Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga talks about BTS

There are two members I love.
The first is V, Kim Taehyung. Because he is the most beautiful human on the planet!
And the other is Jungkook, who I am drawn to for his performance and his dedication to consistency. He is the youngest, and the one who sings the opening of 'Dynamite'.

But my 'spirit animals' are Yoongi, known by his stage name SUGA, and the group's leader, RM. I truly hope that one day, when he is older, he will become the President of South Korea. I want to see that happen lol

He is truly smart and has great leadership. And the message he has for people is very inclusive.
He has the air of an older man. I can't believe he's only 26!

I just keep listening to BTS. It makes me happy when I listen to them lol
A female friend of mine posted a video on Facebook saying, 'Hey, this is good,' and she dragged me into the swamp.

You asked, 'Are you a new fan?' No, I'm not exactly a new fan.
I saw them on 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' on New Year's Eve, and I was really moved.

But it was definitely when 'Dynamite' came out. At that moment, I was like, 'Oh... OK!', and from there I fell down the rabbit hole. That was it lol

They are truly amazing. They are really talented.
As an Asian, can you imagine how happy I am that they reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart? You can't even imagine.

It's exactly like, 'OMG!'
They are Asian... beautiful Asian men did it.
They achieved what many artists hope to achieve in their careers one day.

They work really hard. Probably harder than anyone else. They are truly motivated, ambitious, focused, and disciplined.
I can only say they are amazing. It's wonderful.

I think there was a post on Twitter that they were actually crying because of this achievement, and it's really cute and sweet!!

Megan Thee Stallion's new song featuring RM ('Neva Play') just came out, and it's really good. Seriously, genuinely good.
Since the day it was released, I've been listening to it on loop. It's really good, so good. If you like rap music or hip-hop, it's definitely worth a listen.

Lea: "I was drawn to V almost immediately. In the 'Dynamite' MV, he was pushing his hair back with his hand, and in that super close-up, his eyes were so intense... I just couldn't help it."

Dolly: "I know, I know! When I watch K-pop groups, I'm strongly drawn to those who are overflowing with passion and who speak to me through their performance. It's not just about dancing; there's a story there."

Lea: "You don't have to be the best singer, and you don't have to be the best dancer, but V is a communicator, a storyteller, and an actor. Yes, that completely captivated me.
It's a chokehold, really. It's not just an attraction. You can't refuse it. Exactly, you have no choice."

How did you find out about BTS?
She said, "I saw them performing 'DNA' on TV, but I didn't get hooked until 'Dynamite' came out. From there, it was over. I was completely taken."

Lea named the 'ON' Kinetic Manifesto as her favorite music video from the group.
"From the eyebrows of Sienna Lalau at the beginning of the video, to that dance break, and the power and intensity of each member. I watch it several times a week," she stated.

What are her favorite BTS songs?
" 'Blue & Grey' (it feels cathartic, it draws out and releases stuck emotions), 'ON' (because that choreography is the best!), 'Blood Sweat & Tears' (again, that video), and 'Dynamite'. There are others, but these are the ones that come to mind immediately."

However, if she were to recommend other BTS songs besides the already popular ones, Lea suggested going to SoundCloud to listen to Jungkook's covers and other solo tracks.

Comments on BTS members
She described Jungkook as "blessed with the greatest talent," and regarding J-Hope, she stated, "He is very talented and like the sun."
"I'm drawn to dance leaders, so I'm drawn to him as well," she said.

As for Kim Taehyung, or as he is most commonly known, V, Lea described him as "charming."
The qualities she likes most about him are his "sense of humor, playfulness, and fun."
When asked about her favorite photo of him, she replied, "None! Because they are all wonderful!"

Broadway superstar Lea Salonga has expressed her support for BTS's Suga, Min Yoongi, who is currently facing public criticism and investigation after being involved in a drunk driving incident.

Salonga, an avid BTS fan, posted a black-and-white photo of the K-pop singer on her Instagram, simply writing in the caption, "I'm always behind you, Yoongi."

The "Miss Saigon" star stated that while she understands that Suga "broke" some laws, it is not something that deserves to be punished by the people.

In the comments section, she explained: "Honestly, I understand that the law exists and that he broke it on paper. Setting aside the fact that no one was hurt. But what I take issue with is the disproportionate criticism from antis and the media. JTBC has already apologized for spreading misinformation, but you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube once it's out, can you?"

Lea Salonga has named V as her favorite member for many years, sending him endless love and support.
In September 2020, she confessed that V's focus videos were her absolute favorite, praising his stage presence: "There isn't a single wasted moment in V's performance. Everything V does has a reason and an intention. Every moment, even when he's just walking, it seems there's a reason for it. V knows how to fill the stage. It's amazing. Truly incredible."

In an interview, she praised his emotional vocals, saying, "V's voice feels like it's wrapping around your heart." She also sang a part of "For Us," a track from V's solo album "Layover."

Prior to this in 2021, she revealed that she gained great strength from BTS during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, and specifically praised V's performances. She said, "I love V's videos. I couldn't help but get hooked on the videos that only feature him." She also emphasized V's genius, saying, "There wasn't a single wasted moment in V's performance. Everything V did had a reason and an intention. It seems there was a reason for every moment, even when he was just walking. He knows how to fill the stage. It's truly amazing."

First, she exclaimed, "Did BTS Jung Kook swallow an auto tune machine??? His intonation is crazy good!!!"

She immediately followed up with, "No wait... he swallowed a stack of CDs. Yeah, that’s more like it," sending unstinting praise for Jungkook's live ability, which sounds just like the recorded version as if he had swallowed a CD.

I went to Busan to attend the BTS concert, and look who I bumped into? THE ms lea salonga!!! She was so sweet, and on top of that, she gave us free merch and asked who our bias was!!!