Idina Menzel

[Deleted]

Starting a thread for someone who is getting *huge*.

She couldn't really be a bigger deal in the musical world, and her London Salary reflects that; to play the Elphaba part in West End she is reportedly getting 35,000 thousand pounds a week (so, 50,000-ish dollars, or that area) and paid accomodation.

I think she's wonderfully talented and ridiculously lovely to look at, I love her solo cd work and I love the way she now has enough sway to help stuff like 'See what I wanna see' sell tickets.

She's such a big deal that broadway boards have actually turned against her to some degree, in that delight in the new, unknown thing way. She seems pretty divisive as well. Some hate her voice and I've read complaints about her looks/performance in Rent, though I really enjoyed her.

So I'm figuring she's a big enough deal to deserve her own thread.

[Deleted]

I think her and Taye are adorable, and have only recently noticed her striking resemblance to annoying ass Nelly Furtado.

[MandySpark]

I only know her work from the "Wicked" soundtrack. I've never seen her perform or heard any of her other music, but something about her voice just grabs me. It's so powerful. I keep meaning to download songs or pick up her CDs but I'm not sure where to start. Any suggestions?

[Deleted]

I'd go with songs, recommendation wise, rather then albums; Heart on my sleeve is a favourite of mine (search Youtube for 'Idina' and 'Heart on my sleeve' for a video performance) You'd be Suprised I also love, It only hurts when I breathe is a good one, and about a break-up with Taye, apparently. Other ones I like include: Penny, Larissa's Lagoon, which is drawly and growly and interesting. Damsel in Distress and Once upon a Time. She writes her own stuff and I don't think she's brilliant, lyrics wise, but she writes very honestly and with great vulnerability.

Her Music theatre stuff:
Anything form See What I Wanna See. If you could get your hands on Kesa's song, then do. It's amazing, sexy and spooky. 'Take me or Leave me' From Rent is a fantastic belty arguement song that I love. If you can get your hands on anything from 'Summer of '42' then you can here a softer lighter and lovely side to her voice. I wish she sang like that more.

Gosh, I had no idea how much of her stuff I love until I made this list.

[gingerdangerous]

I think Idina Menzel must be one of the least photogenic celebrities out there. I'm SO sure that if I saw her in real life, she'd knock me out, but in pictures, bleh. In terms of talent, love love her! There is a SLIGHT chance I might get to see her in Wicked at the west end this summer... it would be amazing, I'm sure.

[neeley]

I love her. I'm not a huge fan of her first CD (although 'Heart on my Sleeve' is absolutely gorgeous), but I adore Here and the work she's done on stage (Rent, The Wild Party, Wicked, See What I Wanna See, etc.). I'm so glad to see that her career is going well (although I remain insanely jealous of her for the fact that she's married to Taye Diggs).

[Deleted]

elin said:

I think her and Taye are adorable, and have only recently noticed her striking resemblance to annoying ass Nelly Furtado.

Oh my God you're right! I never noticed it before.

Oh well. At least Idina has talent. Okay, Nelly has SOME talent not nearly as much as Idina.

[mochakitty]

This surprised me but I really don't read about them too much.

Taye Diggs & Idina Menzel Split

After a decade of marriage, Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel have separated, PEOPLE has learned.

"Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs have jointly decided to separate at this time," reps for the couple tell PEOPLE. "Their primary focus and concern is for their son. We ask that you respect their privacy during this time."

Diggs and Menzel, both 42, met as costars in the original production of the Broadway musical Rent in the mid-1990s. They married in 2003 and had a son, Walker, in 2009.

Menzel, a Tony Award winner for Wicked, spoke to PEOPLE about the marriage earlier this year, saying it wasn't always smooth sailing.

"We work at it," she said. "I'm not going to glamorize it or glorify it – we go through tough times like everybody else, but we love each other very much. We try not to be away from each other for more than two weeks at a time, and we try to find new ways to communicate."

[cabbagekid]

I never even knew they were married!!! What rock have i been living under? And ten years? How did this never cross my radar? Heck, I just watched an interview of Taye on Ellen a few months ago.

I love Idina, but I can finally tell Taye Diggs this, "I'm available!!!"

[plush]

Weren' there rumours they he is a serial cheater? I think I read them here and not that long ago, maybe in the Divorce Thread?

If that was the case, good for her.