The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz

When Margaret Hamilton took the role of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 classic the "Wizard of Oz" I doubt she could have invisioned that years later kids would still be coming up to the actress and chastising her for being mean to Dorthy Gayle, played by Judy Garland, another fictional character in the movie. Nor do I imagine she could not have forseen that she would be sitting in the number 4 position on the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Best Movie Villians of All Time, but furthermore, how could she ever have guessed that she would be the archetype of what a witch looked like. So witches everywhere have the Wicked Witch to blame for this stereotype of a green skinned witch with pointy hat and pronounced nose.

Below learn more about the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz, Margaret Hamilton who played her, and more.

Appearance: Black dress and hat, long dark hair, pointy noseand green skin.

Family: She outlived her sister the Wicked Wich of the East who was killed when a house fell on her.

Disposition: Angry, mean, frustrated with control issues.

Life Goal: To possess her sister's ruby slippers and gain the power that they hold

Enemies: Glinda, Dorthy Gayle, the munchkins, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion.

Talents: She knows how to make an exit, can create poison poppies, great with a fire ball, and can fly on her broom stick.

Cohorts: The flying monkeys that work for her and the guards that look after her home.

Fears: Water

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Say it like the Wicked Witch of the West

Wicked Witch of the West: The last to go will see the first three go before her. And her little dog too.

Wicked Witch of the West: Helping the little lady along are you, my fine gentlemen? Well stay away from her, or I'll stuff a mattress with you! And you, I'll make you into a beehive. Here Scarecrow, want to play ball?

Becoming the Wicked Witch

Margaret Hamilton (December 9, 1902 - May 16, 1985), born in Cleveland, Ohio, received the part of the the iconic Wicked Witch of the West, at the age of 36, in Warner Bros. "The Wizard of Oz" when actress actress Gale Sondergarrd would not wear the make-up designed to diminish her beautiful appearance.

Hamilton, herself, almost never finished the filming of the Wizard of Oz after she received second degree burns to her face and a third degree burn on her hand during a disappearing act on the Munchkin land set. The accident happened after the second take of the Wicked Witch disappearing in a red cloud of smoke. Hamilton was to disappear under the stage during the cloud of smoke but before the fire exploded. On the second take the fire was summoned to early and her copper make-up was set a blaze. She returned to the set, knowing that actresses that sued the studio could kiss their careers goodbye, on the condition that she would do no more fire work.

Concerned with the affect the character the Wicked Witch of the West had on children she made an appearance on Mr. Rogers where she explained that she was not really a witch and that make-up turned her into the Wicked Witch of the West.

Interesting Fact: Hamilton signed autographs with WWW in reference to her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Read more about the late Margaret Hamilton and the Wicked Witch.

Hamilton died of heart failure in 1985. She had 1 child and had married and divorced, Paul Meserve (1931-38), years earlier.

Read Margaret Hamilton's Obiturary

Find a complete list of Margaret Hamilton roles at Margaret Hamilton's Filmography.

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In L. Frank Baum's book ,The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wicked Witch of the East are not sisters or even related; however, the Wizard of Oz (1939) and the later novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West assert this statement. Hence, we get the musical Wicked which gives the Wicked Witch of the West a fresh look.

Is the Wicked Witch of the West a villian or misunderstood?

Sources

Wikipedia.com