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Idina as Nancy Tremaine in the movie
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Date of Birth
30 May 1971, Syosset, New York, USA
Birth Name
Idina Kim Mentzel
Nickname
Dee
Height
5' 4" (1.63 m)
Spouse
Taye Diggs (11 January 2003 - present)
Trade Mark
Her voice
Trivia
Has a single on soundtrack of The Other Sister (1999), "Follow If You Lead".
Met husband Taye Diggs 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 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 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 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, are expecting their first child, due later this year [March 31, 2009].
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