The 53-year-old 'Wicked' alum says she had chronic migraines in her 20s and 30s. Photo: AFP
Wicked migraines nearly cost Kristin Chenoweth her career.
The 53-year-old Wicked alum – who in the beloved Broadway show, originated the role of Glinda – told People in a new interview that due to her chronic migraines being “really bad” when she was in her 20s and 30s, she learned she’d need to stick up for herself.
“What I began to understand is, as we do when time goes on, I need to be my own advocate,” Chenoweth, who has both Tony and Emmy awards to her name, told the magazine.
“So I started trying everything I knew. Everything any doctor would tell me, I tried it.”
When that proved pretty fruitless, the Broadway star recalled thinking: “Honestly, I’m going to have to retire.”
Though she pushed forward, it wasn’t without difficulty.
“It really affected my life,” Chenoweth shared with the outlet. “It prevented me from enjoying some great moments in my career, too.”
That includes celebrating her 2009 Emmy win for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series (Pushing Daisies) en route to the hospital, thanks to a “pounding” migraine.
But Botox in her 40s provided “a vast difference,” said Chenoweth.
“I have not had to retire and I still get to do what I love to do,” she said, noting that Botox isn’t the only measure she has to take when it comes to trying to ward off migraines.
“Meditation, prayer, breathing exercises, being in a dark room. These are things that I have to do. I don’t drink a lot of alcohol. ... I do everything I can to prevent it.”
That’s how Chenoweth said she ensures that she’ll “be here to run my Broadway bootcamp in my home state (of Oklahoma). I want to be there for the role that’s going to challenge me. I want to mentor Ariana Grande (playing Glinda in the film adaption of Wicked). I want to be here.” – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
