Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, suffered severe burns in a pyrotechnic accident during filming, leaving a lasting impact
Despite the challenges she faced, Margaret Hamilton «cherished» her experience working on the 1939 classic, according to *Oz* expert and author John Fricke.
Hamilton, who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West, suffered burns during filming, and removing makeup from the injured areas brought intense pain.
Additionally, her skin remained tinted green for months after production wrapped.
Margaret Hamilton’s role as the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz came with challenges. According to John Fricke, she stood on an elevator platform that lowered her beneath the set as smoke and real fire created her dramatic exit.
The first take was flawless, with Hamilton delivering her line and disappearing perfectly timed with the smoke and flames. However, after lunch, the crew’s focus waned, leading to repeated misfires during subsequent attempts.
Director Victor Fleming grew frustrated with the crew after repeated mistakes, says John Fricke. During another attempt, the flames were released too early, igniting Margaret Hamilton’s hat gauze and broom before she fully descended.
Although the fire was quickly extinguished, Hamilton suffered second-degree burns on her face and third-degree burns on her hand, exacerbated by the green makeup.
After the accident, crew members rushed to remove the toxic green makeup from Margaret Hamilton’s skin to prevent further injury. They warned her that the copper in the makeup could cause lasting damage if not cleared immediately.
Hamilton recovered for six weeks before returning to finish filming. However, her skin retained a green tint for months, as the makeup had seeped into her pores.
Despite the pain and challenges, Hamilton always regarded her time on The Wizard of Oz as a positive experience and was proud of her role until her death.
