Newfound fame, driven by John Travolta's Academy Awards name flub, a starring role in a Broadway production, and performing an Oscar winning song, is "very special," actress Idina Menzel tells Tracy Smith in an interview for CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD, to be broadcast today, April 6 (9:00 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network.
"I think it's cool to be in your 40s and people first be discovering you," Menzel tells Smith. "Because as a woman, you know, you always think you're racing against time. So that feels nice. And, and to have this demographic that's so not my age sometimes. It's very special."
Menzel is the star of a new Broadway musical, "If/Then." However, her visibility skyrocketed after the recent Academy Awards, when Travolta introduced her as "Adele Dazeem" before she performed the song "Let it Go" from the movie "Frozen." The flub went viral, and exposed Menzel to a new crowd.
Menzel tells Smith that she felt sorry for herself for a split-second after Travolta messed up, but knew she needed to perform well. "And what if it all happened, but I had totally caved and didn't do a good job?" Menzel tells Smith. "Then it would have been even a different fiasco. So at least I was able to come through and end really strong, and you know, Adele Dazeem, or whoever I am, is actually a really good singer."
Menzel also talks openly with Smith about the breakup of her marriage to fellow actor
Taye Diggs.
"You know, we met when we were 25 in 'Rent.' So, we've been through a lot of ups and downs, and we've worked really hard for a long time," Menzel tells Smith. "I just think, you know, we've grown apart, grown up, grown to a place where we think maybe we can learn new things about ourselves, going on our own separate ways."
Menzel says she's doing well in
The Aftermath and credits having distractions such as the new production to keep her mind off the breakup. "If I didn't have a job - you know, I'd be home eating like a tray of brownies and, you know, watching sad romantic comedies and Bridget Jones-ing it out."
CBS SUNDAY MORNING is broadcast Sundays (9:00-10:30 ET) on the
CBS Television Network.
Rand Morrison is the executive producer.
