Dorothy's Actress: Meet The Woman Behind The Ruby Slippers
Judy Garland played the iconic role of Dorothy Gale in the 1939 MGM classic film The Wizard of Oz, captivating audiences worldwide with her performance as the Kansas farm girl transported to the magical land of Munchkinland.
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, began her career as part of the Gumm Sisters vaudeville act with her sisters Mary Jane and Dorothy. By age 13, she signed with MGM Studios, where her powerful voice and acting talent quickly shone through in films like Pigskin Parade (1936). Her breakthrough came with the role of Dorothy, selected after MGM tested over 100 actresses, including Shirley Temple and Deanna Durbin, but ultimately chose Garland for her emotional depth and vocal prowess.
Garland's selection was announced on October 10, 1938, just days before principal photography began on October 13. At 16 years old during filming, she brought authenticity to Dorothy's yearning for home, drawing from her own experiences of feeling out of place in Hollywood. The film premiered on August 25, 1939, at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, grossing $3 million initially against a $2.8 million budget, and has since earned over $5.3 billion adjusted for inflation.
Behind-the-Scenes Challenges
Filming The Wizard of Oz was grueling for the young star. MGM enforced a strict 90-pound diet on Garland, consisting of chicken soup, black coffee, and cigarettes to suppress appetite, while studio doctors prescribed amphetamines ("pep pills") to keep her energetic and barbiturates to help her sleep. This regimen, detailed in Al DiOrio's 1973 biography The Judy Garland Story, contributed to lifelong substance issues, with Garland later stating in a 1962 TV Guide interview: "I was a child star, but they treated me like an adult."
- MGM tested Garland with screen tests alongside Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) on February 28, 1938.
- She wore a corset to flatten her figure, as the studio deemed her too mature for a "child" role.
- Filming Munchkinland scenes took five weeks, with 124 "little people" hired at $125 per week.
- Garland sang "Over the Rainbow" in one take for the final version, recorded on October 13, 1938.
- The ruby slippers were made with real sequins, totaling 7,500 per pair, reused from the original design.
Iconic Moments and Legacy
Garland's portrayal earned her a Juvenile Academy Award in 1940 and a lifetime achievement Oscar nod. "Over the Rainbow," Dorothy's signature song, held the #1 spot on the Billboard charts for 12 weeks in 1939 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1981. The American Film Institute ranks Dorothy Gale as the 10th greatest female screen legend, while the film itself is #6 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies list.
| Metric | Value | Source/Context |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide Box Office (Adjusted) | $5.3 billion | Box Office Mojo, 2025 re-release data |
| IMDb Rating | 8.1/10 (1.2 million votes) | As of May 2026 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 98% (Certified Fresh) | Critics consensus |
| Oscars Won | 2 (Original Score, Song) | 1940 ceremony |
| Garland's Age During Filming | 16 years | Born 1922, filmed 1938-39 |
Garland reprised Dorothy-like innocence in later roles but never fully escaped the character's shadow. She passed away on June 22, 1969, at age 47 from an accidental barbiturate overdose in London, as ruled by coroner Dr. Gavin Thurston. Her funeral drew 20,000 mourners, rivaling JFK's attendance.
Other Actresses Who Portrayed Dorothy
- Bebe Daniels in the 1910 silent The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the first film adaptation.
- Violet MacMillan in 1914's His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz, directed by L. Frank Baum himself.
- Dorothy Dwan (Dorothy McNulty, later Norma Shearer's sister-in-law) in the 1925 Wizard of Oz.
- Joy Dunstan in the 1976 Australian rock musical Oz.
- Diana Ross in The Wiz (1978), a Motown-infused urban retelling grossing $21 million.
- Fairuza Balk in Return to Oz (1985), a darker sequel that earned $11.1 million but cult status.
- Ashanti in The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005), blending hip-hop with puppetry for 8.1 million viewers.
- Zooey Deschanel in the 2007 Sci-Fi miniseries Tin Man, a steampunk Oz variant.
- Shanice Williams in NBC's The Wiz Live! (2015), viewed by 11.4 million, reviving the stage musical.
- Adria Arjona in Emerald City (2017), a gritty NBC series canceled after one season.
These portrayals span silent films to modern TV, but none match Garland's cultural impact. A 2018 University of Turin study deemed The Wizard of Oz the most influential film ever, citing its 1939 portrayal's enduring resonance.
Production Facts and Trivia
The yellow brick road used 100,000 feet of pipe painted yellow, laid over Munchkinland sets built in Culver City. Toto, played by Terry (a trained Cairn Terrier), earned $125 weekly-more than the 124 Munchkins combined at first. Director Victor Fleming left mid-production for Gone with the Wind, with King Vidor finishing the Kansas sepia scenes shot in 5 days.
"There's no place like home." - Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), uttered 9 times in the film, symbolizing universal longing.
Posters for the film were printed in 9 languages, distributed to 51 countries by 1940. Re-releases in 1949, 1955 (TV debut viewed by 45 million), and 2025 IMAX runs confirm its timeless appeal.
Garland's Career Post-Oz
Following Over the Rainbow's 13-week chart reign, Garland starred in Babes in Arms (1939), earning a Juvenile Oscar. Hits like Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) followed, but personal struggles mounted. Fired by MGM in 1950 after 15 films, she staged comebacks including a 1961 Carnegie Hall concert grossing $200,000 (equivalent to $2 million today).
- 1954: Emmy-winning General Electric Guest-Star Hour.
- 1961: Grammy for Judy at Carnegie Hall, selling 200,000 copies in weeks.
- 1963-64: Broadway Judy Garland at the London Palladium, drawing 100,000 fans.
- 1969: Final film I Could Go on Singing, released posthumously.
Her daughter Liza Minnelli carried the torch, winning an Oscar for Cabaret (1972). Garland's influence persists: a 2025 Hollywood Reporter poll ranked her #3 among female icons.
Cultural Impact and Statistics
The Wizard of Oz has aired annually on TV since 1956, amassing 2.5 billion U.S. viewings. It inspired 50+ adaptations, from Broadway's Wicked (2003, $1.5 billion gross) to Once Upon a Time (2014-16). Garland's Dorothy voice-acted in animated specials, with Kari Wahlgren voicing a princess variant in 2017's Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.
| Adaptation | Actress | Year | Medium | Viewership/Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Bebe Daniels | 1910 | Silent Film | Rare screenings |
| The Wizard of Oz | Judy Garland | 1939 | Film | 8.1 IMDb, $5.3B adj. |
| The Wiz | Diana Ross | 1978 | Film | $21M gross |
| Return to Oz | Fairuza Balk | 1985 | Film | Cult classic |
| The Wiz Live! | Shanice Williams | 2015 | TV | 11.4M viewers |
Merchandise from ruby slipper replicas to Toto plush toys generates $100 million annually as of 2026 market reports. Garland's handprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre remain a pilgrimage site, visited by 5 million yearly.
In summary, Judy Garland's embodiment of Dorothy endures as Hollywood's pinnacle child performance, blending vulnerability and wonder that continues to enchant generations.
Key concerns and solutions for Actress Who Played Dorothy In Wizard Of Oz
How old was Judy Garland when she played Dorothy?
Judy Garland was 16 years old during principal filming from October 1938 to March 1939, turning 17 by the August 1939 premiere. Born June 10, 1922, she embodied a 12-year-old Dorothy despite her teenage physique altered by studio wardrobe.
Did Shirley Temple play Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz?
No, Shirley Temple was MGM's first choice but 20th Century Fox refused to loan her out. At 11, Temple had starred in 42 films; a test with her and Buddy Ebsen (Tin Man) was filmed, but contractual issues sealed Garland's casting on October 10, 1938.
What happened to the ruby slippers?
Four pairs of ruby slippers were made; one pair was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005, recovered by 2018 FBI efforts. Another pair sold for $32.5 million at auction in December 2024 to the Academy Museum, setting a screen-used prop record.
Who else was considered for Dorothy?
Deanna Durbin (Universal contract), Bonita Granville, and June Kurtz were screen-tested. Child star Shirley Temple topped the list, but Fox's refusal paved the way for Garland, as noted in MGM memos dated June 1938.
Why is Judy Garland's Dorothy the most famous?
Garland's Dorothy defined the role through Technicolor spectacle, "Over the Rainbow's" cultural ubiquity, and emotional authenticity, outshining 20+ adaptations per a 2024 Variety retrospective. No other version broke box office records or won Oscars.
Where is Judy Garland buried?
Initially buried in Ferncliff Cemetery, New York (1969-2017), Garland's remains were reinterred beside ex-husband Vincente Minnelli at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on December 17, 2017, fulfilling Liza Minnelli's wishes.