Idina Menzel says she has ‘many desires’ to play ‘darker characters’ like in ‘Uncut Gems’

• Idina Menzel told Insider that she wants to play "darker characters" like her role in "Uncut Gems."
• Menzel had a small but memorable role in the movie as Sandler's estranged, uncompromising wife.
• Menzel said that it was a "wonderful experience" to show that she has layers to her acting.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Idina Menzel told Insider that she would "love" to play more "darker characters" like she did in "Uncut Gems."

Menzel starred in the Safdie Brothers' crime drama about a New York jeweler, Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), who risks everything in order to stay afloat as debt collectors close in. In the movie, the Tony Award winner has a small but memorable role as Sandler's estranged wife, Dinah Ratner, who only puts up with her husband because of their two young children.

Speaking to Insider as part of her collaboration with Rice Krispies Treats to launch their new "365 Days of Love and Support Kits," which contains inspirational prompts for parents to use to write words of encouragement to their children, Menzel said that she has "many desires to keep stretching" herself as an actress.

She told Insider: "I'll take what I can get honestly but that was a really wonderful experience to be on set with Sandler and the Safdie brothers and just show people that I have a lot of dimensions and many levels that I can play. So yes I would love to do that."

The 50-year-old actress is set to portray the wicked stepmother in a musical modern retelling of "Cinderella," which comes to Amazon Prime in September. While this will have a lighter tone than "Uncut Gems," Menzel said her character, called Vivian, also has a lot of layers.

"She's awesome. I think I've always gravitated to characters that may seem evil at first but then as you unpack them, they are truly complicated wounded loving people inside," the "Frozen" star said. "And so first impressions we always tend to judge people and maybe have a negative impression of them. The more you dig in and see the experience people have in their lives and the pain they might have felt, we start to develop an empathy. I think that's what art is all about. It's about empathy and compassion and learning to walk in other people's shoes."

Alongside Menzel "Cinderella" will feature many stars such as Billy Porter, Pierce Brosnan, and Camila Cabello as the titular character. "Cinderella" will be released on Amazon Prime on September 3rd.