Before Margaret Hamilton was hired, Gale Sondergaard was the original choice to play the Wicked Witch of the West in the famed film The Wizard of Oz. But then things changed.
A Closer Look
During pre-production of the 1939 MGM classic movie musical The Wizard of Oz, the role of the Wicked Witch of the West was initially and partially envisioned as a glamorous character adorned in a black sequin costume. That was a look ultimately inspired by the Evil Queen in Walt Disney‘s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (which premiered two years before).
Gale Sondergaard, who died in 1985, was cast as the witch and photographed for two wardrobe tests, both of which survive—one as a glamorous witch, and another as a conventionally attractive one. After the decision was made to have an unappealing witch, Sondergaard was reluctant to wear the disfiguring makeup, fearing it might not properly serve her career.
Subsequently, she withdrew from the movie, and the part went to veteran character actress Margaret Hamilton (who later became known for playing Cora in the Maxwell House Coffee TV commercials).
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This article originally appeared on Newsbreak and was syndicated by MediaFeed.co.
