Idina Menzel Admits Turning 50 Was Hard

Perhaps part of her struggle with aging comes with experience. On Bravo TV's Watch What Happens Live, Menzel, who was 42 at the time, revealed that she had been told that she may be too old to reprise her role of Elphaba the witch, in a movie version of Wicked.

Of course, more than seven years later, things have played out very differently for Menzel and she is more than happy with the turn of events. Plus she loves playing Vivian, in a way more complex form than before.

In a recent interview with Glamour magazine, Menzel admitted that somehow, turning 50 was bothering her, even though she was a bit ashamed of herself.

She said, "I think it was subconsciously bothering me more than I led on, in regards to my relevance as a performer and actress. I'm feeling like the old lady sometimes, and that's not who I am. I feel very young at heart."

Of course, like all Disney princesses, Menzel too has a knight in shining armor, and it's her 12-year-old boy.

Idina also continued to say that it was silly for her to feel this way considering most of the music she sings appeals to the younger crowd. But looking in the mirror made her maudlin, so her 12-year-old son, Walker, who she shared with Taye Diggs gave her some solid advice.

Menzel said, "He says, ‘Mom, don't look in the mirror and worry about how you look. You're beautiful.’”

And this simple affirmation helped Menzel overcome all that she was feeling.

Idina Menzel wants to set a good example for Walker, and the one lesson she has learned in life is never to downplay what's good about you.

She remembered that her mother, who Menzel still considers as one of the most beautiful women in the world, would often look in the mirror and make a disparaging remark about herself.

And this is something Menzel does not want to do. She plans to be happy with the way she looks, 50 and all, to leave a body-positive, self-loving example for her boy.