Real Life Wicked Witches: 9 Actresses Who Are Notorious On-Set Divas
Oz The Great And Powerful opens tomorrow, giving us some background on the beloved family classic, The Wizard Of Oz. The prequel staring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz tells the story of the of how the famed wizard arrived in the titular land, and also explores his relationship with the beautiful/terrifying Wicked Witch sisters, Theodora and Evanora!
We aren't too sure why they got nice and likable ladies like Mila and Rachel to star as the spooky twosome. We've got a list of some real-life Hollywood witches that would have worked out pretty well, too! Join us as we count down the 9 most notoriously snippy on-set divas in tinsel town. Enjoy!
9. Naomi Campbell
A supermodel since she was 16 – the greatest of all time, depending who you’re talking to -- this ballsy British bombshell is also one of the most disliked and feared women in the fashion industry. Forget the petty bitchery, like allegedly forcing designers to ban up-and-comer Tyra Banks from runway shows in the early ‘90s. No, we’re talking serious abuse charges . Between 1998 and 2008 alone, she was accused ten times of committing violent acts against her employees and other associates – like throwing a cell phone at her personal assistant, kicking and slapping her secretary, holding her assistant hostage, spitting on Heathrow police officers (she’s banned from British Airways for life!), and scratching her therapist’s face.
In her defense, she’s paid for the abuse with community service and a forever tarnished rep. A rehabilitated, post-anger-management Naomi recently told Elle magazine: "I’m never gonna get away from it. It’s party of my history. I was remorseful and regretful. I’ve served. I did that time. And I never want to be in that position again." We wonder what Banks has to say about Naomi leaving her bullying days behind her, since the Brit is now starring in what some are calling an America’s Next Top Model rip-off, The Face? Stay tuned.
8. Mischa Barton
Mischa, Mischa, Mischa. Once one of the most wildly sought-after starlets on the scene, the former OC actress is basically persona non grata on the sets, red carpets, and shoots that she frequented in the mid-to-late 2000s. Where did it go wrong? As a teen queen on The CW network’s marquee show, she had a disastrous substance abuse problem that led to stints in rehab and a DUI arrest in 2007 (to be fair, the troubled starlet thing was very trendy at the time, thanks to Lindsay, Nicole, Mary Kate, Paris and Brit-Brit). "She was on the path to self-destruction," says former OC stylist, Stacey Kives. "Mischa has been drinking since she was about 14…it was a matter of time before she hit rock bottom."
Mischa began showing up late to set and forgetting her lines, and in a gangster move, the producers ended up killing off her character, the unutterably beautiful, thoroughly wooden Marisa Cooper. After that, things get murky. She pulled the same stunts on the set of her next show, The CW’s The Beautiful Life (2009). And in 2010, shortly after a stint in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s psych ward, she guest-starred as a hooker on Law & Order: SVU – and alienated a whole new set of co-stars with her hard-partying. "She’s a regular at Antik," a source on set reported of the LA hot spot. "She comes late every Thursday and leaves late. A lot of times she’ll go to another club after she leaves."
These days, she’s retreated from acting regularly, and is focusing on sobriety and pulling her life together. She was lucid and lovely on Styled By June last year, and even commented on her shady past: "I was literally 17 when The OC blew up. The paparazzi and that craziness sucks the soul out of me…and made me a bit angry and want to do my own thing."
7. Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj may be rap's latest crossover princess, but she's also got a reputation for starting feuds with every other diva who crosses her path.
No one can forget how her argument with Lil' Kim tore the rap community apart, forcing Missy Elliot to speak openly about how their tussles have divided the female rap community. Minaj went after a more mainstream target this year when rumors started flying that she had verbally threatened fellow American Idol judge and pop goddess Mariah Carey's children. Some insiders claim it was for ratings, but Carey reportedly demanded an extra security guard for herself and "dem babies."
Of course, as Nicki Minaj put it plainly in her MTV documentary, while some might call her a bitch, she's really just bossing up. Word to the wise: don't ever give Ms. Minaj your pickle juice.
6. Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl's reputation, both professionally and culturally, took a major hit back in 2008 when she refused to submit her name for Emmy consideration, claiming that Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes had not written her part well enough to be considered for the prize. "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention,” she said in a statement that was positively dripping with shade. Rhimes responded by killing off giving Heigl's character a brain tumor, making her character perform emergency surgery on a deer and then having sex with a ghost, before having her "fired" after accusations of malpractice. This kerfuffle removed Heigl from America's Sweetheart contention, and her career has never been the same since.
5. Christina Aguilera
Poor Xtina lost out on the squeaky clean bubbly crown years ago to Britney Spears on The Mickey Mouse Club. She's always seemed to have something of a darker and harder edge, but reports from the set of The Voice prove that she's definitely gone full diva. Musical guests The Wanted called her "a total bitch" on 92.3 NOW FM. "She just sat there and didn't speak to us. Wouldn't even look at us," said Tom Parker. "She was quite rude," agreed Siva Kaneswaran, and Max George admitted that he found her "scary." This is the dude who dated Lindsey Lohan for a bit, so she must REALLY be fierce! In addition to reports that she controls every camera angle in which she's filled, fellow host Adam Levine also has beef with Christina. In fact, he called her a choice name...
4. January Jones
January is one of the coldest months of the year, and it seems January Jones is one of the iciest actresses in Hollywood. She never seems friendly or buddy-buddy with her Mad Men cast at events, but she's also been rude to funnyman Zach Galifinakis for no good reason. She threw Jason Sudeikis and a slew of other lovers under the bus when she refused to name the father of her baby. Not to mention, rumors are constantly swirling that she pulled a K. Stew on X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn, who like Rupert Sanders, is now mysteriously off the sequel.
If none of that was damning enough, even children don't like her! Child star Jared Gilmore, who played her son on Mad Men, splurged to TV Guide that you should "be careful around January (Jones). She's not as approachable as the others….Everyone else is so nice."
3. Shannen Doherty
Before she became the spokesperson for some weird online college, Shannen Doherty was once regarded as an acting talent. However, her torrid temper and inability to act civilly to her co-workers got her fired from roles on both Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed. Regarding the latter, Doherty reportedly refused to speak to co-star Alyssa Milano, except when the cameras were rolling.
2. Lea Michele
Lea Michele plays the snobby, overachieving Rachel Berry on Glee, a role that seems to have carried over to her real life as well. Waiters in New York City and Los Angeles shudder when she enters their restaurants, but that's nothing compared to what happened when Kate Hudson guest-starred on the show. Hudson let it slip (via a "source") that Michele was a "nightmare" to work with, and shared this charming anecdote about the Streisandian actress: "Once, during a technical delay, Lea snapped her fingers and said, 'Let's go. I have plans!'" Oh snap, what a witch!
1. Madonna
Madonna has been fending off reports that she's something of a ragin' B pretty much since her career began 30 years ago (gasp!). "I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay," she so famously said. Well, as long as she's cool with it. But there is definitely something about the Material Girl that rubs people the wrong way. Even Michael Jackson wasn't a fan, going so far as saying she "isn't a nice person." She beefs with Lady Gaga, Mel B, Angelina Jolie, her fans and even her own brother. And whatever you do, don't ever give her hydrangeas...
[Photo: Getty Images]