Idina Menzel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Idina Menzel
Menzel performing at Capital Pride in 2023
Born	Idina Kim Mentzel (1971-05-30) May 30, 1971 (age 54) New York City, U.S.
Education	New York University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1996–present
Works	Performances discography
Spouse(s)	Taye Diggs ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2014)​ Aaron Lohr ​ (m. 2017)​
Children	1
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Broadway pop vocal rock
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Hollywood Warner Verve Schoolboy Walkman

Idina Kim Menzel (born May 30, 1971) is an American actress and singer. She is especially famous for her work in musicals on Broadway, New York City's theater district. Many people call her the "Queen of Broadway" because of her strong stage presence and powerful singing voice. She is known as one of the most important stage actors of her time.

Idina Menzel has found success in theater, movies, and music. Her awards include a Tony Award for her stage work and a Daytime Emmy Award for television.

Menzel became well-known in 1996 when she made her Broadway debut in the musical Rent. She played Maureen Johnson and was nominated for a Tony Award. In 2003, she created the role of Elphaba in the musical Wicked on Broadway. For this role, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She later played Elphaba in London's West End in 2006. In 2014, Menzel returned to Broadway in If/Then, earning another Tony Award nomination.

In the early 2000s, Menzel started working in film and television. She appeared in the 2005 film version of Rent. She also had a supporting role in Disney's musical fantasy film Enchanted (2007). From 2010 to 2013, she played Shelby Corcoran on the TV series Glee. Since 2013, Menzel has been the voice of Elsa in Disney's Frozen franchise. The song "Let It Go", which she sang for the first Frozen movie, became a huge hit. Menzel has also appeared in films like Uncut Gems (2019), Cinderella (2021), and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023).

As a singer, Menzel has released seven studio albums. Her album Holiday Wishes (2014) reached number six on the Billboard 200 chart.

Early Life and Education

Idina Kim Menzel was born on May 30, 1971, in Manhattan, New York. She grew up in New Jersey and then moved to Syosset, New York, on Long Island. Her father, Stuart Mentzel, sold pajamas, and her mother, Helene Goldberg, was a therapist. Idina has a younger sister named Cara. Her grandparents came from Russia, and her family is Jewish.

Idina attended J. Irving Baylis Elementary School and H. B. Thompson Middle School in Syosset. She also went to Syosset High School. When she was 15, her parents divorced. She started singing at weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs to earn money. She continued this job while studying at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She earned a degree in drama in 1992. Idina changed the spelling of her last name to "Menzel" to make it easier to pronounce in the United States.

Idina Menzel's Career Journey

Theater Performances

From Rent to The Wild Party (1996–2000)

In 1995, Idina Menzel auditioned for Rent. This became her first professional theater job and her debut on Broadway. Rent first opened Off-Broadway in January 1996. It then moved to Broadway because it was so popular. For her role as Maureen Johnson, Menzel was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her last show in Rent was on July 1, 1997.

After Rent, Menzel released her first solo album, Still I Can't Be Still. She also played Dorothy in Summer of '42 and Sheila in Hair. She appeared on Broadway as Amneris in Aida. Menzel also received a Drama Desk Award nomination for her role as Kate in The Wild Party in 2000.

Wicked and Beyond (2003–2021)

Menzel leaving the theater after a performance of Wicked. She rose to fame following her performance as Elphaba on Broadway from 2003 to 2005.

In 2003, Menzel starred in Wicked on Broadway, alongside Kristin Chenoweth. The musical is based on a book about the Wicked Witch of the West. Menzel played Elphaba, a misunderstood character. Her performance was highly praised, and she won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Many young girls and fans loved her character.

During her second-to-last performance on January 8, 2005, Menzel had a small accident. She fell through a trap door and cracked a rib. This meant she could not perform in her final show. However, she made a special appearance at that show and received a long standing ovation.

After Wicked, Menzel performed in London's West End production of Wicked starting in September 2006. She was the highest-paid female performer in the West End at that time. She finished her run in London on December 30, 2006.

In 2008, Menzel played Florence in a concert version of the musical Chess at London's Royal Albert Hall.

On February 28, 2013, Menzel was chosen to star as Elizabeth in the new Broadway musical If/Then. The show opened on Broadway on March 30, 2014. For her performance, Menzel received another Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. If/Then closed on Broadway on March 22, 2015. Menzel also performed in the national tour of If/Then from October 2015 to January 2016.

In 2018, Menzel played Jodi in the play Skintight. This was her first major non-musical role in New York theater. She received great reviews for her performance. She reprised the role in Los Angeles in 2019. In 2021, she starred as Bea in Wild: A Musical Becoming.

Redwood (2025)

Menzel played the main role of Jesse in Redwood, a musical that premiered in San Diego, California, in February 2024. The musical opened on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on February 13, 2025. This was the same theater where Menzel made her Broadway debut in Rent. Menzel helped create the musical with Tina Landau and Kate Diaz. Redwood closed on Broadway on May 18, 2025.

Music Career Highlights

Menzel has worked hard to build a solo music career outside of musicals. She has toured and performed in many places. Her first album, Still I Can't Be Still, was released in 1998.

Her second album, Here, was released in 2004. She also sang on the soundtrack for Desperate Housewives in 2005 and on Ray Charles's album Genius and Friends. In 2007, she sang "A Hero Comes Home" for the Beowulf soundtrack.

Menzel after appearing on The Today Show in 2008

Her third solo album, I Stand, came out on January 29, 2008. It included songs like "Brave" and "I Stand". This album was her first solo album to appear on the Billboard 200 chart. Menzel wrote most of the songs on this album.

In April 2008, Menzel started her I Stand tour to support her new album. The concert at Lincoln Center in New York City was filmed for the PBS television series Soundstage.

On July 19, 2010, Menzel performed "Defying Gravity" and "What I Did For Love" for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.

In April 2010, Menzel began her "Barefoot at the Symphony Tour". She performed with major symphony orchestras like the New York Philharmonic. Her concert in Toronto was filmed for her second PBS special, Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony, which was released in March 2012.

Menzel performing in Washington, D.C., in 2008

On June 17, 2014, Menzel announced she was working on a Christmas album. The album, Holiday Wishes, was released on October 14, 2014. It reached number 10 on the Billboard 200, becoming her highest-charting solo album. In 2015, Menzel went on her first global tour, performing in Europe and Asia.

Menzel sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLIX on February 1, 2015.

On August 5, 2016, Menzel announced her fifth album, Idina, which was released on September 23. This was her first original pop studio album in eight years. It debuted at number 29 on the US Billboard 200. She then went on a World Tour in 2017. Her concert in Las Vegas was recorded for her live album idina Live, released on October 12, 2018.

In March 2018, Menzel joined Josh Groban for his Bridges Tour. She opened for him and later sang duets with him.

On October 18, 2019, Menzel released her second holiday album, Christmas: A Season of Love. She supported it with a three-city concert tour.

On October 11, 2022, Menzel announced a concert special on Disney+ called Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?. It features footage from her concert at Madison Square Garden.

On August 18, 2023, Menzel released Drama Queen, a dance-themed pop album. She worked with artists like Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers. She created this album as a message to her friends in the LGBTQ+ community. In the summer of 2024, she went on her 20-city Take Me Or Leave Me Tour across North America.

Film and Television Appearances

Early Screen Roles (2001–2010)

Menzel's first movie role was in the 2001 romantic comedy Kissing Jessica Stein. She also appeared in Just a Kiss (2002) and The Tollbooth (2004).

In 2005, Menzel played Maureen Johnson again in the film version of Rent. She was one of six original Broadway cast members to return for the movie. Critics praised Menzel's performance.

In 2006, she played Vera Rivkin in Ask the Dust. In 2007, Menzel appeared in the musical fantasy film Enchanted as Nancy Tremaine. Nancy was the fiancée of Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and a rival to Giselle (Amy Adams). Even though it was a musical, Menzel did not sing in the film. She was offered the role without an audition. Enchanted was a big success.

From 2010 to 2013, Menzel had a recurring role on the musical comedy TV series Glee. She played Shelby Corcoran, the coach of a rival glee club and the biological mother of Rachel Berry (Lea Michele). Fans had noticed that Menzel and Michele looked alike, and many wanted Menzel to play Rachel's mother. Menzel appeared in 12 episodes and sang songs like "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Poker Face".

Frozen and Global Fame (2013–2016)

In 2013, Menzel voiced Elsa in Disney's animated film Frozen. Elsa is a queen who struggles with her magical ability to control ice and snow. Menzel's character was changed to be a misunderstood hero, inspired by the song "Let It Go". Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez wrote "Let It Go" specifically for Menzel's powerful voice.

Frozen was a huge success, becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films ever. "Let It Go" became a worldwide hit, with many people creating their own versions online. The song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Menzel has continued to voice Elsa in other Frozen projects, including video games, short films like Frozen Fever (2015) and Olaf's Frozen Adventure (2017), and the sequel Frozen II (2019).

Menzel sang "Let It Go" at the 86th Academy Awards in March 2014, where the song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. During her introduction, actor John Travolta mispronounced her name as "Adele Dazeem". This mistake became a viral Internet meme. Menzel was not upset by it and felt it helped introduce her to a wider audience.

Before Frozen, Menzel was well-known in the Broadway world, but not as much globally. The success of Frozen, "Let It Go", and the Oscars incident helped make Menzel an international superstar. She believes the mispronunciation was "one of the best things that happened for my career".

Film Actress (2017–Present)

After Frozen, Menzel took on more film and TV roles. In 2017, she starred as CC Bloom in Lifetime's remake of the 1988 film Beaches. She sang songs from the original film's soundtrack. Critics had mixed reviews for the remake, but praised Menzel's singing.

In 2019, she starred with Adam Sandler in the crime thriller Uncut Gems. She played his character's wife, Dinah Ratner. This role was very different from her usual family-friendly work. The film and Menzel's performance received good reviews.

In 2021, Menzel co-starred in Kay Cannon's musical film Cinderella. She played Cinderella's (Camila Cabello) unkind stepmother, Vivian. Menzel wanted to show the reasons behind her character's cruel nature. She also wrote and recorded an original song for her character called "Dream Girl". Critics praised Menzel's performance.

In 2022, Menzel returned as Nancy in the Enchanted sequel Disenchanted. Her character, now the Queen of Andalasia, sings for the first time in this movie. A pop version of her song, "Love Power", was released. Menzel also appeared on the HGTV show Celebrity I.O.U., helping to renovate a garage for a friend.

In 2023, Menzel played Bree Friedman in the comedy You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. She reunited with Adam Sandler, playing Jewish parents preparing for their daughter's bat mitzvah. Critics said Menzel fit in well with Sandler's family in the film.

Menzel also starred in American Murderer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Menzel created a YouTube web series for children called Idina's Treehouse. It featured songs, stories, and appearances from her family and friends. In 2024, Menzel made a cameo appearance in the film adaptation of Wicked alongside Kristin Chenoweth.

Idina Menzel's Artistic Style

Voice and Inspirations

Idina Menzel has a vocal range that covers about three octaves. Her voice is often described as a "mezzo-soprano," meaning it's in the middle range for female singers. Critics say she sings with emotion, like an actress. Her voice can sound sweet and soft, but also strong and powerful.

Menzel is known for her high belting style, which is a way of singing high notes with a strong, full voice. The Kennedy Center calls her a great example of a "Broadway Belter." She says she takes small breaths for long notes and practices vocal warm-ups to keep her voice healthy.

Menzel's singing style is often compared to Barbra Streisand, who is one of her main musical inspirations. Menzel has often sung Streisand's song "Don't Rain on My Parade". She also looks up to singers like Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, and Etta James.

Musical Approach

Menzel trained as a classical singer from age eight. In high school, she explored other styles like R&B and jazz. As a wedding singer, she learned many different types of music, from jazz to rock. She often improvises new ways to sing songs, which helps her when her voice is tired.

Her concerts usually include a mix of her own songs and covers of popular pop, rock, and musical theater songs. She chooses songs that tell stories about her life. Menzel often performs barefoot in concert, which has become her trademark. She also enjoys talking with the audience.

Menzel is closely linked to songs about self-empowerment, like "Defying Gravity" and "Let It Go". She co-writes most of her own music, often working with other songwriters and producers. She gets ideas from her personal diary and records melodies. Her albums combine adult alternative, vocal, and contemporary pop music. Her fifth album, Idina, was very personal and explored themes of home, loss, and starting over after her divorce.

Menzel says performing her own songs is "scarier" than singing covers because she is more open and transparent. But it is also more rewarding when fans sing along to her own music.

Personal Life

Idina Menzel married actor Taye Diggs on January 11, 2003. They met in 1995 while working on the original production of Rent. They had a son together on September 2, 2009. In late 2013, Menzel and Diggs separated after 10 years of marriage. They continued to raise their son together.

Menzel started dating actor Aaron Lohr. In August 2015, they bought a home together. On September 23, 2016, Menzel announced that they were engaged. They got married on September 22, 2017, at their home.

Menzel believes in feminism. She says she loves playing strong women who also show deep feelings and go on a journey to find their power.

Philanthropy and Other Projects

Menzel supports many charities. In 2009, she was an honorary chair for the Imperial Court of New York's Annual Charity Coronation Ball.

On May 17, 2009, Menzel performed at a benefit concert in Atlanta, Georgia. This concert raised money for the Pace Academy Diversity Program and the Ron Clark Academy. The money helped fund scholarships for students.

In 2010, Menzel and her then-husband Taye Diggs started the A BroaderWay Foundation. This foundation helps young people in the arts. A BroaderWay offers camp programs, theater workshops, and scholarships. In Summer 2011, Camp BroaderWay hosted girls from New York communities. The girls worked with Broadway artists to create an original musical.

Menzel has also supported LGBT rights. She has worked with organizations like The Trevor Project and the NOH8 Campaign. In April 2014, Menzel helped raise donations for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

In 2022, Menzel launched a clothing line with QVC called Encore by Idina Menzel. Also in 2022, Menzel co-wrote a children's book with her sister, Cara Mentzel, called Loud Mouse. The book is about a mouse named Dee who loves to sing loudly. To promote the book, Menzel released "The Loud Mouse Song". In 2023, Menzel and her sister released a sequel called Proud Mouse.

On November 20, 2023, Menzel performed at a special event in New York City. This event supported AMIT's network of Jewish educational institutions in Israel.

Images for kids

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  Menzel performing at Capital Pride in 2023

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  Menzel leaving the theater after a performance of Wicked. She rose to fame following her performance as Elphaba on Broadway from 2003 to 2005.

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  Menzel after appearing on The Today Show in 2008

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  Menzel performing in Washington, D.C., in 2008

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  Menzel in London in 2006

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  Menzel identifies singer Barbra Streisand (pictured) as one of her main musical influences, to whom she has often been compared vocally.

Discography

• Still I Can't Be Still (1998)
• Here (2004)
• I Stand (2008)
• Holiday Wishes (2014)
• Idina (2016)
• Christmas: A Season of Love (2019)
• Drama Queen (2023)

Concerts

Other Performances

Awards and Nominations

Theater Awards

Film Awards

Television Awards

See also

In Spanish: Idina Menzel para niños