Idina Menzel Says Her Role in ‘Glee’ ‘Wasn’t Great’ for Her Ego

Idina Menzel appeared on the hit series Glee in 2010, playing the role of Rachel Berry’s (Lea Michele) coach and mother. Menzel accepted the part three months after giving birth to her son and admitted she had to suck it up when it wasn’t that great for her ego.

Idina Menzel’s Insecurities

Idina Menzel was 38 when Glee aired, and Lea Michele was 23. Now, over a decade later, Mendez opened up about how it felt to play the mother of a teenager right after welcoming her first child, Walker. In an interview with Stellar Magazine, she said that it wasn’t great for her ego. She shared that playing someone’s mother when she probably should have been their older sister really hurt her self-esteem.

Idina and Rachel’s characters had to perform a duet together during the third season of Glee, and Mendel admits she sucked it up just because she was excited to be a part of the show. After giving birth to her son, she was worried that she wouldn’t have as many work opportunities, which was another reason she accepted the role. Not fitting into any of the costumes while still breastfeeding also made her feel insecure.

The Success of Glee and Motherhood

Season 1 of Glee was a huge success for Idina Menzel. She continued to act in the show for three more seasons, and people still remember her iconic performances of songs like “Poker Face” and “Somewhere” — both duets with Lea. She was also able to balance work and taking care of her son. The star is currently co-parenting 13-year-old Walker with her ex-husband Taye Diggs. She’s now married to actor Aaron Lohr and underwent IVF treatments in 2018 in an attempt to have another child.

However, the treatments weren’t successful, but Idina shares that she’s grateful for her son and how easily she was able to conceive when a lot of people don’t get that chance. According to the actress, “I think going through all that, you’re so exhausted by it that finally, it becomes apparent like, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore and it just wasn’t meant to be […] I think we feel content and lucky with what we have.”