Are Filipinos finally getting noticed in Hollywood?

Pop quiz: which Filipino artist originated the Miss Saigon leading role and won a Tony award at just 20 years of age?

And which Filipino singer holds over 180 awards, including 15 Grammys?

Or the Pinay artist who sashayed on stage at the recent Super Bowl half-time concert with Usher and showed us how to rock the electric guitar (and boasts 5 Grammys)?

From the Grammys, to Golden Globes and Tony awards, there are many exceptional Filipinos making waves in Hollywood and beyond.

Get to know these Pinoy celebrities

The list is long for Filipino artists who have won awards and made their mark in Hollywood.

Lea Salonga

Lea Salonga brought immense national pride when she won the coveted role as Kim in London’s Miss Saigon musical, where she eventually won the Tony Award at 20 years old.

She also lent her pitch-perfect voice for Disney characters Jasmine and Mulan in Aladdin and Mulan and has since starred in various Broadway roles and musicals.

Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars broke into the music scene with hits like “Nothin’ on you” and “Just the way you are” and has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammys.

A prolific songwriter, dancer, and singer, this half-Filipino artist grew up in Hawaii and has won people over with his smooth dance moves and three-octave voice.

H.E.R.

At the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show, musician H.E.R. (acronym for Having Everything Revealed)—real name Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson—came out rocking her guitar with such swagger and cool confidence she almost eclipsed Usher.

Yet it’s her silky voice reminiscent of Alicia Keys that sets her apart, gaining her five Grammy wins, and numerous other awards. Her mother is Filipino-American, and her father is Black.

Olivia Rodrigo

In the midst of COVID lockdowns in early 2021, the emotion-driven pop song “Driver’s License” captured everyone’s ears and hearts and catapulted Olivia Rodrigo into superstardom.

With three Grammys and counting, this half-Filipina singer and actress grew up following Filipino traditions and eating Filipino food.

Rodrigo starred in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, following the footsteps of another half-Filipina Vanessa Hudgens.

Hudgens got her breakthrough role as Gabriela Montes in High School Musical.

Other celebrities with Filipino heritage include singer Enrique Iglesias—his father is Spanish crooner singer Julio Iglesias, his mother a Filipina socialite; singer Nicole Scherzinger, and TikTok sensation and singer Bella Poarch.

Dolly de Leon

Halfway through the satirical movie Triangle of Sadness, the tables are turned on the rich passengers of a luxury yacht.

Enter Filipina actress Dolly de Leon, who then manages to upend everyone’s lives.

Her self-possessed performance is so fun to watch, you’ll catch yourself rooting for this underdog who seized her moment when she had the chance.

The unexplained ending will leave you forever wondering about what happened to her small but mighty character.

De leon’s strong performance earned her a nod for Best Supporting Actress at the Grammys.

Liza Soberano

Liza Soberano —the Filipina actress who’s perenially at the top of every Prettiest Face in Showbusiness list—has gone back to California after spending years in the Philippines.

Her performance in her first Hollywood film “Lisa Frankenstein”, is already getting noticed, with many commenting how she stole every scene she’s in.

Lovi Poe

Another Philippine-based actress, daughter of late action star Fernando Poe, Jr., Lovi Poe will soon appear in the upcoming movie Bad Man starring Sean William Scott of American Pie fame.

John Pearce

If you have small children, you likely would have heard of The Wiggles. John Pearce—a half-Filipino from Australia—is the one who wears the purple uniform.

His TikTok account is filled with interactions with his Filipina mom, who has trouble with her p’s and f’s. Watch their hilarious, authentic banter here.

Joshua dela Cruz

Remember Blues Clues? The current host is Filipino Joshua dela Cruz, who replaced Donovan and Steve Burns to be the first Asian to wear the striped shirt and delight children everywhere with his big smile and great singing voice.

Blue’s Clues and You host Joshua dela Cruz. Photo from jacksonville.com