina Jolie, Maegan Fox.

19. If you were a flower, what would you be and why?

Rose. Something with very big bloom but there are thorns which means approach with caution. I like the almost fuchsia one.

 20. If you were a fictional character, who would you be? Why?

Irene Adler, the one that beat Sherlock Holmes at his own game. I love reading Sherlock Holmes.

 21. Where do you think you would go? Heaven or hell? Why?

Somewhere in between. I can’t call myself a saint that I can be on the elite bus to heaven. I’m not exactly a major sinner that I’ll go to hell. I’d probably spend sometime in the middle and let God decide.

22. Who is the most beautiful person in the world and why?

It’s a toss up between my mom and my daughter.

23. Write your epitaph?

She did the best in everything she did, and hopes that that was enough.

24. Thirty years from now, where are you and what are you doing?

I’d be 68 or 69, pretty darn old. I’d love to be an ambassador to a foreign country representing the Philippines or totally retired and enjoying my grandchildren.