Real Name : Idina Kim Mentzel
Nick Name : Dee
Birth : 30 May 1971, Syosset, New York, USA
Height : 5' 4"
|
- Ask the Dust (2006) [Vera Rivkin] <5>
- Broadway on Broadway (2004) (TV) [Herself - Performer: "For Good" (Wicked)]
- Enchanted (2007) [Nancy Tremaine] <5>
- Enchanted 2 (2012) (rumored) [Nancy Tremaine]
- Just a Kiss (2002) (uncredited) [Linda]
- Kissing Jessica Stein (2001) [Bridesmaid] <34>
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2003) (TV) [Herself]
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2008) (TV) [Herself]
- No Day But Today: The Story of 'Rent' (2006) (V) [Herself]
- Rent (2005) [Maureen Johnson] <6>
- ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway (2007) [Herself]
- Starz on the Set: Rent (2006) (TV) [Herself]
- The 50th Annual Tony Awards (1996) (TV) [Herself - Performer & Nominee: Best Featured Actress in a Musical]
- The 51st Annual Tony Awards (1997) (TV) [Herself]
- The 58th Annual Tony Awards (2004) (TV) [Herself - Performer & Winner: Best Actress in a Musical]
- The 59th Annual Tony Awards (2005) (TV) [Herself - Presenter]
- The 61st Annual Tony Awards (2007) (TV) [Herself - Presenter: Best Original Score]
- The 62nd Annual Tony Awards (2008) (TV) [Herself - Performer]
- The 64th Annual Tony Awards (2010) (TV) [Herself - Presenter]
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2008) (TV) [Herself]
- The Royal Variety Performance 2006 (2006) (TV) [Performer] <28>
- The Tollbooth (2004) [Raquel Cohen-Flaxman] <4>
- Water (2004/I) [Jessy Turner]
- Wicked: The Road to Broadway (2004) (V) [Herself/Elphaba]
- "Blue Peter" (1958) {(2006-10-30)} [Herself]
- "Broadway: The American Musical" (2004) {Give My Regards to Broadway: 1893-1927 (#1.1)} (archive footage) [Maureen Johnson]
- "Broadway: The American Musical" (2004) {Putting It Together: 1980-Present (#1.6)} [Herself/Elphaba (in 'Wicked')]
- "Children in Need" (1980) {(2006-11-17)} [Herself]
- "Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (2003) {(2005-11-21)} [Herself]
- "Entertainment Tonight" (1981) {(2010-05-18)} [Herself]
- "Glee" (2009) {Dream On (#1.19)} [Shelby Corcoran] <15>
- "Glee" (2009) {Funk (#1.21)} [Shelby Corcoran] <14>
- "Glee" (2009) {Hell-O (#1.14)} [Shelby Corcoran] <14>
- "Glee" (2009) {Journey (#1.22)} [Shelby Corcoran] <15>
- "Glee" (2009) {Theatricality (#1.20)} [Shelby Corcoran] <13>
- "Great Performances" (1972) {'Chess' in Concert (#37.19)} [Florence]
- "Grounded for Life" (2001) {In My Room (#1.2)} (uncredited) [Girl at Rave]
- "Hercules" (1998) {Hercules and the Song of Circe (#1.25)} (voice) [Circe]
- "Kevin Hill" (2004) {Losing Isn't Everything (#1.22)} [Francine Prescott]
- "Kevin Hill" (2004) {Sacrificial Lambs (#1.21)} [Francine Prescott]
- "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) {Dakota Fanning/Rocco DiSpirito/Wicked (#11.47)} [Elphaba] <4>
- "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (1989) {(2005-10-13)} [Herself]
- "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (1989) {(2008-06-17)} [Herself]
- "Private Practice" (2007) {Do the Right Thing (#2.20)} [Lisa King] <10>
- "Private Practice" (2007) {What You Do for Love (#2.21)} [Lisa King] <10>
- "Rescue Me" (2004) {Sanctuary (#1.13)} [Carol]
- "Richard & Judy" (2001) {(2006-08-24)} [Herself]
- "Soundstage" (2003) {Idina Menzel (#7.2)} [Herself]
- "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (2005) {(#2.103)} [Herself]
- "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (2005) {(2008-08-14)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(1996-06-21)} [Herself]
- "The View" (1997) {(2004-10-29)} [Herself]
- "The View" (1997) {(2005-11-25)} [Herself]
- "The View" (1997) {(2008-02-13)} [Herself]
- "Today" (1952) {(2003-11-12)} [Herself]
- "Today" (1952) {(2005-08-04)} [Herself]
- "Today" (1952) {(2005-11-16)} [Herself]
|
- 'Taye Diggs' (qv) (11 January 2003 - present); 1 child
|
- "The New York Times" (USA), 4 July 2008, Vol. 157, Iss. 54,361, pg. E2, by: Patricia Cohen, "Springtime for a New Musical"
- "The New York Times" (USA), 27 June 2008, Vol. 157, Iss. 54,354, pg. E5, by: Stephen Holden, "Wicked Witch Bounces in Like a Bohemian Big Sister"
- "New York Times" (USA), 10 January 2005, pg. B1,B3, by: Jesse McKinley, "For a Fallen Witch, an Uplifting Farewell"
|
- "Time Out New York" (USA), 3 June 2004, Iss. 543
|
- Album, "Still I Can't be Still," Hollywood/PolyGram Records 162 088, 1998.
- Starred as Maureen Johnson in the original Broadway production of "Rent" (1996), where she met her spouse, 'Taye Diggs' (qv), who played the role of Benny.
- Starred in an off-Broadway production of "The Wild Party" (by Andrew Lippa) with boyfriend, 'Taye Diggs' (qv). (2002)
- Was nominated for a Tony in 1996 for her portrayal of Maureen in 'Jonathan Larson' (qv)'s "Rent".
- (2000): Played Amneris in "Aida" musical by 'Elton John' (qv), 'Tim Rice (I)' (qv), 'Robert Falls (II)' (qv), 'David Henry Hwang' (qv) and 'Linda Woolverton' (qv) (Palace Theatre, New York City, New York, USA).
- Appeared in 'Eve Ensler' (qv)'s "The Vagina Monologues" Off-Broadway
- Featured as one of the many Fannys in the Actor's Fund Benefit Concert of "Funny Girl". She sang the song "Cornet Man."
- Starring on Broadway as Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) in "Wicked", a new musical by 'Stephen Schwartz (I)' (qv).
- (October 2003) Starring in the new Broadway musical, "Wicked", as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
- Won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of the green girl, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) in the Broadway musical Wicked
- (2005, October-November) Appeared in the Michael John LaChiusa play See What I Wanna See at the Public Theater's Anspacher space, New York, New York.
- Sings a song entitled "A Hero Comes Home" written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri during the end credits of the film "Beowulf".
- Album, "I Stand," Warner Bros. Records 44423, 2008.
- On February 10, 2004, released a six-track album entitled "Here" on Zel Records.
|
- (November 2003) Currently starring in "Wicked" at the Gershwin Theater in New York City.
- (January 2004) Currently starring as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West on Broadway in "Wicked"!
- (June 2004) Won Tony award for Best Leading Actress in A Musical for portraying Elphaba in Wicked.
- (July 2004) Filming _Ask the Dust (2006)_ (qv) with 'Colin Farrell' and 'Salma Hayek' (qv) in South Africa.
- (January 2005) Still starring in "Wicked"; her run there ending on January 9 (to be taken over by 'Shoshana Bean' (qv)), and will then be filming "Rent", the new movie set to release at the end of 2005.
- (March 2005) Filming the movie _Rent (2005)_ (qv).
- (August 2005) Performing summer concerts in and around the New England area.
- (September 2005) In rehearsals for "See What I Wanna See", a musical by 'Michael John LaChiusa' (qv), with performances starting October 11th, 2005 and running through November 20th, 2005.
- (October 2005) Starring in 'Michael John LaChiusa' (qv)'s "See What I Wanna See", a new musical Off-Broadway in New York City. The show runs through November 20th.
- (December 2005) Planning her new album after signing with Warner Records earlier in the year. She is currently writing and recording songs for the album.
- (January 2006) Getting ready to begin filming Disney's _Enchanted (2007)_ (qv), where she will play 'Patrick Dempsey (I)' (qv)'s girlfriend (the "other woman" role). The movie will also star 'Amy Adams (III)' (qv), 'Susan Sarandon' (qv) and 'James Marsden (I)' (qv).
- (June 2006) Will play her Tony Award-winning role of Elphaba in a London production of "Wicked."
- (December 2006) On the 30th, final performance as Elphaba in the London production of "Wicked"
- (January 2007) Currently working on her third album (Warner Bros.)
- (July 2007) Completed album and is preparing for the launch later this year.
- (June 2007) On 5th releases her single version of Defying Gravity to America and UK. This is a preview of her upcoming album.
- (April 2008) Touring in the U.S to promote her new album, "I Stand."
- (July 2008) Performing at Vassar Powerhouse Theater in a new musical, "Nero." Idina plays the part of Poppea. The show runs July 11 - 13, 2008.
- (March 2009) Continuing her U.S. tour on the East coast.
- (March 2010) According to her website Idinamenzel.com she has announced 2010 tour dates. Also has shot episodes for _"Glee" (2009)_ (qv).
|
|
|
- "It's hard to absorb and to allow all that attention and accolades for Rent because the rest of the country doesn't know who we are. Once I walk out of the door of Rent, and I'm on the subway, it doesn't matter. It's an exaggerated sense of fame." - on the international 'Rent' craze.
- Things happen for a reason, and in their own time.
- I feel like I was born to do this... I started working professionally as soon as I could, doing weddings and things like that in high school, while everyone else was having keg parties. I just felt destined to do it and really committed and driven; it was something that just felt right all my life.
- I've been singing since I was born. It's something I do everywhere I go. In the shower, walking down the street. I don't need any impetus to do it. I just sing.
- "Everyone got really close, but Taye and I especially became close friends. And then, one night, we went to the movies, and I think we saw _Twister (1996)_ (qv), and he held my hand. And there it was!" - On her courtship with her husband, 'Taye Diggs' (qv), who she met through the musical "Rent".
- Honestly, I remember most the look on my husband's face. The other thing I remember is when they were reading off the [nominees'] names and they read Donna [Murphy]'s name, I was smiling, and he leaned over into my ear and he said, 'If they don't read your name, the smile you have on your face now is perfect for when the camera hits you. Just keep that smile, it looks very good.' And I looked at him and I was like, 'Like this?' and he was like, 'Yeah, just keep that if you don't win.' - When asked what she remembers the most from the night she won the Tony.
|
- Has a single on soundtrack of _The Other Sister (1999)_ (qv), "Follow If You Lead".
- Met husband 'Taye Diggs' (qv) when both were starring in the original Broadway production of Rent. They later co-starred in The Wild Party (Off-Broadway) and Wicked (Broadway).
- In the 5th grade, she played Dorothy in her school's production of "The Wizard of Oz."
- Name is pronounced "Ih-DEE-nah men-ZELL."
- Graduate of Syosset High School, Syosset, New York.
- BFA in Drama - New York University, Tisch School of the Arts (1993)
- Cracked a rib as a result of a fall through a trap door during a matinée show in "Wicked" on 8 January 2005, and could not perform the next day, what was to be her last performance. Her standby 'Shoshana Bean' (qv) covered for her, but Idina made a special out-of-costume appearance and did her final song to a standing ovation before being bid farewell at the curtain call (along with 'Joey McIntyre' (qv) who was also leaving that day).
- She was named after her great grandmother, Ida, and her name is Hebrew for "gentle".
- Won Broadway's 2004 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for her role as Elphaba in "Wicked." She had previously been nominated as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) in 1996 for her portrayal of Maureen in "Rent."
- Parents are Stuart and Helene Mentzel (divorced)
- Sings a duet, entitled "I Will Be There", with the late 'Ray Charles (I)' (qv) on the album "Genius and Friends" which was released September 20th, 2005.
- Her last name was originally spelled "Mentzel" but she decided to take the T out because everyone pronounced it incorrectly.
- Her Rent character, Maureen, is based on Musetta from La Boheme. Two references are made to this. Roger's attempts to write a song resemble "Musetta's Waltz," which Mark directly points out. Musett'a Waltz was also the basis for "The Tango Maureen."
- Oldest nephew is named Avery. He was born in 2000.
- Sister, Cara, is three years younger.
- Idina and her husband, 'Taye Diggs' (qv), are expecting their first child, due later this year [March 31, 2009].
- Idina gave birth to her first child with husband 'Taye Diggs' (qv), a boy named Walker Nathaniel Diggs, on September 3, 2009.
- Returned to work four months after giving birth to her son Walker in order to begin filming _"Glee" (2009)_ (qv).
|
