Frozen star Idina Menzel reveals she would 'drive illegally' to get to her early gigs

Perth Now

22-04-2025

Idina Menzel would "drive illegally" to get to gigs early on in her career.
The 53-year-old actress found success when she originated the leading role of Elphaba in the hit Broadway musical 'Wicked' but years earlier had started out as a wedding singer in her late teens and had to break the law to get herself to as many ceremonies as possible.
Speaking on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show', she told stand-in host Andy Cohen: "I was about 17 years old. So I was just at a junior licence, which meant you couldn't drive at night, but I'd drive illegally to every temple, every temple all over the tri-state area.
The 'Enchanted' star - who found further fame when she voiced the role of Elsa in Disney's 'Frozen' franchise - added that she just "couldn't believe" that she was earning a living at that time as singer.
She said: "Honestly, back then, when I was 17, I couldn't believe I was making money as a professional singer."
Idina was then reunited with a couple from the studio audience whom she had performed for at their wedding more than 30 years ago, and they brought a photo of her for proof.
She said: "I'm in the back! And I look a little miserable. Not because of your wedding, but some old person probably told me I was way too loud or something like that.
She added: "At that point, I was a little older, and I was probably hoping for my big break to happen. I'd sang enough Whitney Houston and Madonna! Two years later, I got 'Rent', that was my frist professional show."
The couple then thanked Idina for "starting off their marriage on the right note" and, when asked if she would perform at their 50th anniversary celebrations, she replied: "I'll do it!"
However, not all of Idina's early performances went to plan, and she previously recalled that her manager forced her to continue singing even though a wedding guest was having a heart attack.
Speaking on UK TV show 'This Morning', she said: "I was singing 'I Just Called To Say I Love You', a Stevie Wonder song, during a daytime wedding and this old man had a heart attack on the dancefloor while I was singing.
"I stopped and my boss looked at me and was like 'Don't stop, the band always keeps playing. You never stop!' So I kept singing and then the bride came running up and screamed at me that I was the most insensitive person. Her uncle was having a heart attack, and she said I'd better stop immediately.
"So I just ran over the dessert buffet and started stuffing my face with chocolate eclairs. I didn't know what to do with myself!"