"I grew up on musicals, and I know they are quite the thing now, but I'm actually a little indignant, because I started taking singing lessons years ago - I put the time in!"

Marisa Tomei is revealing her aggravation at the current rise in appeal of musicals. She has been a fan of musicals for a long period of time and has actually put in the effort to find out how to sing. She feels that her effort has actually been neglected and that her commitment to the craft has actually been considered given. She is upset that others are now taking pleasure in the fruits of her labor without needing to put in the same amount of effort. She is also likely revealing her disappointment that her own singing career has not taken off in the exact same way that musicals have. She is making it clear that she has actually put in the time and effort to learn how to sing which she is worthy of recognition for her hard work.