NEW YORK – JULY 13: A close-up of a pair of ruby slippers on a waxwork Judy Garland as Dorothy inside “The Wizard of Oz” 4-D experience at Madame Tussauds on July 13, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The mystery is over. After much speculation over who would portray Dorothy Gale in Wicked: For Good, the actress stepping into her ruby slippers has finally been revealed. And we finally know the extent of Dorothy’s role and how her story fits into the sequel.
Wicked: For Good, released in theaters on Nov. 21, marks the second part of Jon M. Chu’s two-part cinematic event. The first installment, 2024’s Wicked, went on to win two Academy Awards and grossed a whopping $758 million at the worldwide box office.
The films are based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 revisionist novel — Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West — and take place before and alongside L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which inspired Maguire’s book series. The novel was later adapted for the stage by composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and playwright Winnie Holzman.
For Good continues the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), an outcast who has just discovered that the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) is a fraud, and her complicated bond with her enemy-turned-friend Glinda (Ariana Grande), who has just become the face of Oz. The Wizard uses Glinda to portray Elphaba as an evil “Wicked Witch” to prevent the people of Oz from learning the truth: he has no magical powers.
The movie overlaps with Dorothy’s journey, from her arrival in Munchkinland to her path toward Emerald City. The second part also reveals how several characters from the first part ultimately become the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow, and ultimately accompany Dorothy on her quest.
Leading up to Wicked: For Good’s release, Universal Pictures chose not to disclose the identity of the actress playing Dorothy, leading to widespread speculation. At one point, rumors swirled that pop singer Madison Beer or Matilda the Musical star Alisha Weir could be portraying the Kansas girl made famous by the late Judy Garland.
Now that Dorothy’s identity has finally been revealed, here’s everything to know about the actress who plays her and why moviegoers never see her face on screen.
Who Plays Dorothy In Wicked: For Good?
Bethany Weaver’s headshot
@bethanyweavesx/Instagram
Bethany Weaver plays Dorothy in Wicked: For Good, according to the film’s end credits, concluding the year-long mystery of who would portray the iconic character.
Weaver is an English actress, choreographer and dancer who turned 30 on Friday, Nov. 21, the very day Wicked: For Good premiered. She is based in Surrey, United Kingdom, and recently choreographed the West End musical Asmahan. She also appeared in the ensemble of Rumi the Musical and Broken Wings the Musical in 2018, according to What’s On Stage.
Back in 2022, Weaver openly expressed her dream of being part of Wicked’s film adaptation. On Instagram, she posted a cover singing “The Wizard and I,” writing in the caption that she was “aggressively manifesting that one day I will be in Wicked!”
In addition to the arts, Weaver is also a pilates instructor. “When I’m not performing, choreographing or acting, you’ll find me here on the reformer, at the barre or on the mat 💜,” she penned on Instagram in March 2025. “I’m so grateful for the mini empire I have built for myself that allows me to live the life I have always dreamed of ✨ Here’s to continuing to grow, build and conquer ✨.”
Why Isn’t Dorothy’s Face Shown In Wicked: For Good?
Wicked: For Good
Universal Pictures
Dorothy has a very small role in the Broadway stage musical, where she is heard offstage but never actually seen. She has a slightly larger presence in Wicked: For Good. Viewers see her in several scenes, but her full face is never shown on screen. Weaver also delivers a few lines, including calling out to the Wizard to wait for her because she wants to return to Kansas.
Dorothy’s reduced involvement, including keeping the actress’s identity under wraps and not featuring her in press opportunities alongside the rest of the cast, appears to be intentional so the focus remains on Elphaba and Glinda.
“I didn’t want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with,” Chu explained to People in October. “She’s probably more in this story than in the show and yet not taking over the story — it is still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, and she is a pawn in the middle of all of it.”
The director added that he loves how “these two worlds get to collide in this movie,” calling it “the thing that we’ve all been waiting for.”
Erivo agreed with Chu’s decision to present Dorothy from afar, allowing audiences to continue associating the character with Garland. “I think that’s such a wonderful thing to do,” she told Empire in September, “because then everyone gets to keep the Dorothy that they know.”
Wicked: For Good is playing in theaters everywhere. Watch the official trailer below.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2025/11/21/who-plays-dorothy-in-wicked-for-good-and-why-we-dont-see-her-face-on-screen/
