The mysterious actress playing Dorothy Gale in the highly anticipated film Wicked: For Good has finally been revealed as Bethany Weaver, a 30-year-old Pilates instructor from Surrey, ending months of speculation about who would take on the iconic role.
The Secret Behind Dorothy's Casting
Producers of the sequel starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba deliberately kept Weaver's identity under wraps for several months, with the actress not attending any premieres or press events. According to reports from The Sun, Weaver appears for just 69 seconds in the film and speaks only six words throughout her entire performance.
Director Jon M Chu explained the creative decision to conceal Weaver's face, stating: 'I didn't want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with. The sequel is still Elphaba and Glinda's journey, and she is a pawn in the middle of all of it.'
From Dance Academy to the Yellow Brick Road
Bethany Weaver brings substantial performing arts experience to the role, having trained at The Urdang Academy in London and accumulated numerous theatre credits alongside her day job as a Pilates instructor. Despite her brief screen time, she portrays one of literature's most beloved characters, originally created by L. Frank Baum in his 1900 classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Dorothy Gale, who first appeared in Baum's novel and features in most of its sequels, returns to screens alongside other iconic Oz characters including the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. Co-star Cynthia Erivo supported the director's approach, commenting: 'I think that's such a wonderful thing to do because then everyone gets to keep the Dorothy they know.'
Promotional Tour Overshadowed by Security Incident
The revelation about Weaver's casting comes as Grande and Erivo continue their global promotional tour for the film, which recently faced disruption during the Singapore premiere. Last Thursday, an online prankster known as Johnson Wen breached security and ambushed Ariana Grande on the red carpet, leading to Cynthia Erivo immediately intervening and pushing the intruder away.
The incident left Grande visibly shaken, and Wen subsequently received nine days jail time for his actions. During a Screen Actors Guild screening in Los Angeles, Erivo referenced the ordeal while discussing the film's themes of safety and friendship: 'We've had to really deal with some stuff, and this movie has allowed us to really grow as people, as friends, as sisters, as artists, as actresses.'
Erivo's quick reaction to protect her co-star generated significant social media attention, with many fans comparing her actions to Kevin Costner's role in The Bodyguard. The incident highlighted the intense public interest surrounding the film and its stars as anticipation builds for its release.
