Margaret Hamilton was an American actress best known for her iconic portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz." Before her most famous role, she worked as a character actress in films for seven years after a career as a schoolteacher. Her performance as the cackling, green-skinned antagonist became one of the most memorable villains in cinema history. Beyond Oz, she had a long and successful career in film, television, and on stage, often playing spinsters or stern, no-nonsense characters.