Surprisingly Sweet Facts About Margaret Hamilton, The Wicked Witch Of The West
Margaret Hamilton rose to stardom as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz—then she spent the rest of her life trying to wipe the green stain of wickedness from her reputation.
1. She Was Not So Wicked After All
Margaret Hamilton was the sweet-natured, child-loving, animal-saving actress who rose to fame for portraying a very different kind of character: a witch! The school teacher turned actress became so inextricably associated with her role as the Wicked Witch of the West in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz that kids would run away screaming.
But these surprisingly sweet facts about her will have you wondering who the real villain in Oz was.
2. She Had Humble Beginnings
Long before Margaret Hamilton terrified audiences as the Wicked Witch of the West in one of cinema’s most iconic films, she led a much quieter life. Born on December 9, 1902, in Cleveland, Ohio, Hamilton came from modest beginnings. Her father, WJ Hamilton, was a prominent lawyer who encouraged her in her artistic pursuits.
She wasn’t even kind of evil.
3. She Acted For The Community
In her adulthood, Hamilton could terrify children just by walking down the street. But ironically, children were her first fans.
As a member of the Junior League of Cleveland, she combined her love for entertaining with a passion for community work, particularly with kids. She acted in children’s theater and honed her skills for a future on the big screen.
4. She Was Great With Kids
Margaret Hamilton could barely wait to become an actress. Though her parents supported her, they insisted that she complete her education first.
So, after attending Wheelock College in Boston, she became a teacher at Rye Country Day School in New York. Teaching kids became a lifelong passion of hers and one that carried onto the stage with her.
