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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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Following the much-anticipated release of Wicked: For Good, fans are finally getting their first real glimpse at a character that found herself on the sidelines during the movie—Dorothy.
Throughout both 2024’s Wicked and the new Wicked: For Good, Dorothy does appear, but her face is never shown.
Now new pictures have revealed that the iconic character was played by newcomer Bethany Weaver, marking her screen acting debut.
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While she appears in several key moments that overlap with The Wizard of Oz, her face is never shown in either Wicked film. Viewers only see flashes of her silhouette or profile, including a brief shot of her through a door crack, scenes of her meeting Glinda, and moments of her traveling the yellow brick road into Oz.
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Why Dorothy’s Face Stays Hidden
Ahead of the film’s release, director Jon M. Chu told People that he intentionally kept Dorothy’s face a secret.
“I didn’t want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with,” he said.
Many fans’ reference point is Judy Garland’s iconic portrayal in the 1939 Oscar-winning musical. Chu added that while Dorothy plays a role in the events of Wicked, the focus needed to remain on its central.
“This is still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, and she is a pawn in the middle of all of it,” Chu said.
Unmasked Behind the Scenes
Because Dorothy’s appearance is kept hidden on screen, fans were surprised when Weaver posted a series of behind-the-scenes photos to Instagram—finally revealing the actor behind the character.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram shared a day ago, Weaver wrote: “Dorothy Gale. What an honor it has been to walk on the yellow brick road with my fellow Witch Hunters… and not forgetting Oscar the dog! (Toto)”
She went on to thank the casting team, Universal, Chu, and the film’s costume and hair departments—even joking that the character’s signature curls were a mix of her real hair plus “a few switches.”
Weaver also expressed gratitude to the actresses who played Dorothy before her and reflected on the emotional weight of joining such a beloved legacy.
“This has been a life-changing experience… It’s been an honor to carry the legacy of the brilliant women before me who have stepped into these shoes… I hope I have made them proud,” she said on Instagram.
Fans React
As the true identity of the iconic character was revealed, people shared their reactions online.
“I’m still in the camp that I’m glad they didn’t show her face, but it’s actually great to see who the person is behind the newest version of Wicked,” said one commenter on Threads.
“I knew they wouldn’t have been able to hide her face forever. She’s so cute. Thank you Bethany, for bringing Dorothy back to the big screen,” wrote another.
A commenter on Weaver’s Instagram said: “You captured Judy Garland’s essence well—you were fantastic as Dorothy! She would’ve been proud of your performance. I’m obsessulated! Superb job!”
Wicked fans have even more to celebrate this week as author Gregory Maguire has announced a new prequel novel, Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, arriving September 29, 2026 and exploring the early life of Ariana Grande’s character.
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