Idina Kim Menzel () (née Mentzel; born May 30, 1971) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. Menzel rose to prominence when she originated the role of Maureen Johnson in the Broadway musicalRent. Her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination in 1996. She reprised the character in the musical's 2005 film adaptation. In 2003, Menzel originated the role of Elphaba in the Broadway musical Wicked, a performance for which she won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Menzel returned to Broadway as Elizabeth Vaughan in the 2014 musical If/Then, which earned her a third Tony Award nomination.
