Margaret Brainard Hamilton played the Wicked Witch in "The Wizard of Oz." Her character is ranked as the 4th greatest villain in U.S. movies. Contrary to the role she played she was an extremely sweet person who was always giving back to her community with a special fondness for children and animals. She attended college and became a fourth-grade teacher. During her acting career she not only served on Beverly Hill's Board of Education, but she also taught Sunday School.
Although her role as the Wicked Witch defined her, she already had a good career in film having been in movies such as: "You Only Live Once," "Nothing Sacred," "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," and "My Little Chickadee," with W.C. Fields. She never tied herself to one movie studio and was paid a flat rate of what would be in today's dollars $15,000 a week.
She was married once and got a divorce in 1938. They had one son. What I find so amazing about Hamilton is that she wasn't a Hollywood beauty but found her own niche as a New England Spinster. Her tough image on film just goes to show how great an actress she was because those who knew her saw her as a kind, grade school teacher.
Although her role as the Wicked Witch defined her, she already had a good career in film having been in movies such as: "You Only Live Once," "Nothing Sacred," "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," and "My Little Chickadee," with W.C. Fields. She never tied herself to one movie studio and was paid a flat rate of what would be in today's dollars $15,000 a week.
She was married once and got a divorce in 1938. They had one son. What I find so amazing about Hamilton is that she wasn't a Hollywood beauty but found her own niche as a New England Spinster. Her tough image on film just goes to show how great an actress she was because those who knew her saw her as a kind, grade school teacher.
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