Idina Menzel
Broadway star who originated Elphaba and voiced Elsa.
Idina Kim Menzel (born May 30, 1971) is an American actress, singer, and songwriter who built her career on stage before moving into film, television, and music. She first gained attention in 1996 with her Broadway debut as Maureen Johnson in the rock musical *Rent*, a role that earned her a Tony Award nomination. In 2003, she created the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of *Wicked*, winning the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical; she later reprised the part in London’s West End, where she became the highest-paid actress in that district’s theater history. Since 2013, she has voiced Elsa in Disney’s *Frozen* franchise, and her performance of the song “Let It Go” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Menzel was born Idina Kim Mentzel in Manhattan on May 30, 1971. She lived in New Jersey until age three, then moved to Syosset, New York, on Long Island. Her father, Stuart Mentzel, sold pajamas; her mother, Helene Goldberg, worked as a therapist. She has a younger sister, Cara. Raised Jewish, her grandparents emigrated from Eastern Europe. She attended elementary school in Plainview, middle school and high school in Syosset. After her parents divorced when she was 15, she sang at weddings and bar and bat mitzvahs to earn money, continuing that work while studying at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama in 1992. She changed the spelling of her last name to “Menzel” to match how her family pronounced it in the United States. She was friends with actor Adam Pascal before they worked together on *Rent*. In 2017, songwriter Jimmy Walsh recalled that in 1992, Menzel recorded a demo of his song “In Your Eyes” for $75; that song later won the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest for Irish singer Niamh Kavanagh.
Menzel’s first professional theater job was auditioning for *Rent* in 1995. The show opened Off-Broadway in January 1996 but moved to Broadway due to its popularity. Her performance as Maureen Johnson earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, though she lost to Ann Duquesnay. She left the show in July 1997. Despite the nomination, she later said she faded into “obscurity” for eight years. After *Rent*, she released her first solo album, *Still I Can’t Be Still*, on Hollywood Records. She originated the role of Dorothy in *Summer of ’42* at Goodspeed Opera House, played
- born
- May 30, 1971
- field
- Actress, singer, songwriter
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Originating Elphaba in Wicked, voicing Elsa in Frozen, starring in Rent
Lore & Background
Menzel made her Broadway debut in 1996 as Maureen Johnson in Rent, earning a Tony Award nomination. She originated the role of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway in 2003, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. After leaving Wicked in 2005, she reprised the role in the West End production in 2006, becoming the highest-paid actress in West End theatre history. She returned to Broadway in 2014 in If/Then, receiving a third Tony Award nomination. Menzel also appeared in the film adaptation of Rent (2005), Disney's Enchanted (2007), and the television series Glee from 2010 to 2013. Since 2013, she has voiced Elsa in Disney's Frozen franchise; 'Let It Go' peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. She has released seven studio albums, including I Stand (2008) and Holiday Wishes (2014), the latter peaking at number six on the Billboard 200.
Reader's Guide
Idina Menzel's significance lies in her powerful Broadway performances and her crossover into mainstream film and music. Her portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked earned her a Tony Award and a devoted fanbase, particularly among young girls and a gay following. Her role as Elsa in Frozen introduced her to a global audience, with 'Let It Go' becoming a cultural phenomenon. Menzel's career demonstrates the transition from stage to screen, and she remains a prominent figure in musical theater and animation. Her work in Rent, Wicked, and Frozen has cemented her legacy as a versatile performer. She has also received multiple Tony Award nominations and has been recognized as the highest-paid actress in West End history. Her recording career includes several studio albums, with Holiday Wishes achieving her highest chart position on the Billboard 200.
Did You Know?
- Menzel changed the spelling of her surname from 'Mentzel' to 'Menzel' to better reflect the pronunciation adopted by her family in the United States.
- In 1992, she recorded a demo of the song 'In Your Eyes' for Irish songwriter Jimmy Walsh, which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1993; she was paid $75.
- During her penultimate performance in Wicked on January 8, 2005, she fell through a trap door and cracked a lower rib, preventing her from performing in her scheduled final show.
- Menzel was the highest-paid female performer in the West End at $30,000 per week during her run in Wicked in 2006.
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