Idina Menzel is celebrating her birthday today! In honor of the special occasion, let's take a look at the Broadway legend's early life, success, net worth, and reaction to the upcoming "Wicked" movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Born Idina Kim Menzel on May 30, 1971, the singer is now 52 years old! The musician is a New York City native since she was born in Manhattan.
She later moved to New Jersey before going back to the Big Apple to settle on Long Island. The singer is of Jewish descent as her grandparents emigrated from Ukranian Haisyn.
Menzel started working at a very young age to make ends meet as her parents divorced when she was only 15 years old.
At the time, the Broadway actor worked as a singer at different occasions like bar/bat mitzvah. She juggled her work life with education as she later studied at the prestigious New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where she got a BFA in drama.
Some of the most popular artists that studied at the same university were Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, and many more.
Idina Menzel Career + Net Worth 2023
Idina Menzel's career on Broadway began in 1995, two years after she graduated from NYU. She landed the role of Maureen Johnson in one of the most famous musicals in the city, "Rent."
Despite it being her first professional job in the theatre industry, the singer immediately received positive reviews and even got a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
After performing the role for the last time in 1997, it took her a while again to have the same success as her debut.
Luckily for her, she got the role of Elphaba on the Broadway musical "Wicked" together with Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda the good witch.
Following this, the musician's success skyrocketed as the show became very popular leading her to earn a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.
Menzel later starred in several films and television shows like "Glee," "Kissing Jessica Stein," "The Trollbooth," and many more. She also became the voice of Elsa in all "Frozen" franchises.
Today, the singer/actress' net worth is estimated to be a whopping $16 million thanks to her career in Broadway, acting, and singing careers.
Idina Menzel Reacts to 'Wicked' Movie
Since Cynthia Erivo will be playing the role of Elphaba, which was once played by Menzel, in the upcoming screen adaptation of "Wicked," many fans were curious to know the Broadway star's reaction.
Speaking with Broadway.com's editor-in-chief Paul Wontorek last year, Menzel expressed her true feelings over the new cast and movie, saying she's excited to see Erivo and Ariana Grande, and she offered her help whenever they needed her.
However, she's also "sad" because she isn't the one who would be playing the role.
"And yes, I'm a little sad that I'm just older and can't play the role, you know? And that's the honest truth," she said. (via People Magazine)
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