This talented performer had a career that spanned seven decades, appearing in over 70 films and hundreds of television episodes. While she was a highly respected member of the New York theater scene, she became an eternal part of cinematic history by playing one of the most terrifying figures ever to appear on the silver screen.
Can you name them, not the character they played?
Before her legendary success in Hollywood, she was a dedicated kindergarten teacher who remained a lifelong advocate for children’s education and welfare. She was a person of immense resilience who suffered severe second-degree burns during a famous special effects mishap on set, yet she returned to work just weeks later to finish the production. Despite her “frightening” screen persona, she was known in real life as a gentle, soft-spoken woman who loved to knit and once made a high-profile appearance on a beloved children’s television show just to prove to kids that she wasn’t actually a monster.
If you recognize this legendary lady, tell us your favorite movie or memory of her in the comments.
American actress Margaret Hamilton.
Iconic Role: She is best known for portraying the Wicked Witch of the West and her Kansas counterpart, Almira Gulch, in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Other Roles: Throughout her fifty-year career, she appeared in various other films, including a role as Hester Frump in The Addams Family television series and in the 1960 film 13 Ghosts.
Career Background: Before becoming a famous character actress, she worked as a kindergarten teacher.