Taye Diggs: Actor
DOB:Born Scott Diggs, January 2, 1972, Rochester, NY. His friends often called him "Scottaye" when he was younger; it was soon shortened to "Taye" and stuck.
Career Highs:
After originating the role of Benny, the landlord, in the Broadway smash hit "Rent" in 1996 and 1997, Taye Diggs won over movie audiences in films like How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), The Best Man (1999), and Chicago (2002).
Career Lows:
After getting his fine arts degree in 1993, he spent a few years playing odd parts - including a stint at Tokyo Disneyland. "I get a little red when I mention it," he confessed, "but I had a ball."
Films:
Slow Burn (2006). Rent (2005). Celebrity Mix (2005). Malibu's Most Wanted (2003). Basic (2003). Chicago (2002). Equilibrium (2002). Brown Sugar (2002). New Best Friend (2002). The Way Of The Gun (2000). Go (1999). The Wood (1999). The Best Man (1999). House On Haunted Hill (1999). How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998).
Theatre:
Taye has appeared in both award-winning shows "Carousel" and "Rent," and joined Idina in the Broadway musical Wicked for a brief stint in 2003, where he played Fiyero, her character Elphaba's love interest.
Racial/Ethnic Heritage:
African-American
On being married to someone of another race:
"I know that it disappoints some people and I can understand that. I don’t tolerate it but I can understand that. But I think when it comes down to it, people are just much smarter than that. They like who do like."
Idina Menzel: Actress, Singer, Dancer
DOB:Born Adena Mentzel, May 30, 1971, Long Island, New York. She later changed her name to Idina Menzel because people were mispronouncing her name. Nicknames: Dina, Dee, Menzel. She was named after her great grandmother Ida, Hebrew for "gentle."
Favorites:
Color: Red. Movie: Gone With The Wind. Music: 80's Tunes. Book: The Great Gatsby. Food: Butter and Bread. Sport: Rugby and Golf. Actor: Taye Diggs, Sean Connery, and Michael Douglas. Actress: Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts, Kristin Chenoweth, and Julie Andrews.
Career Highs:
Tony-winning performance in "Wicked." Being the original Maureen in RENT (nominated for a Tony). Being the original Elphaba in "Wicked." Being a solo-recording artist.
Career Lows:
January 10, 2005, NEW YORK - Idina Menzel, the Tony-winning star of "Wicked," fell through a trap door during the Saturday matinee of the Broadway musical and cracked a lower rib. With her music not being as commercially successful as anticipated, her record label dropped her.
Theatre:
RENT (1995 - 1997). The Wild Party (1999). Dorothy (2000). Aida (2001). Hair (2001). The Vagina Monologues (2002). Wicked (2003).
Music:
As a solo artist, she has had two records to her name - "Still I Can't Be Still" and "Here."
Television:
She also found time to appear in some movies, including Kissing Jessica Stein (2001), Just a Kiss (2002), and The Tollbooth (2004).
Racial/Ethnic Heritage:
Jewish.
On receiving threats for being married to someone of another race:
"I just wish people were more tolerant, understanding - it's such a ridiculous thing to get worked up about. How is it any of this guy's business?"
"Tidina": The Couple
Taye and Idina were married in January 11, 2003. In 2004, they were in the news after People Magazine reported they received hate letters and threats for being "sellouts to their races." The offender was later taken into police custody."Tidina" - is a term coined back in 1996, way before the "Bennifer" phenomenon, by hardcore New York RENT fans. It's a combination of "Taye (Diggs)" and "Idina" because the couple was always seen together before and after the show. It has stuck ever since (for devoted fans, at least).
Besides RENT, the two have also performed together in:
- The Today 4 U benefit; singing Jon Larson's "You Call My Name"
- Idina's adorable/steamy music video for "Minuet"
- The off-broadway musical "The Wild Party"
- The film "Just a Kiss" (2002)
Also in the Spotlight on Celebrities series
Thandie Newton
Halle Berry
Tyson Beckford
Rosario Dawson