History Creator / MargaretHamilton

* FriendToAllChildren: In contrast to her Wicked Witch of the West character in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', her biggest fear was that she would be typecast afterwards. One of her earlier jobs was as a kindergarten teacher, and she taught Sunday school during the 1950's, and she loved and doted upon children throughout her life. She even appeared on Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood to clear up misunderstandings about ''The Wizard Of Oz'' by putting on her costume and makeup as she "transformed" into the Wicked Witch.
* KindHeartedCatLover: Starting in the mid-70s, she appeared with her beloved cats in a number of [=PSAs=] for the Humane Society, with a [[TearJerker short poignant speech about abandoned kittens]] and reminding us to get our companions spayed and neutered.

* [[Creator/WCFields My Little Chickadee]]

* FriendToAllChildren: [[MeanCharacterNiceActor In contrast to her Wicked Witch of the West character]] in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', her biggest fear was that she would be typecast afterwards. One of her earlier jobs was as a kindergarten teacher, and she taught Sunday school during the 1950's, and she loved and doted upon children throughout her life. She even appeared on Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood to clear up misunderstandings about ''The Wizard Of Oz'' by putting on her costume and makeup as she "transformed" into the Wicked Witch.

* FriendToAllChildren: In contrast to her Wicked Witch of the West character in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', her biggest fear was that she would be typecast afterwards. One of her earlier jobs was as a kindergarten teacher, and she taught Sunday school during the 1950's, and she loved and doted upon children throughout her life. She even appeared on Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood to clear up misunderstandings about ''The Wizard Of Oz'' by putting on her costume and makeup as she "transformed" into the Wicked Witch.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: After playing the roles of The Wicked Witch of the West[=/=]Almira Gulch in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', her biggest fear was that children would get the wrong idea of who she really was in real life, when she deeply cared about children and was a lifelong advocate of educational causes and a teacher in kindergarten and Sunday school. She appeared on Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood and explained to children that she was merely playing a role and showed how putting on a costume and makeup "transformed" her into the Witch, and also appeared on Series/SesameStreet in 1976 as the Wicked Witch, in an episode that has not been seen since then due to complaints from parents of terrified children.

* [[MeanCharacterNiceActor Mean Character, Nice Actress]]: After playing the roles of The Wicked Witch of the West[=/=]Almira Gulch in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', her biggest fear was that children would get the wrong idea of who she really was in real life, when she deeply cared about children and was a lifelong advocate of educational causes and a teacher in kindergarten and Sunday school. She appeared on Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood and explained to children that she was merely playing a role and showed how putting on a costume and makeup "transformed" her into the Witch, and also appeared on Series/SesameStreet in 1976 as the Wicked Witch, in an episode that has not been seen since then due to complaints from parents of terrified children.

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/margaret_hamilton_8739.jpg]]
->''(During an interview, Margaret recalls a conversation with her agent when she was first offered the role of the Wicked Witch of the West.)\\
Agent: They're sort of interested in you for a part in The Wizard of Oz.\\
Margaret Hamilton: Oh gosh! think of that! I've loved that story from the time I was four years old, what (part) is it?\\
A: Well, the witch.\\
MH: The witch?!?\\
A: Yes, what else?\\
(Cue gales of laughter from the audience)''

'''Margaret Brainard Hamilton''' (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was an American film character actress [[StarMakingRole best known for her portrayal]] of the Wicked Witch of the West, based on Dorothy Gale's malevolent neighbor, Miss Almira Gulch, whom Hamilton also played, in Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer's classic film ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''.

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A former schoolteacher, she worked as a character actress in films for seven years[[note]]often as a stiff, square MoralGuardian type[[/note]] before [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJja7CvCjPs she was offered the role]] [[IAmNotSpock that defined her public image]]. The Wicked Witch of the West was eventually ranked No. 4 in the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Best Movie Villains of All Time, making her the highest ranking female villain. In later years, Hamilton made frequent [[TheCameo cameo appearances]] on television sitcoms and commercials. Younger viewers may associate her as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBOg-hJhXto Cora the grocer from the Maxwell House ads]]. She also gained recognition for her work as an advocate of causes designed to benefit [[FriendToAllChildren children]] and [[FriendToAllLivingThings animals]], and retained a lifelong commitment to public education.

* StarMakingRole: As [[Film/TheWizardOfOz the Wicked Witch of the West]]. [[IAmNotSpock Perhaps painfully so]].
* TypeCasting: As a witch. In her later career, as a CoolOldLady GrannyClassic.

!!Film

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: As illustrated above.

* ''SigmundAndTheSeaMonsters''

Margaret Brainard Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was an American film character actress [[StarMakingRole best known for her portrayal]] of the Wicked Witch of the West, based on Dorothy Gale's malevolent neighbor, Miss Almira Gulch, whom Hamilton also played, in Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer's classic film ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''.

A former schoolteacher, she worked as a character actress in films for seven years before she was offered the role [[IAmNotSpock that defined her public image]]. The Wicked Witch of the West was eventually ranked No. 4 in the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Best Movie Villains of All Time, making her the highest ranking female villain. In later years, Hamilton made frequent [[TheCameo cameo appearances]] on television sitcoms and commercials. She also gained recognition for her work as an advocate of causes designed to benefit [[FriendToAllChildren children]] and [[FriendToAllLivingThings animals]], and retained a lifelong commitment to public education.

* ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''
* ''Film/TheOxBowIncident''
* ''Literature/TheRedPony''
* ''Film/ThirteenGhosts''
* ''Film/JourneyBackToOz''
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!!TV
* ''Series/TheAddamsFamily''

* CoolTeacher: She worked as a teacher, which caused her to have a lifelong commitment on education.
* RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor: [[IAmNotSpock Best known]] as [[Film/TheWizardOfOz the Wicked Witch of the West]], she was repeatedly stated as an endearing person in real life. Even Creator/JudyGarland wast stated to have a hard time fearing her during filming, and she worked as a CoolTeacher.