Ever since that first trailer for the Wicked movies dropped, everyone’s been squinting at the screen trying to figure out who that girl in the blue gingham dress is. We all saw the pigtails. We saw the ruby slippers. But even as we move into the era of Wicked: For Good—the second half of this massive cinematic event—the face of Dorothy Gale remains one of the best-kept secrets in Hollywood.
Honestly, the cast of Wicked Part 2 Dorothy isn't a superstar like Taylor Swift or Olivia Rodrigo, despite what the TikTok theories might have told you.
It’s actually a British actress and dancer named Bethany Weaver.
If you haven't heard of her, don't feel bad. That was actually the plan all along. Director Jon M. Chu and the team at Universal didn't want a "celebrity" Dorothy to distract from the core relationship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande). In this version of the story, Dorothy isn't the hero. She's sort of a disruption—a "pawn," as Chu calls her—in the middle of a political mess she doesn't fully understand.
Who Exactly Is Bethany Weaver?
So, who is the woman behind the pigtails? Bethany Weaver is a 30-year-old performer based in Surrey, England. She’s not some random person they found on the street, though. She’s a trained pro who studied at the Urdang Academy and the Guildford School of Acting.
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Before landing the most famous "faceless" role in movie history, she was working in the West End. You might have spotted her in the ensemble of Oklahoma! or Rumi the Musical. She’s also a Pilates instructor, which probably explains how she nailed the physical movement required for a character who has to be instantly recognizable just by the way she walks down a yellow brick road.
The irony here is pretty great. Back in 2022, Weaver posted a video of herself singing "The Wizard and I" on Instagram. She literally wrote that she was "aggressively manifesting" being in Wicked one day. Most of us manifest a free coffee or a parking spot; she manifested a role in a multi-million dollar blockbuster.
The "No Face" Rule: Why You Never See Her Clearly
If you’re heading into Wicked: For Good expecting a big reveal where the camera pans up to show Dorothy’s face, you’re going to be disappointed.
The movie goes to extreme lengths to keep her anonymous. You see her from behind. You see her in silhouette. You see her from a distance. You hear her cry, and she says a grand total of about six words. According to some reports, she’s only on screen for about 69 seconds of the 2-hour and 17-minute runtime.
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Why the secrecy?
- Protecting the Legend: Judy Garland’s 1939 performance is untouchable. By not showing a new face, the filmmakers allow you to keep whatever version of Dorothy you grew up with in your head.
- Perspective: This isn't The Wizard of Oz. This is Wicked. To Elphaba and Glinda, Dorothy is an outsider who shows up, causes a scene, and leaves. Keeping her face hidden reinforces the idea that she’s a side character in their story.
- The Musical Roots: In the Broadway show, you only see Dorothy as a shadow on a curtain. The movie is just being loyal to that "blink and you'll miss it" vibe.
A Different Kind of Oz Squad
While Dorothy stays in the shadows, her famous companions actually got some pretty big names. It’s a weird contrast, right? You have a "random" (but talented) actress as Dorothy, but then the rest of the crew is stacked with stars.
The cast of Wicked Part 2 Dorothy travels with some heavy hitters:
- Colman Domingo voices the Cowardly Lion.
- Jonathan Bailey (who plays Fiyero) also takes on the role of the Scarecrow.
- Ethan Slater (Boq) transitions into the Tin Man.
The movie manages to bridge the gap between the 1939 classic and the Gregory Maguire novel by showing how these characters actually ended up in their "cursed" forms. It's much darker than the Technicolor version we saw as kids.
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The Mystery Behind the Scenes
The level of secrecy around Bethany Weaver was almost CIA-level. She wasn't allowed to attend the big premieres. She didn't do the glamorous press tours with Ariana and Cynthia. For months, her Instagram didn't even mention the movie.
It sounds a bit harsh, but it was all part of the "marketing of mystery." Universal wanted the focus on the two leads. Even the credits were a bit of a hunt for fans. It wasn't until after the review embargo lifted and the movie actually hit theaters on November 21, 2025, that Weaver was finally able to post behind-the-scenes photos and confirm she was the one in the dress.
What This Means for Future Oz Movies
The success of this "faceless" approach has sparked a lot of talk in the industry about how we handle remakes. Usually, Hollywood wants to put the most famous face possible on an iconic character to sell tickets. Wicked did the opposite.
They gambled that the brand of Dorothy Gale was bigger than any actress they could cast. They were right. By keeping her as a shadow, they avoided the inevitable "She’s not my Dorothy" backlash that happens every time someone tries to step into Garland's shoes.
If you're looking to follow the career of the woman who "became" Dorothy for a new generation, keep an eye on the West End credits rather than Hollywood billboards. Bethany Weaver is a theater kid at heart, and while she’s now part of cinematic history, she seems more at home on a stage or in a dance studio than on a red carpet.
Next Steps for Fans
If you’ve already seen the movie and want to spot the subtle Dorothy cameos you might have missed, go back and watch the scenes in Munchkinland very closely. You can see the hem of her dress in shots where Glinda is distracted. Also, pay attention to the audio during the "melting" scene; Weaver’s vocal performance is entirely focused on the emotional weight of the moment rather than traditional dialogue.