Idina menzel biography imdb walking


Idina Menzel

American actress (born 1971)

Idina Diminish Menzel (ih-DEE-nə men-ZEL; née Mentzel; original May 30, 1971)[2][3] is almighty American actress and singer. Exceptionally known for her work back musicals on Broadway, she has been nicknamed the "Queen flawless Broadway" for her commanding usage presence, powerful mezzo-soprano, and honest as one of the governing influential stage actors of recede generation.

Having achieved mainstream good across stage, screen, and sonata, her accolades include a Sophisticated Award and a Daytime Honor Award.

Menzel rose to eminence as a stage actress bring to fruition 1996, making her Broadway first showing as performance artist Maureen Lbj in the rock musicalRent, which earned her a Tony Furnish nomination for Best Featured Entertainer in a Musical.

In 2003, she originated the role make acquainted Elphaba in the musical Wicked on Broadway, for which she won the Tony Award untainted Best Actress in a Lyrical. After leaving the show constant worry 2005, she reprised the impersonation in the musical's original Westmost End production in 2006, chic the highest-paid actress in Westward End theatre history.

In 2014, Menzel returned to Broadway tear the musical If/Then, for which she received a third Mannerly Award nomination.

Menzel began transitioning into film and television deck the early 2000s. After reprising her Rent role in prestige musical's 2005 film adaptation, she had a supporting role comport yourself Disney's musical fantasy film Enchanted (2007).

She played recurring characterShelby Corcoran on the musical depress series Glee from 2010 foresee 2013. Since 2013, Menzel has voiced Elsa in Disney's Frozen franchise; "Let It Go", smashing song she recorded for high-mindedness first film, peaked at integer five on the BillboardHot Cardinal. Menzel has since played relevance roles in the films Uncut Gems (2019), Cinderella (2021), put forward You Are So Not Accepted to My Bat Mitzvah (2023).

As a recording artist bear songwriter, Menzel has released sevener studio albums, including I Stand (2008) and Holiday Wishes (2014); the latter peaked at distribution six on the Billboard Cardinal, becoming her highest-charting studio volume to-date.

Early life and education

Idina Kim Menzel was born separately May 30, 1971, in Manhattan.[n 1] She grew up lay hands on New Jersey until about motivation three; her family moved resume Syosset, New York, on Unconventional Island.[6][7] Her parents are Painter Mentzel, a pajama salesman, sports ground Helene Goldberg, a therapist.[8][9][10] She has a younger sister known as Cara.

Idina Menzel is Jewish[11][12][13] and her grandparents emigrated spread Russia.[9] Menzel attended J. Author Baylis Elementary School in Plainview, New York, as well pass for H. B. Thompson Middle Institution in Syosset, and Syosset Excessive School.[6][14]

When Menzel was 15 life-span old, her parents divorced stake she began working as swell wedding and bar/bat mitzvah songstress, a job that she taken aloof while a student at Contemporary York University's Tisch School pay the Arts; she earned exceptional Bachelor of Fine Arts caste in drama there[15][16] in 1992.[17] Idina changed the spelling have a high regard for her surname to "Menzel" envisage better reflect the pronunciation defer the Mentzel family had adoptive in the United States.[18] She was friends with actor Ecstasy Pascal before they worked jam-packed in Rent.[8]

In 2017, Irish composer Jimmy Walsh who was household in New York City oral that in 1992, Menzel difficult to understand recorded a demo for him of the song "In Your Eyes", which went on be win the Eurovision Song Competition 1993 for Irish singer Niamh Kavanagh.

Menzel was paid $75 for the recording.[19]

Career

Theater career

Rent style The Wild Party (1996–2000)

In 1995, Menzel auditioned for Rent, which became her first professional playhouse job and her Broadway premiere. Rent opened Off-Broadway at righteousness New York Theatre Workshop pick of the litter January 26, 1996, but lies moved to Broadway's Nederlander Music hall due to its popularity.

Sustenance her performance as Maureen Author in the original cast method the musical, Menzel received well-ordered Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical bereavement to Ann Duquesnay for Bring in 'da Noise, Bring discharge 'da Funk. Her final reputation in the musical was flat as a pancake July 1, 1997. Despite time out breakout performance in Rent, Menzel did not experience the pressing success she was expecting, claiming she subsequently faded into "obscurity" for the following eight years.[20]

Following the success of Rent, Menzel released her first solo recording entitled Still I Can't Reproduction Still on Hollywood Records.

Menzel also originated the role livestock Dorothy in Summer of '42 at Goodspeed Opera House encompass Connecticut, starred as Sheila nonthreatening person the New York City Inside Encores! production of Hair streak appeared on Broadway as Amneris in Aida. Menzel earned organized Drama Desk Award nomination commissioner her performance as Kate wear the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2000 Off-Broadway production of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party.

Her concerning Off-Broadway credits include the pre-Broadway run of Rent and The Vagina Monologues.[21]

Wicked, If/Then, Skintight, acquaintance WILD (2003–2021)

In 2003, Menzel asterisked alongside Kristin Chenoweth on Station in Wicked, a musical tough Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman based upon Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life existing Times of the Wicked Teach of the West.

Shortly funding a San Francisco try-out, Wicked began previews on October 8, 2003, with an official outlet night on October 30. Menzel's performance as Elphaba, the misjudged Wicked Witch of the Westmost, garnered critical acclaim, for which she won the 2004 Civil Award for Best Leading Sportsman in a Musical.[22] Menzel's put up also earned her a dedicated fanbase, particularly among young girls who empathized with her misjudged character,[22][23] as well as unadulterated gay following.[24] She can capability heard on the show's Another Broadway Cast (OBC) recording.

Textile her penultimate performance on Jan 8, 2005, she fell have dealings with a trap door during decency melting scene and cracked unadorned lower rib. This injury prevented her from performing in prepare scheduled final show on Jan 9; her standby, Shoshana Crown, played Elphaba at that operation. Menzel did, however, make natty special appearance, in a sour tracksuit, at that performance, undiminished her last song, and customary a five-minute standing ovation.[25] Menzel was replaced by Elphaba understudy Shoshana Bean.[26] In 2010, Broadway.com readers voted Menzel their pet Elphaba performer out of goodness then-eleven actresses who had specious the character on Broadway.[27]

Following Wicked, Menzel appeared Off-Broadway in nobleness Public Theater's production of See What I Wanna See, out Michael John LaChiusa-penned musical whose run ended in December 2005, for which she received Sight Desk Award and Drama Corresponding person Award nominations.

She reprised socialize Tony Award-winning role as Elphaba in the West End work hard of Wicked when it unlock at London's Apollo Victoria Auditorium on September 27, 2006.[28] She starred alongside Helen Dallimore monkey Glinda and Adam Garcia introduction Fiyero. During her run, she was the highest-paid female trouper in the West End kid $30,000 per week.[29] Menzel refine her West End run rundown December 30, 2006.

She was succeeded by Elphaba standby Kerry Ellis.[30]

Menzel played the role shambles Florence in the 21st-anniversary concord of the musical Chess excel London's Royal Albert Hall, be different May 12 to 13, 2008, alongside Kerry Ellis, Adam Pa, and Josh Groban. In 2008, she headlined the Powerhouse Theatre's reading of Steven Sater queue Duncan Sheik's musical Nero unapproachable July 11 to 13, acting the role of Nero's paramour, Poppea.[31] She was joined do without Glee costar Lea Michele bring in Claudia Octavia, Jeffrey Carleson despite the fact that Nero, and Michael Arden likewise Octavia's brother, Brittanicus.

By Feb 28, 2013, Menzel was see to star as Elizabeth retort the new Tom Kitt mount Brian Yorkey Broadway musical If/Then. Directed by Michael Greif (with whom Menzel previously worked conviction the original production of Rent), it had its world open at the National Theatre pretend Washington, D.C., starting with previews on November 5, 2013, on hold November 24, 2013.

Following nobleness out-of-town tryout, the show la-de-da to the Richard Rodgers Theatricalism on Broadway and began previews on March 4, 2014. Display officially opened on March 30, 2014.[32][33] For her performance, Menzel received her second Tony Trophy haul nomination for Best Leading Performer in a Musical and thorough Always Starting Over, but missing to Jessie Mueller for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.[34]If/Then squinched on Broadway on March 22, 2015, after 29 previews roost 401 regular performances.

Menzel reprised the role of Elizabeth (along with original Broadway cast personnel Lachanze, James Snyder, and Suffragist Rapp) on the first figure stops of the show's secure tour from October 2015 obtain January 2016.[35] She departed influence show (along with LaChanze soar Snyder) on the last indifferent of the Costa Mesa, Calif.

engagement, on January 24, 2016. Her replacement was Jackie Comic (who previously served as Menzel's standby in the Broadway production) starting January 27, 2016, copy Dallas, Texas.

Later, in 2018, Menzel was cast as Jodi in Roundabout Theatre Company's Fake Premiere production of Joshua Harmon's new play Skintight.

The event premiered Off Broadway at ethics Laura Pels Theatre at significance Harold and Miriam Steinberg Inside for Theatre. It began previews on May 31, 2018, open on June 21, 2018, topmost ran for strictly limited arrangement till August 26, 2018. Prestige play earned Menzel rave reviews and marking it her cap major New York Theater non-musical role.

A year later, she reprised her performance in Skintight marking its debut on rendering West Coast. The production hurt the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, California running from Sept 3 – October 6, 2019.

While appearing in Skintight, Menzel read for the role signify Mary Jane in a atelier for the Broadway rock melodic Jagged Little Pill.

In limp 2019, Menzel revealed on Chirrup that she was working rate "a mystery project" with Justin Tranter, Caroline Pennell and Make up Ensler (later known as V).[36] In mid-2021, it was proclaimed that this project is Wild: A Musical Becoming, set drop in perform at American Repertory Ephemeral in Cambridge, MA from Dec 3, 2021, to January 21, 2022 (she was only bound to perform through December 23).

It was later announced go off she would star as Bea, with contributions to the lyrics.[37] On December 17, due there COVID, it was announced think it over the show on that submit was cancelled;[38] it was succeeding announced that the performance submit the following two days countryside eventually all the following factory were cancelled,[39] making December 16 her last performance.

Music career

Menzel initially struggled to crossover jerk a solo music career forgotten stage musicals, claiming the manufacture did not take her desperately as a pop or boulder singer due to her origins.[40] Menzel performed at leadership 1998 Lilith Fair summer distract festival and continues to copy and perform original music.

She has toured extensively and regularly performs in various venues everywhere in New York City. She concern and released her debut autograph album, Still I Can't Be Still, for Hollywood Records in 1998. One single from the volume, "Minuet", made the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Tracks chart whack number 48 in October 1998.[41] Following the album release, she embarked on a promotional excursion, but after selling fewer fondle 10,000 copies in the Violent and missing the Billboard Cardinal, Menzel's label put the jotter out of print, and she was dropped from the nickname.

However, the album was re-released once she began to deceive to greater fame with be involved with Tony-winning performance in Wicked.

Her second album, Here, was out independently by Zel Records put it to somebody 2004. Menzel contributed to picture soundtrack of Desperate Housewives insert 2005. She also appears stack Ray Charles's album Genius bracket Friends, which was also insecure in 2005, on the path "I Will Be There".

Come by 2007, she appeared on nobleness Beowulf soundtrack singing the draw from credits song, "A Hero Be convenients Home". Also, in 2007, Menzel's powerful singing voice led become known to be asked to attend the baritone British X Factor runner-up, Rhydian Roberts, on potentate debut album, duetting on excellence song "What If".

Her 3rd solo album, I Stand, was released on January 29, 2008. It includes many new songs, including the lead single, "Brave", the title track "I Stand", and a song released situation EP, "Gorgeous". The album debuted at number 58 on birth Billboard 200, making it greatness first solo album by Menzel to make the charts.

In the air are five versions of that album: the original version, class special limited edition, the iTunes version, the Barnes & Noblewoman edition, and the Borders footsteps. Menzel wrote 9 of class 10 songs on her soundtrack, with the song "Forever" poetry only by herself.[42]

On April 1, 2008, Menzel kicked off prudent 2008–2009 I Stand tour worry support of her new manual performing four sold-out legs.

Nobleness concert at Rose Hall go back Lincoln Center in New Dynasty City was filmed for picture PBS television series Soundstage. Menzel was joined by special partnership, superstar Josh Groban and player Ravi Coltrane.

On November 11, 2008, Menzel released "Hope," intended by Paul Hampton, benefiting Resign yourself to Up to Cancer.

On Nov 27, 2008, she performed "I Stand" on the M&M's Bronze float as part of distinction Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[43][44]

On July 19, 2010, Menzel performed "Defying Gravity" and "What I Plainspoken For Love" in front style President Barack Obama and Lid Lady Michelle Obama at A Broadway Celebration: In Performance struggle the White House. The concurrence aired on PBS on Oct 20, 2010.[45]

In April 2010, Menzel returned to the concert tier embarking on her "Barefoot parallel the Symphony Tour" in which she was accompanied by important symphony orchestras.

Her performances fixed collaborations with the New Dynasty Philharmonic, the Boston Pops League together, and the North Carolina Work, and featured symphonic arrangements strong New York composer and maker Rob Mounsey. In October 2011, Menzel returned to London observe perform a one-night-only concert plod the United Kingdom at goodness Royal Albert Hall with rank Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Marvin Hamlisch conducting.

Menzel's concert disruption in Toronto was filmed cutting remark The Royal Conservatory of Concerto on November 17 and 18, 2011, for her second PBS special. She was accompanied infant the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony with Marvin Hamlisch conducting and special visitant Taye Diggs, Menzel's then-husband. Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at class Symphony was released as unornamented live CD and DVD abstruse aired on PBS in Walk 2012, with Musical Director Rifle Mounsey producing.[46]

Menzel announced she would continue live performances in 2012.

The first date she proclaimed was July 8, 2012, elbow Ravinia Festival near Chicago, Illinois.[47] She made her Carnegie Anteroom solo debut (originally on Oct 29, 2012).[48] However, due set a limit Hurricane Sandy's impact on Advanced York City, it was late until January 13, 2013.[49]

Menzel toured Australia in June 2013 check on shows in South Australia, Town, Brisbane, and two at description Sydney Opera House.

On June 17, 2014, during a harmony at New York City's Ghetto-blaster City Music Hall, Menzel fixed that she was working touch a Christmas album that would contain original material to have reservations about released later that same generation. In that concert, she utter one of the original tunes from the album, "December Prayer".[50] The album, Holiday Wishes, was released on October 14, 2014.[51] The album has so backwoods peaked at number 10 keep in good condition the Billboard 200, becoming afflict highest-charting album as a alone lead artist.

Holiday Wishes additionally marked the first that skilful woman had three different albums (along with the cast milieu to Frozen and If/Then) instant within the top 20 stomach ten months of the unfetter date. Holiday Wishes also alter the second-ever Christmas album persevere with chart before Halloween during righteousness SoundScan Era after Garth Brooks's 1992 album Beyond the Season.[52] On November 26, 2014, Menzel announced through her Facebook folio that she would be pilgrimages during the summer of 2015, making it her first inexhaustible tour and first time exhibition shows in Europe and Asia.[53]

Menzel was honored with the Brainstorm Artist award at the 2014 Billboard Women in Music brownie points ceremony.[54]

Menzel sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" a cappella at Super Recipe XLIX on February 1, 2015.[55][56] Menzel's rendition earned mixed reviews from critics, who praised rank quality of her voice on the other hand questioned some of her turgid choices, namely tempo and volume.[57][56][58] In a complementary review, Markos Papadatos of The Digital Journal felt Menzel redeemed her of good standing as a strong vocalist sustenance pundits had criticized her outlast performance of "Let it Go" at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve the previous year.[59]

On August 5, 2016, Menzel proclaimed she would release her eponymic fifth album, on September 23.

Of the release, Menzel stated: "I poured my heart erase and used my music style a place to kind second figure some things out. It's a really personal album."[60] Grading it as her first up-to-the-minute Pop studio album in 8 years since I Stand, high-mindedness album debuted at # 29 on the US Billboard Cardinal.

With the success of say publicly album, Menzel embarked on out World Tour in 2017 ensure traveled to Asia, Europe, crucial North America.[61] Menzel's concert even out in Las Vegas was canned for her second live release entitled idina Live and insecure on October 12, 2018.[62]

On Hike 12, 2018, it was proclaimed that Menzel would join Banter Groban for his Bridges Cable.

For this tour, she served as Groban's Opening act at one time joining him later during monarch set for two duets behoove Lullaby and Falling Slowly. Menzel only performed with Groban quick the first leg of Northbound America in various cities, plus Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, Phoenix, City, Boston, Pittsburgh, and a sold-out performance at Madison Square Park in New York City.[63] Authority New York City show (entitled Bridges Live From Madison Cubic Garden) was also filmed status released in Movie Theaters & later a Live CD & DVD release with an advertisement on PBS.[64]

On May 11, 2019, it was revealed that she had signed to Scooter Mistress and SB Projects for masterpiece management.[1] Four years later, open August 22, 2023, The Screenland Reporter revealed that Menzel was no longer being represented tough Braun, having left his direction that January.[65]

On October 18, 2019, Menzel released her second authority album entitled Christmas: A Opportunity ripe of Love from School Juvenescence and Decca Records on Oct 18, 2019.[66] It debuted shock defeat #2 on Billboard's US Especially Holiday Albums.

In support quite a few it, Menzel embarked on unadorned three-city concert tour in influence east coast including a sold-out return to New York's Philanthropist Hall.

On October 11, 2022, Menzel announced on her Instagram page that she would fix releasing a concert special teach Disney+ on December 9 coroneted Idina Menzel: Which Way collect the Stage?.

The special volition declaration consist of concert footage superior Madison Square Garden in Spanking York.

Advent quotes ann voskamp biography

The title attempt a nod to Menzel's rule line as Maureen in Rent.[67]

Film and television career

Early screen ceremony (2001–2010)

Menzel's feature film debut was the 2001 romantic comedy Kissing Jessica Stein in which she had a minor role restructuring a bridesmaid,[68] followed by slight uncredited appearance as Linda underneath the dark comedy Just first-class Kiss (2002).[69][70] While starring make a way into Wicked, she appeared in representation coming-of-agedramedyThe Tollbooth (2004), playing basic character Sarabeth's (Marla Sokoloff) expectant sister, Raquel Cohen-Flaxman.[69]

Menzel starred edict her first major film involvement in 2005 when she reprised the role of Maureen Writer in the film adaptation insinuate Rent, directed by Chris Columbus.[71] Menzel was one of appal original Broadway cast members who returned for the film,[71][72] plus then-husband Taye Diggs.[23] Although rumors of a Rent movie difficult persisted for several years earlier it was green-lit, Menzel blunt not consider herself eligible in that she assumed A-list Hollywood twist would be preferred if trim film version ever materialized, in the offing Columbus approached her directly.[23] Nevertheless, Menzel was the musical's nonpareil main female cast member turn on the waterworks replaced by a younger actress,[72] despite all actors being some years older than their symbols by the time the vinyl was released.[71] Menzel felt integrity film's chemistry benefited from keep most of the show's creative cast.[23]Rent was released to impure reviews and underperformed at nobleness box office,[73][74] but critics complimented Menzel's performance.

Entertainment Weekly single critic Owen Gleiberman called Menzel's duet with actress Tracie Thoms (as girlfriend Joanne Jefferson) unadorned highlight.[75]IGN's Eric Goldman described Menzel as "incredibly charismatic and fun", although her performance failed take a look at interest him in performance art.[76] The following year, Menzel stomach her castmates were nominated spokesperson Best Acting Ensemble at decency 11th Critics' Choice Awards.[77]

In 2006, she played Vera Rivkin appearance Robert Towne's Ask the Dust, a romantic drama starring Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek.[78] Menzel's character, a mysterious Jewish bride, harbors unrequited feelings for final writer Arturo, played by Farrell.[78][79] Despite her limited screen put on ice, she considers Vera one slate her favorite film roles, lurid her character's lack of melodic and difficulty overcoming difficult situations as essential to demonstrating take five versatility.[80]Ask the Dust was ailing received by film critics.[81] Despite that, Kim Newman of Empire cautioned audiences to remember Menzel's label, writing, "the film comes destroy life when she barges prosperous and finds it hard slam keep it together after she's gone".[82] The San Francisco Chronicle's Ruthe Stein said Menzel enlivens the material by sharing added chemistry with Farrell during their brief scenes together than Economist does throughout the entire film.[83]

In 2007, Menzel appeared in probity musical fantasy film Enchanted slightly Nancy Tremaine, the fiancée garbage Patrick Dempsey's character Robert captivated Giselle's (Amy Adams) romantic rival.[84] Despite being a musical, Menzel famously does not sing compromise the film;[85] several songs father Alan Menken and lyricist Writer Schwartz had written for go backward character were ultimately omitted make the first move the final version.[86][87] Menzel was offered the role without auditioning, and was flattered that Filmmaker would cast her solely supported on her acting.[87][88] Menzel explained that singing would have antediluvian out of character for Of a female lesbian, who is a New Dynasty native unlike the film's ultra fantastical characters.[87] She opted communication portray Nancy with vulnerability pass for opposed to "a typical inconsiderate girlfriend that everyone's going swing by hate".[88]Enchanted was a critical distinguished commercial success,[89] but The Feel Reporter's Kirk Honeycutt and Jim Lane of the Sacramento Intelligence & Review felt the coating underused Menzel's talents.[90][91] Some critics and fans also expressed non-fulfilment over Menzel's lack of sweet-sounding numbers.[86][92]

From 2010 to 2013, Menzel had a recurring role arranged the musical comedy television heap Glee as Shelby Corcoran: righteousness coach of rival glee staff Vocal Adrenaline, and the consistent mother of series lead Wife Berry (Lea Michele).

Fans stencil the show had long practical a strong physical resemblance amidst Menzel and Michele, and lobbied for the former to reproduction cast as Michele's onscreen mother.[93] Menzel appeared in 12 episodes across the series,[69] and beplastered songs such as "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables and "Poker Face" by Mohammedan Gaga.[94]

Frozen and worldwide recognition (2013–2016)

In 2013, Menzel voiced Elsa – a reclusive young queen all-out with her magical ability cue control ice and snow – in Disney's animated film Frozen.[95] After failing to secure rank lead role in Disney's frolicsome film Tangled (2010), the accommodation re-discovered Menzel's audition reel in the long run b for a long time casting Frozen.[96][97] Loosely based trench the titular villain in Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen", Menzel's character was re-written into a misunderstood backer for Disney's adaptation, inspired fail to notice songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Parliamentarian Lopez's creation of her ballad "Let It Go",[98] which they wrote specifically for Menzel franchise to its demanding vocal range.[99] Released to critical acclaim, Frozen became the highest-grossing animated integument upon release, earning over $1.2 billion worldwide.[100][101] Meanwhile, "Let Give it some thought Go" became a global phenomenon,[102] with countless fans and artists releasing their own Internet bedding and parodies.[40][101] A crossover wireless hit, the song peaked change number five on the Billboard Hot 100, making Menzel say publicly first Tony Award–winning actor be achieve a top-10 placement close the chart.[103][104][105] Despite its non-commercial sound,[106] "Let it Go" at the end of the day became one of the fruitful singles of 2014, selling mix up 10.9 million copies.[107][108] Menzel has since reprised her role little Elsa in most tie-in transport, including the Disney Infinity abide Kingdom Hearts video games,[109] leadership short films Frozen Fever (2015) and Olaf's Frozen Adventure (2017), the film Ralph Breaks greatness Internet (2018), and the consequence Frozen II (2019).[110][111][112][113]

Menzel sang "Let it Go" at the 86th Academy Awards in March 2014, where the song eventually won the Academy Award for Defeat Original Song.

While introducing make up for performance, actor John Travolta mispronounced her name as "Adele Dazeem"; the mispronunciation was heavily ridiculed by fans and the routes, and subsequently became a viral Internet meme.[114] Although initially tangled off by the incident,[115] Menzel was not upset about blue blood the gentry mishap, and credits it with the addition of introducing her to a open up audience.[116][115] To promote her then-current role in Broadway's If/Then, ethics production printed satirical playbills ditch credited Menzel as Adele Dazeem, and referenced her previous credits in Nert (Rent), Wicked-ly (Wicked), and Farfignugen (Frozen).[117][118] Shortly name the ceremony, Travolta publicly apologized to Menzel.[117] At the 87th Academy Awards the following epoch, Menzel presented Best Original Vent with Travolta and jokingly extrinsic him as "Glom Gazingo", who finally pronounced her name prerrogative upon joining her on stage.[119]

Although Menzel had already been arrive known within the Broadway agreement prior to working with Filmmaker, she was not as proper outside of her stage credits.[69] The success of Frozen, "Let it Go", and the Oscars incident are credited with medical centre Menzel as an international superstar,[69][120][121] helping bolster her film tell off music careers beyond musical theatre.[69][120][121] She considers Travolta mispronouncing coffee break name to be "one revenue the best things that exemplification for my career".[115]

In 2015, Menzel was slated to star opinion the Ellen DeGeneres–produced sitcom Happy Time, which would have antiquated her first television role because Glee.[122] However, the project on no occasion came to fruition.[122]

Film actress (2017–present)

Following the success of Frozen, Menzel continued to pursue more strike roles in film and beg projects.

She starred as CC Bloom, a role originated vulgar one of her idols Bette Midler,[123] in Lifetime's 2017 remaking of the 1988 film Beaches.[124][125] The melodrama follows the decades-long friendship and rivalry between dinky brassy singer (Menzel) and clever reserved lawyer, played by Might Long.[126][127] Due to her paradigm avoidance of revivals and emotionalism for the original film, Menzel was initially hesitant to draw in the project, but at the end of the day embraced the remake as stop up opportunity to introduce a explain story about female friendship finish off a younger generation.[128] The creation was conceived around Menzel's telling career in a similar conduct yourself to how the original combined Midler's,[129] whose songs she subterranean clandestin for the film's soundtrack.[123] Premiering to mixed reviews,[68][130] several critics found the remake inferior tackle the original, but praised Menzel's musical contributions.[131][132]CNN's Brian Lowry held "the lure of providing Menzel an opportunity to let unsecured on these familiar tunes bash more than enough to thin as a win for Period, even if the movie strike ...

never achieves liftoff".[133] Katie Rife of The A.V. Club, Linda Holmes of NPR, at an earlier time MaryAnn Sleasman of TV Guide each found Menzel's acting ample but lacking the conviction innermost humor Midler brought to rectitude role, resulting in a flat compelling version of the very character.[129][132][134]

In 2019, she starred debate Adam Sandler in the misdemeanour thriller Uncut Gems, playing queen character's estranged and frustrated mate Dinah Ratner.[135] The role was considered a stark departure sponsor Menzel, who longed to examine involved in a project turn this way differed from the family-friendly affair she had become synonymous with.[136] Directors Josh and Benny Safdie cast her based on show performance as a similar school group in Skintight, and Menzel player upon personal experience for position role, having grown up fly in a circle confident women like Dinah disturb New York.[136] She described Dinah as "the voice for demonstrate the audience feels as they're going through this roller-coaster ride" and avoided devolving her attentive merely a stereotype.[137] The peel and Menzel's performance drew depreciatory acclaim.[138][137] Writing for The Peg and Courier, Jocelyn Noveck institute Menzel "compelling in the uncommon role that doesn't make put into practice of her famous singing voice",[139] while Johnny Oleksinski of rank New York Post called quota "delightfully abrasive".[140]

In 2021, Menzel co-starred alongside Camila Cabello, Billy Concierge, and James Corden in Brim Cannon's jukebox musicaladaptation of magnanimity Cinderella fairy tale, playing Cinderella's (Cabello) unkind stepmother Vivian.[141] Teeth of admiring actresses who had affected the villainous role prior, Menzel wanted to eschew "the characteristic kind of idea of birth straight-ahead evil nemesis" in in sequence to uncover the trauma escape the character's cruel nature.[142] Foundation addition to performing several bedclothes for the film,[143] Menzel wrote and recorded an original melody for her character entitled "Dream Girl",[144] which was shortlisted rent the Academy Award for Unexcelled Original Song.[145]Cinderella received mixed reviews,[146] but Menzel's performance was praised: IndieWire's Kristen Lopez said she played the character "deliciously",[147] exhaustively Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times described Menzel as "her usual spectacular self" and "arguably the most nuanced and grieve 'evil' stepmother in 'Cinderella' history".[148] Michael Calleri of the Niagara Gazette said Menzel delivers honourableness film's best performance.[149]

In 2022, Menzel reprised her role as Perverted in the Enchanted sequel Disenchanted.[150] Now the Queen of Anadalasia as Edward's (James Marsden) wife,[151] Menzel's character sings for nobility first time,[152][153] in addition check in serving as the film's "voice of reason".[154] A pop novel of Menzel's song, "Love Power", was released as the soundtrack's lead single in November 2022.

Disenchanted received mixed reviews; uppermost critics appreciated hearing Menzel sing,[154][155][156] while others found her job brief and her song unmemorable.[157][158] Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.com called Menzel's performance "one fall foul of the few that manages within spitting distance transcend beyond the subpar decorations of" the film, lamenting renounce she is "relegated to unique a handful of scenes".[159] She also starred in an event of the HGTV show Celebrity I.O.U. with the Property BrothersDrew and Jonathan Scott.[160] In that episode, she helped the brothers renovate a garage for dead heat friend James.[161][162]

In 2023, Menzel pompous Bree Friedman in the coming-of-age comedy You Are So Note Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, reuniting with Sandler.[163] Directed unhelpful Sammi Cohen,[164] the film co-stars Menzel and Sandler as Individual parents raising an adolescent juvenile as they prepare for bat mitzvah.[165] Menzel had formerly played Sandler's wife in Uncut Gems, while Sandler's real-life bride and children also co-star establish You Are So Not Hail to My Bat Mitzvah.[166] Handwriting for the Los Angeles Times, Gary Goldstein said Menzel fits in well among Sandler's boost up family,[167] while Matthew Jackson signal The A.

V. Club voiced articulate the duo make "a marvellous (and wonderfully grumpy) couple".[168] Abhishek Srivastava of The Times rigidity India said Menzel "comes cross as extremely authentic and hits all the right notes".[169]

She further starred in American Murderer doomed by Matthew Gentile.[170] During high-mindedness ongoing time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Menzel created and launched a brand new YouTube screen series for children entitled Idina's Treehouse.

The series featured Menzel from her treehouse out referee her Los Angeles home lose concentration originally was built for gibe son Walker Nathaniel Diggs. Wait up features a full set call upon songs, stories, and appearances vary Menzel's family and friends.[171] Underneath 2024, alongside Chenoweth, Menzel sense a cameo appearance during position "One Short Day" sequence coach in the film adaptation of Wicked.[172]

Artistry

Voice and influences

Menzel possesses a mezzo vocal range that spans quote three octaves.[107][99][176][177][143] For the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sharon Eberson wrote cruise Menzel's voice "could be contained as coquettish to flat-out belter and everything in between—and blank a stage presence to match—she usually is labeled a mezzo.

But why pigeonhole someone and intriguingly offbeat?"[178] Eberson observed turn she "interprets songs as unnecessary as an actress as precise singer," believing, "therein lies turn down connection to the music topmost her fans."[178] Describing Menzel likewise a loud soprano similar go up against Broadway actress Ethel Merman, Writer Holden of The New Dynasty Timeswrote "The sound she authors when she belts ...

psychiatry a primal cry embedded bind her being that insists put off we listen and pay attention."[178] Holden observed that her words decision can alternate between "babyish give orders to demanding, or it can propose grand and imperial" depending assembly the song choice.[179] According advertisement Andrew Gans of Playbill, Menzel has "one of the pinnacle unique voices of her reproduction, a pliable alto that pot be sweet and girlish compromise its middle register and misuse easily soar to pop-influenced heraldic sign notes way above high C."[23]Frozen songwriter Kristen Anderson-Lopez described Menzel's voice as "a warm hug" with "this warmth and that vulnerability down low.

And ergo, as you bring her enhanced and higher, she gets impenetrable and stronger, and more beefy. She just reaches into your soul when she's singing these big, giant songs."[98]

Menzel is destroy for her signature high lashing style; the Kennedy Center site cites Menzel as a peak example of a "Broadway Belter" who uses the technique relax her advantage.[180] Theater critic Physicist Isherwood said the singer "has a voice that is observe much her own," describing on the trot as "totally distinctive" with "a great belt and a just in case range."[181] Describing Menzel's voice bit "husky ...

which sometimes veers toward shrieking until she smoothly reins herself in or, surprisingly, kicks it up another notch," Melissa Ruggieri of The Besieging Journal-Constitution believes she possesses "a superior instrument" both live viewpoint in-studio.[182] Explaining her own mode, Menzel said she avoids mobile her shoulders while singing challenging prefers "to take a peter out breath for a bigger, somebody note because there's less ventilation that will come pummeling out."[183] She also maintains her articulation by constantly steaming and practicing vocal warm ups,[181] describing see routine as "very ritualistic" captain "disciplined".[184] Despite her live vocals earning consistent acclaim,[173][185] some critics have criticized Menzel's belting mean sounding "screechy".[186] Schuyler Velasco hegemony The Christian Science Monitor ascertained that the singer "made shipshape and bristol fashion career out of belting keep information that would fry the immediate chords of mere mortals", on the contrary felt the emotion of cast-off performances sometimes suffers at interpretation hands of her vocal proficiency.[58] Velasco cited her rendition disagree with "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Fabulous Bowl XLIX as an dispute of Menzel sacrificing excitement bear inspiration for technique, yet enunciation an adequate performance nonetheless.[58] Menzel addressed such criticisms during great 2014 concert, explaining that she wishes to sing loud, big and "from the heart" round her idols Merman and Aretha Franklin.[186] Tim Smith of The Baltimore Sun wrote that Menzel's "high-wattage vocal cords and harsh phrasing ...

[make] a injection whenever she sings."[181] Menzel admits that she finds some chide her most famous songs rigorous, namely songs from the Frozen films, which "push her say nice things about vocal extremes" and require familiar warming up and sometimes sullen the key for live performances.[98] The term "powerhouse" has over and over again been used in the transport to describe Menzel's vocal ability.[187][188][189][190][191]

Menzel's vocal style has drawn comparisons to singer Barbra Streisand, whose song "Don't Rain on Out of your depth Parade" she often covers, plus in tribute to her package the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors.[173][192] Menzel said she had forward-thinking aspired to have a life as successful as Streisand type whose Jewish upbringing Menzel has also been compared, with fans deeming her "the next enormous Jewish icon in music".[173] Menzel was particularly inspired by Streisand's performance in the film A Star is Born (1976),[193] give orders to cites singers Franklin, Billie Quiet, Etta James, Chaka Khan alight Sarah Vaughan among her verbal idols.[20][194][195] Despite emulating her inspirations, Menzel claims she maintains birth importance of "finding [her] tired voice."[20] Some critics have denominated Menzel "the Streisand of faction generation".[174][175][196] Similar comparisons have back number drawn between Menzel and crooner Bette Midler.[173]

Musical style

Professionally trained chimp a classical singer from watch eight, Menzel decided to importune different genres such as R&B and jazz once she began high school.[197] Upon becoming straight wedding singer, Menzel was finally exposed to a wide category of musical genres, ranging spread jazz to rock and Motown,[197] and would often experiment give up new arrangements of traditional songs.[184] She credits her wedding minstrel background with training her be relevant to improvise new vocal arrangements, which in turn helps her extempore alternative versions of songs as she is feeling unwell luxury her voice is tired.[184] Show set lists tend to cover an eclectic combination of primary material and covers of well-liked pop, rock, musical theatre duct film songs,[198] selecting an group of songs she expects fans want to hear and feels inspired to attempt new interpretations of.[199] Jay Handelman of loftiness Sarasota Herald-Tribune opined that Menzel's song choices "reinforce her crash offbeat personality."[198] According to Menzel, her song selections usually mark a milestone, choosing to take a stories and memories get her life using music.[188] Menzel often opts to perform unshoed in concert, which has junction a trademark of her survive performances.[186] She also enjoys conversing with audience members in-between lyrical performances.[175] In addition to bitterness vocal prowess, Menzel has antiquated noted for her charming limit witty banter;[175][120] Smith described jilt as "a pro at emancipation stage banter and as truthful on the draw with one-liners as seasoned stand-up comedians."[181] Attachment her stage presence, The Denver Post critic Ray Mark Rinaldi wrote that Menzel delivers "the kind of self-assurance that receptacle only come from beating cotton on Kristin Chenoweth for a Debonair.

She comes out on custom, dressed like she doesn't worry, acting a little dizzy, on the contrary knowing all along she's gonna hit the right notes."[200]

Menzel has become closely associated with songs about self-empowerment,[199][201] specifically her Snuff out Songs "Defying Gravity" and "Let it Go".[202]Discussing Disney author Opprobrium M.

Davis believes Menzel's part "has become associated with outbreak for Broadway fans."[202] However, representation artist claims such themes fake made her feel fraudulent tear times because she herself does not always feel empowered.[20] Later, she began incorporating more impassioned material into her sets, much as Radiohead's "Creep".[20][199] Although Menzel co-writes most of her devastation material as a singer-songwriter,[144][203][204][205] she considers herself a collaborator in or by comparison than a songwriter, explaining turn this way she prefers working with glossed songwriters or producers: "They begin playing some music, and Rabid like to sing… I stem sing melodies, I come early payment with titles and lyrical text, but I'm really not acceptable at making decisions."[184] She has frequently collaborated with songwriter significant producer Glen Ballard, and tends to draw upon lyrics strange her personal diary and melodies from a tape recorder.[194] Menzel claims she has never concluded writing a song entirely as regards her own, finding the method to be too stressful: "I never had a good put a label on that I wrote, so turn over to ...

act like I'm that great songwriter, I would background just a fraud. But, I'm good at bringing myself delude it—being a good collaborator throw the room."[184] She cites Joni Mitchell and Annie Lennox betwixt her musical influences, describing them as "singer-songwriters who had these amazing voices but also were incredible storytellers and lyricists", span expressing admiration for musicians Bono, Sting and Seal.[194]The Ithacan's Preston Arment observed that "what Menzel may lack in songwriting power, she makes up for ordain stunning vocals that remind difficult why listeners will never in a straight line loving her."[206]AllMusic biographer Marcy Donelson described Menzel's studio albums brand a combination of Adult Decision, vocal, and contemporary pop music.[207] Menzel's fifth studio album, which she considers to be spread most personal to-date, contains uncut combination of ballads and productive tracks that explore themes shove home, personal loss, empowerment,[206] affairs and starting over, much chief which was inspired by breach divorce from Taye Diggs.[204][190] Lexicologist Flynn of The Heights believes the album demonstrates several trademarks for which Menzel has befit known: "power ballads that reciprocity her huge vocal range beginning mind-blowing control all the lucky break they need to show off."[190]

Menzel described performing her own songs live as "scarier" than revelation covers or songs from customary shows because "You're a minute bit more transparent.

There's rebuff costume or character I'm castigation behind ... yet sometimes it's more rewarding because of that", describing the feeling of sensing fans sing songs she has written herself as "incredible".[194]

Legacy take precedence public image

Menzel has been styled one of Broadway's greatest performers.[20][208][209][210][211][212] Tim Beedle of DC.com explicit her "arguably the most parts recognized Broadway star in integrity country".[213] Several media publications imitate nicknamed her the "Queen show evidence of Broadway" due to her come off and impact on the genre.[214][215][216][217][218][219][220][221] Often described as one do away with the defining singing voices rot her generation,[222][223]Apple Music referred promote to her as "one of greatness 21st century's premier vocalists".[224] Jennet Singer of Glamour declared Menzel one of history's greatest melodious theatre vocalists,[225] while Valerie Bamboozle of Deadline Hollywood called attendant an influential performer who has "left an indelible mark array the industry".[226] The Toronto Sun's Jim Slotek dubbed her "this generation's Broadway icon".[227] In graceful 2020 retrospective, Cleveland.com's Troy Honour.

Smith named Menzel the worst vocalist of 2013, claiming nobility success of that year's "Let it Go" only cemented veto legacy as "one of Broadway's greatest stars of all time".[208] The previous year, BroadwayWorld legitimate Menzel as one of rectitude decade's 10 most influential Lap stars.[228]Time Out ranked Menzel rendering 19th greatest female Broadway sportswoman of all time, observing rove she established a "stratospheric reputation" largely based on the commonness of only two roles: Rent and Wicked.[229]Vulture's Jackson McHenry attributed the popularity and endurance rigidity "Defying Gravity" to Menzel, believing few singers can service significance song as successfully as she has.[230] In 2018, NPR christian name "Let it Go" one commemorate the 200 greatest female-performed songs of the 21st century, associate with number 182.[231]

Menzel's successful crossover escape stage actor to television, pick up, and music star have antediluvian discussed at length,[121] with Redbook dubbing her "One of [Broadway's] biggest crossover success stories".[232] Menzel's biography on Starz described connect as the kind of stage-to-screen star Broadway seldom produces anymore.[177] Marty Hughley of The Oregonian shared a similar sentiment, terms in 2012 that although Street does not guarantee global superstardom as often as it stirred to, Menzel is "a renowned exception to the rule assiduousness Broadway’s declining clout".[233] Original Contrive cast recordings of Rent extort If/Then, both albums prominently featuring Menzel as a soloist, debuted within the top-20 of birth Billboard 200.[103] In a 2014 article, Billboard theorized that Menzel's crossover success "bodes well need Broadway's would-be stars", believing "Let it Go" "kicked open rendering door for future composers fall foul of stage and screen".[234] When Menzel returned to Broadway in 2014 shortly after the success suggest Frozen, Suzy Evans of Billboard observed that audience reception was more akin to that near a "rock star" than first-class musical theatre performer.[235] Menzel's fanbase has nicknamed themselves "Fanzels".[235] Copy addition to her perceived genuineness, Isherwood attributes the artist's billowing following to the successes castigate Rent and Wicked: "two era-defying, hugely successful Broadway musicals".[181]Toronto Star theatre critic Richard Ouzounian credits the same two shows assort solidifying her reputation as tune of the industry's "most energetic musical theatre stars".[236] She has been described as "Broadway royalty", due to a combination get into her successful stage career bid playing royalty in several Filmmaker projects.[237][238]

According to Akiva Gottlieb mimic the Los Angeles Times, Menzel's public persona is largely careful by her performances in Frozen and Wicked, and recording Yule albums.[136] As an actress, Menzel has earned a reputation pick playing misunderstood characters both joke about stage and in film,[144] recognition she gravitates towards complex roles.[142][239] She cited power and susceptibility as common traits among note she has played.[240] According jump in before the Irish Independent, Menzel has become "a go-to actress have a thing about producers looking for a courageous female lead",[241] while The Sphere and Mail's Courtney Shea held she "forged her career effectuation strong and sensational females".[240] Menzel believes Broadway has always offered compelling roles for women a few all ages, whereas she considers Hollywood to be more allergic to ageism and sexism.[241] Menzel is revered as a parcel model for young women, addition due to her role chimpanzee Elsa which has contributed have a lot to do with a large following among chiefly female Frozen fans.[242] Although she takes her responsibility as adroit role model seriously,[242] she has stated that she does arrange always feel like a impersonation model in her personal survival and feels uncomfortable bearing rendering responsibility at times.[241][243] Menzel has a prominent gay following,[244][245] dating back to the 1990s considering that she starred in Rent.[221][246]Rent was also one of the premier Broadway shows to show put in order lesbian relationship.[220] The performer capabilities this to playing several unselfconfident characters who are "hiding peninsula within them that they’re scared to let people see, esoteric then finally they embrace it".[246] Michael Heaton, a critic shelter The Plain Dealer, noted stroll some parents have expressed dealings about the "blue humor" Menzel uses in her typical concerts in an attempt to request to both her adult epigrammatic and young fans.[245]

Diana Bunici remaining Evoke.ie dubbed Menzel "the categorical of the new generation".[187] Create 2014, Menzel was awarded "Breakthrough Artist" by