My search for Elsa, the gorgeous queen of Arendelle who possesses the supernatural ability to turn anything or anyone into ice in Disney’s animated musical blockbuster “Frozen,” has led me to a quiet neighborhood tract in a land far, far away from a cartoon Norway.

I’m in Mission Viejo, the home of an Elsa impersonator who needs 90 minutes of metamorphosis before a recent birthday party for 9-year-old twin girls and more than 50 of their hot-for-“Frozen” friends.

This Elsa lives with her parents, Sheila and Rick Christensen. They answer the door to the beautifully appointed home that has fewer spires and stories than the castle in the movie. It’s also surprising to see them; Elsa’s parents supposedly disappeared after a shipwreck.

They introduce me to their daughter, Anastasia, the soon-to-be Elsa. She looks more like Cinderella, or a student at Saddleback College, which she happens to be.

‘FROZEN’ IS HOT

Anastasia, 25, is a beautiful brunette with brown eyes and a female-symbol tattoo just below her left ear. The Mission Viejo High grad is a junior at Saddleback, majoring in theater arts and aspiring to be on stage.

She has a day job selling after-market car stereos and speakers for Volkswagens, Buicks and Chevys in Laguna Beach. And, since July, she’s been moonlighting as a costumed character for Irvine-based Dazzling D’s Princess Production.

“I’ll be Elsa today,” says Christensen, wearing jeans and a knit green sweater that hangs off one shoulder, a la Jennifer Beals in “Flashdance.”

For the two people who haven’t yet seen the highest grossing animated film of all time ($1.3 billion box office), I’ll explain a bit about Elsa: She’s the platinum blonde, Pacific Ocean-blue-eyed antihero who banishes herself from society to protect mankind from her dangerous ice powers which, in the movie, could doom her fictional Norwegian village to an eternal winter.

Elsa merchandise and all things “Frozen” are impossibly hot this holiday season. Retailers report they’re out of stock on “Frozen”-related dolls, dresses and soundtracks. Disney On Ice has a “Frozen” tour; Disneyland has a temporary (they say) “Frozen” live show and autograph zone.

So, naturally, every weekend, there are many “Frozen”-themed parties for children and, yes, adults. Demand for appearances by singing “Frozen” characters, Elsa and Anna, has reached inferno levels.

“We’re booking so many Elsas, Annas and Olafs every day all over the county,” said Dazzling D’s owner Dava McCoy. “Elsa and Anna are by far our most popular requests since the movie came out (2013).”

Single princess rates at Dazzling D’s range from $95 for a half hour to $190 for 90 minutes. The characters sing, pose for photos and sign autographs.

“I could make a good living if I were Elsa full time but I would be so worn out,” Christensen says.

ELSA, DETAILED

It’s 70 degrees outside and a sunny December day when Christensen takes a seat at her vanity and begins her Elsa transformation. She’s heading for her fifth party in five days.

An Elsa doll stands beside the oval mirror, a photo of Marilyn Monroe tucked into the mirror’s frame. An Elsa cosmetic bag and a small white, illuminated Christmas tree sits on the tabletop.

A few feet away, Elsa’s blond wig (in the requisite braided ponytail) rests on a white Styrofoam head on the dining room table.

“Love Is an Open Door,” a song from the “Frozen” soundtrack, plays from Christensen’s iPod, which is connected to room speakers. She sings along, getting in the mood.

Between verses, she sips hot water with lemon and honey from an Elsa mug to soothe her mezzo soprano chords. She pulls back her brown hair.

The eyes take the most time, about 30 minutes. Five layers of eyeshadow – white, light purple, dark purple, blue and pink – are gently applied. Eyelashes are glued on with tweezers and curled. Black mascara is brushed on.

She takes special care as she applies black eyeliner, meticulously curving the line at the outer corners of her eyes so they’re an exact match of the animated Elsa.

“The little girls are extremely observant and know every little detail of how Elsa is supposed to look.”

To make her eyes blue, Christensen blinks a few times, then pulls apart her eyelids to set in blue-colored contact lens. She found these for $20 at a San Clemente smoke shop.

“I see the light!” she rejoices, and then explains, “That’s also from ‘Rapunzel.’”

She powders her tanned face to match Elsa’s lighter complexion. She warms her cheeks with a couple sweeps of blush.

“I spend a lot of time reading blogs and the Internet about the movie, which I’m seen sooooooo many times. (I’m) learning all about the backstory so I can answer questions the kids have,” Christensen says.

The most frequent question, if Elsa is solo, is about Anna’s whereabouts. After that, the kids ask if Elsa can demonstrate her freezing powers. But her powers, she says, “only work in my kingdom, and using them outside of Arendelle would violate international laws.”

Christensen admits she would like Elsa’s powers. “It would be cool to make drinks, maybe bartend with them!” she says, laughing. “I like vodka tonics.”

She checks her fingernails for any chips in the silver glittery nail polish, essie Color No. 961 “On A Silver Platter.” They’re fine.

Then she shimmies into the elaborate, fairy-tale teal and silver-snowflaked nylon, taffeta and sequined dress, the one with a very long, flowing train.

“This one’s a loaner from Dazzling D’s, but I’ve already ordered my own,” Christensen says. “Some people are paying, like, $3,000 for ones made with the snowflakes made out of Swarovski crystals.”

She tightens her hair into a bun, pulls a nylon stocking cap over her head, and then puts on the Elsa wig and wiggles it into position.

“The lipstick is last,” she adds, “so I don’t get it on the wig.”

She applies the red-delicious apple lipstick, rubs her lips together and looks into the lit mirror. Then she smiles.

Christensen is gone; Elsa has arrived.

ELSA’S HYUNDAI

We take the 5 freeway to the party destination at a community clubhouse in the section of Irvine known as Portola Springs.

Elsa drives an icicle-silver-colored Hyundai Accent. It’s a compact car, though Christensen says she has “learned it’s roomy enough to change inside it.”

Fellow motorists do a double-take as she passes.

After the 15-minute drive, we park several blocks from the party. That way, she explains, “I stay in character as much as possible.”

Fellow Dazzling D’s characters, Anna and Olaf, are parked nearby. Olaf has slithered into the snowman costume in the middle of the street because it’s too bulky to drive while wearing it.

Kristina Lin, the mother of twins Kady and Kody, comes out to greet them and lead the “Frozen” trio into a mass of screaming, cheering children.

“This is the greatest day of my life,” one girl tells her mother.

Elsa kneels to greet the birthday girls. They are so giddy their legs shake. Kody begins petting Elsa’s dress.

Elsa gives each a tiara and signs their autograph books with “Let it go!” and “(heart sign) Elsa” with a snowflake flourish on the name’s end.

“I love to entertain the children and bring them so many smiles and good memories,” Christensen says. “They treat me like royalty.”

Contact the writer: masmith@ocregister.com