History Creator / IdinaMenzel

[[caption-width-right:300:[[MemeticMutation Not to be confused with]] [[Creator/JohnTravolta Adele Dazeem.]]]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/indina_menzel.jpg]]

* AscendedMeme:
** On ''Glee'' it was long noted that Lea Michele (Rachel) resembled her. It eventually was revealed that Shelby (Idina's character) was Rachel's biological mother.
** The infamous "Adele Dazeem" gaffe made by Creator/JohnTravolta at the 2014 Oscars when he misread Idina's name was added to the playbills for her new play ''Theatre/IfThen'', listing her as the star of ''[[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 Farfignugen]]'' and ''[[{{Theatre/Rent}} Nert]]''. Has also become a RunningGag to claim it was "Adele Dazeem" singing when Idina doesn't hit every note in a song.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' (2013) as [[Characters/FrozenElsa Elsa]] (voice):

[[caption-width-right:350:[[MemeticMutation Not to be confused with]] [[Creator/JohnTravolta Adele Dazeem.]]]]

After ''Wicked'', she began her screen acting career; she played Nancy in ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'' and played Shelby Corcoran, who went on to be a recurring character, on ''Series/{{Glee}}''. However, her best-known screen role is Queen Elsa of Arendelle in Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', which she reprised in ''WesternAnimation/FrozenFever'', ''WesternAnimation/OlafsFrozenAdventure'', and ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII''.

** In ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', a 42-year-old Menzel voices 21-year-old Elsa, with a nine year age gap between her and her onscreen sister - Creator/KristenBell - who was 33 years old when voicing 18-year-old Anna.

After ''Wicked'', she began her screen acting career; she played Nancy in ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'' and played Shelby Corcoran, who went on to be a recurring character, on ''Series/{{Glee}}''. However, her best-known screen role is Queen Elsa of Arendelle in Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', which she reprised in ''WesternAnimation/FrozenFever'' and ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII''.

After ''Wicked'', she began her screen acting career; she played Nancy in ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'' and played Shelby Corcoran, who went on to be a recurring character, on ''Series/{{Glee}}''. However, her best-known screen role is Queen Elsa of Arendelle in Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen}}'', which she reprised in ''WesternAnimation/FrozenFever'' and ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII''.

Idina Kim Menzel (born Idina Kim Mentzel, May 30, 1971) is a Broadway icon born in New York City, New York. Her breakout role came in the form of Maureen in ''{{Theatre/Rent}}'', which earned her a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. (She went on to reprise that role in the movie adaptation.) Later, she ''won'' a Tony for playing the main character of ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}'', Elphaba, opposite Creator/KristinChenoweth's Glinda. She was nominated for a Tony for a third time for playing the main character of ''Theatre/IfThen''.

Had a recurring role in ''Series/{{Glee}}'' as Shelby Corcoran and is currently best known as the voice of Queen Elsa of Arendelle in Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''Franchise/{{Frozen}}'', songs included. She was formerly married to ''RENT'' costar Creator/TayeDiggs, with whom she has a son; they divorced in December 2014. She has been married since 2017 to Aaron Lohr, whom she costarred with in the 2005 film adaptation of ''RENT'' as well as an Off-Broadway production of ''See What I Wanna See''.

* ActorInspiredElement: As is widely documented, Elsa was written to be a villain. "Let It Go" was her VillainSong, after she embraced a ThenLetMeBeEvil attitude. When Idina recorded the song, she sang it with such a yearning vulnerability that the directors were compelled to change Elsa to a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds - who never does anything wrong.

** She reprises her role as Maureen in the film version of ''{{Theatre/Rent}}'' - a full ten years after the show's heyday.
** She starred in ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'' at age 33, playing Elphaba as a college freshman in the first act.

* InkSuitActor: Her guest spot as Circe on ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries''. Obviously also as Nancy in the animated portion of ''{{Film/Enchanted}}''. To a lesser extent, the shape of Elsa's eyes and mouth and the way her mouth forms words being based on Menzel's natural speaking voice.

* LargeHam: In terms of her singing, her most beloved songs ("Defying Gravity", "Let It Go," and "Into the Unknown") includes moments where she just belts it out.
* RomanceOnTheSet: She met her ex-husband Taye Diggs on the set of ''Rent''. They also starred together in ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}'' and ''The Wild Party''.
* SequelGap: Her 2014 album "Holiday Wishes" was released six years after her previous one.
* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Her role as Rachel's mother on ''Series/{{Glee}}'' was mainly because she resembled Creator/LeaMichele so much.

* ThoseTwoActors: With Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, Creator/LeaMichele, Creator/JonathanGroff, Creator/KristinChenoweth, Kerry Ellis.

** In ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', a 42-year-old Menzel voices 21-year-old Elsa, with a nine year age gap between her and her onscreen sister - Kristen Bell - who was 33 years old when voicing 18-year-old Anna.

* StarMakingRole: ''Rent'' gave her a following, ''Wicked'' pushed her into the public spotlight, and ''Frozen'' made her a cultural phenomenon. She even commented on the latter when she was told that songs in musicals just didn't get radio airplay anymore, and now "Let It Go" is a radio hit that includes "frozen fractals" in the lyrics, all thanks to playing Elsa. It's especially impressive because it was Menzel's own in-movie version of the song that hit it big, not the over-the-credits version by Music/DemiLovato. Usually with Disney hits it's the pop-music cover version at the end of the movie (see WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast, WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}, and WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}) that would get radio airplay.

* InkSuitActor: Her guest spot as Circe on ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries''. Obviously also as Nancy in the animated portion of ''{{Film/Enchanted}}''. To a less extent, the shape of Elsa's eyes and mouth and the way her mouth forms words being based on Menzel's natural speaking voice.

Idina Kim Menzel (born Idina Kim Mentzel, May 30, 1971 in New York City, New York) is a Broadway icon. Her breakout role came in the form of Maureen in ''{{Theatre/Rent}}'', which earned her a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. (She went on to reprise that role in the movie adaptation.) Later, she ''won'' a Tony for playing the main character of ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}'', Elphaba, opposite Creator/KristinChenoweth's Glinda. She was nominated for a Tony for a third time for playing the main character of ''Theatre/IfThen''.

* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Her role as Rachel's mother on ''Series/{{Glee}}'' was mainly because she resembled Rachel's actor, Creator/LeaMichele, so much.

* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Her role as Rachel's mother on ''Series/{{Glee}}'' was mainly because she resembled Rachel's actress, Creator/LeaMichele, so much.

* ''Theatre/{{Aida}}'' (2001 Broadway) as Amneris

** Nancy Tremaine in ''{{Film/Enchanted}}'' doesn't sing at all[[note]]She had a song early in production but it was cut[[/note]]. She said she felt flattered to be hired only for her acting talents.

* PimpedOutDress: In ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'', [[spoiler:Nancy Tremaine wears a FairytaleWeddingDress, complete with GiantPoofySleeves and a {{Gold| Makes Everything Shiny}} [[CoolCrown tiara]], when she marries Edward]].
** It may have been a voiceover for Menzel, but Elsa wears a couple in ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', a blue and black one for her coronation, and then an ice-themed slinky dress made through GorgeousGarmentGeneration. ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII'' adds even more wear for her, including her gorgeous final white dress.
** Even in ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}'', Elphaba's outfit is supposed to look like rags, but it's done by giving the dress loads and loads of details.

* TypeCasting: Not fully formed yet, and her Broadway record might fight it off, but two of Menzel's three most popular characters, Elphaba and Elsa, were awkward and isolated young girls with younger siblings, with some type of hard to control magical power, who sings a catchy, uplifting IAmBecomingSong that can boil down to "[[IAmWhatIAm I am who I am,]] I don't care what everyone else thinks," but who slowly defrost as the story goes on. If she has a similar role where the character's name is "El... a", then she will have fallen into this.

* IAmBecomingSong: [[Theatre/{{Wicked}} "Defying]] [[Music/DefyingGravity Gravity"]]. [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 "Let It Go"]]. She belted them both out of the park.

Idina Kim Menzel (born Idina Kim Mentzel, May 30, 1971) is a Broadway icon. Her breakout role came in the form of Maureen in ''{{Theatre/Rent}}'', which earned her a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. (She went on to reprise that role in the movie adaptation.) Later, she ''won'' a Tony for playing the main character of ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}'', Elphaba, opposite Creator/KristinChenoweth's Glinda. She was nominated for a Tony for a third time for playing the main character of ''Theatre/IfThen''.

* DawsonCasting:
** In ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', a 42-year-old Menzel voices 21-year-old Elsa, with a nine year age gap between her and her onscreen sister - Kristen Bell - who was 33 years old when voicing 18-year-old Anna.
** She reprises her role as Maureen in the film version of ''{{Theatre/Rent}}'' - a full ten years after the show's heyday.

* IronyAsSheIsCast:
** For a talented singer, she has no songs of any sort in ''Film/{{Enchanted}}''. She actually had a song in production, but it was cut before the final release.
** Idina is Jewish, so ''WesternAnimation/OlafsFrozenAdventure'' becomes this for her and Creator/JoshGad since Elsa and Anna are shown celebrating Arendelle's first Christmas since Elsa's coronation. Elsewhere, she's put out two Christmas albums, ''Holiday Wishes'' in 2014 and ''Christmas: A Season of Love'' in 2019.

* RomanceOnTheSet: She met her ex-husband Taye Diggs on the set of ''Rent''. They also starred together in ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}'' and ''The Wild Party''.
* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Her role as Rachel's mother on ''Series/{{Glee}}'' was mainly because she resembled Rachel's actress, Creator/LeaMichele, so much.
* SequelGap: Her 2014 album "Holiday Wishes" was released six years after her previous one.
* StarMakingRole: ''Rent'' gave her a following, ''Wicked'' pushed her into the public spotlight, and ''Frozen'' made her a cultural phenomenon. She even commented on the latter when she was told that songs in musicals just didn't get radio airplay anymore, and now "Let It Go" is a radio hit that includes "frozen fractals" in the lyrics, all thanks to playing Elsa.
* ThoseTwoActors: With Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, Creator/LeaMichele, Creator/JonathanGroff, Creator/KristinChenoweth, Kerry Ellis.
* TypeCasting: Not fully formed yet, and her Broadway record might fight it off, but two of Menzel's three most popular characters, Elphaba and Elsa, were awkward and isolated young girls with younger siblings, with some type of hard to control magical power, who sings a catchy, uplifting IAmBecomingSong that can boil down to "[[IAmWhatIAm I am who I am,]] I don't care what everyone else thinks," but who slowly defrost as the story goes on. If she has a similar role where the character's name is "El... a", then she will have fallen into this.

!!Provides examples of:
* AccidentalMisnaming: Infamously [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardsCeremonies at the 2014 Oscars]]. Creator/JohnTravolta mistakenly stumbled announcing her name and said something that sounded like "Adele Dazeem". Idina said it bothered her... for about eight seconds, and then she realized she had to just get out there and perform. At the next year's ceremony, she got her revenge by calling Travolta, "Galom Gazingo".

* AloofDarkHairedGirl: Idina is dark-haired in real life. Combined with her mezzo-soprano voice, this easily translates the trope's personality into Elsa.

* BigApplesauce: Was born and raised in Queens, though doesn't have much of an accent. Years of musical theater will do that to ya.
* BilingualBackfire: She was on the opposite end of this. For one tour, she learned to sing "Let It Go" in various foreign languages. She then discovered that some of the regions she performed in only knew the song in English.

* DyeHard: Naturally brunette, but was blonde in 2015.
* EveryoneLovesBlondes: She alluded to the trope (despite being brunette) when talking about voicing Elsa, saying about how it was fun to play a blonde (Elsa can be considered to have platinum blonde hair). She became blonde for a period in 2015.
* FriendToAllChildren: As expected, she's quite popular amongst her son's peers for being the voice of Elsa.
* HeadTurningBeauty: Her portrayal of Circe.

* InsistentTerminology: The below exchange should sum it up.
--> '''Fan:''' How does it feel to voice a Disney Princess?
--> '''Idina:''' Queen, darling. Queen.

* OlderThanTheyLook: Is actually in her forties but looks more like she's in her late twenties.

** She herself wore two different dresses to the 2014 Oscars. She appeared on the red carpet in [[http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/201422/rs_634x1024-140302161542-634.idina-menzel.cm.3214.jpg a green dress with lots of folds and ruching]], and when she performed "Let It Go", she wore [[http://rslifestylers.com/realsimple/lifestyler/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/idina_menzel_performing_oscars.jpg a cream dress with several layers of the tule skirt and flowery brocade]].
** Her dress for the 2015 Oscars (where she got a jab at Travolta and he got her name right) was more on the SimpleYetOpulent end, with a red satin top and a black skirt with several gauze layers.
* PrettyInMink: For a photo shoot in 2013 she wore [[http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/11/26/article-2513887-195837FE00000578-786_634x841.jpg a blue faux fur wrap]], and for a 2014 holiday concert at Bloomingdale's, she wore [[https://twitter.com/LiveNationKC/status/537369384311091202/photo/1 a black fur jacket]].

* ShipperOnDeck: Reportedly believed Elphaba and Glinda would have become a couple under different circumstances.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Her last name is actually 'Mentzel' but she dropped the 'T' because that's how people in New York pronounced it anyway. The rest of her family keeps the 't' in their names.

* WardrobeMalfunction: Her breasts nearly became exposed during a June 2014 concert at Radio City Music Hall. She just took it in stride, and even joked about it.
-->(while readjusting her outfit) [[Theatre/{{Rent}} This diva needs her stage! These divas need their stage!]]...Well, [[PrecisionFStrike fuck]] it, they're real!
* WondrousLadiesRoom: She's admitted to using the bathrooms in her dressing room to warm up, because the acoustics are best suited for it.

** The infamous "Adele Dazeem" gaffe made by Creator/JohnTravolta at the 2014 Oscars when he misread Idina's name was added to the playbills for her new play ''Theatre/IfThen'', listing her as the star of ''[[{{Disney/Frozen}} Farfignugen]]'' and ''[[{{Theatre/Rent}} Nert]]''. Has also become a RunningGag to claim it was "Adele Dazeem" singing when Idina doesn't hit every note in a song.

* IAmBecomingSong: [[Theatre/{{Wicked}} "Defying]] [[Music/DefyingGravity Gravity"]]. [[Disney/{{Frozen}} "Let It Go"]]. She belted them both out of the park.
* InkSuitActor: Her guest spot as Circe on the ''{{Disney/Hercules}}'' TV series. Obviously also as Nancy in the animated portion of ''{{Film/Enchanted}}''. To a less extent, the shape of Elsa's eyes and mouth and the way her mouth forms words being based on Menzel's natural speaking voice.

** Idina is Jewish, so ''Disney/OlafsFrozenAdventure'' becomes this for her and Creator/JoshGad since Elsa and Anna are shown celebrating Arendelle's first Christmas since Elsa's coronation. Elsewhere, she's put out two Christmas albums, ''Holiday Wishes'' in 2014 and ''Christmas: A Season of Love'' in 2019.
* UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}}: Is Jewish herself. Her family is originally from Russia.

** It may have been a voiceover for Menzel, but Elsa wears a couple in ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'', a blue and black one for her coronation, and then an ice-themed slinky dress made through GorgeousGarmentGeneration. ''Disney/FrozenII'' adds even more wear for her, including her gorgeous final white dress.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS[=/=]ItsPronouncedTroPay: Her last name is actually 'Mentzel' but she dropped the 'T' because that's how people in New York pronounced it anyway. The rest of her family keeps the 't' in their names.