Warning: Spoilers ahead for Wicked and Wicked: Forever.
According to Michelle Yeoh, the real witches in Wicked aren't the ones you immediately think of. And she would know, because she is one of them.
“There were only two witches in Oz,” Yeo told TODAY.com in a sit-down interview. “It was Madame Morrible and Elphaba.”
This may come as a surprise to fans of The Wizard of Oz“who think that when it comes to “Wicked” witches, that distinction belongs to the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), and the Good Witch, Glinda (Ariana Grande).
But to know the musical is to remember that the only two people in Oz with any magical powers are Elphaba and Morrible, not Glinda and certainly not the Wizard.
That's why Yeoh says her character, Madame Morrible, first aligns herself with Elphaba before eventually becoming her biggest adversary.
“She did not have the same gift and talent as Elphaba. But at that moment she thought: “I have found my muse. I couldn't do it, but now I have someone who can help me get to where I think it's for the goodness of Oz,” Yeoh explains of Madame Morrible's less than noble intentions for the young wizard.
If that's not enough to convince you that Morrible is the real wicked witch of the story, take a look at her initials: “MM.” Turn them upside down and what do you get? “WW” which stands for, you guessed it, Wicked Witch.
Without giving too much away, it's safe to say that Madame Morrible gets the ending she deserves in Wicked: For Good. Despite this, it's hard not to wonder if, despite her evil intentions, there is something redeeming about this character.
“I think the lesson to be learned here is don’t give in to your own desires and ambitions,” says Yeo. “Because (Madame Morrible) has forgotten the compassion and kindness she had in the beginning. And then she got lost in her own storm.”
Bringing the “scary” into Madame Morrible
Fresh off her Oscar win for Everything Everywhere at Once in 2023, Yeoh stepped into the role of an “evil” character. To portray Madame Morrible, Yeoh says she used past experiences to give the imposing headmistress Shiz her commanding presence.
“I think everything I've done, especially in my physical life, whether it be… from ballet to modern dance, sports, diving and all those things, has helped me focus on stillness rather than chaotic movement.”
Instead of playing Morrible as an over-the-top villain, Yeoh says she took a more subtle approach and worked to create Morrible's icy yet alluring appeal.
“That way she could command respect and awe. For example, how does she charm them? She attracts them,” explains Yeo. “That’s the scariest thing—when they’re charming and personable and listen to you and it feels like you’re the only one in her world.”
“In Madame Morrible's case, it was an art form that had to have that kind of seriousness,” she continues.
Morrible's high-necked suits and elaborate hairstyles also contributed to her intimidating height, Yeoh said.
“It was the combination of all this that helped me build Madame Morrible so that when she leaves, you come back and say: “Okay, I won’t mess with you!”
This isn't the first time Yeoh has used her inner stillness to bring a character to life. She says she also used it for her work in Memoirs of a Geisha and the 2018 hit rom-com Crazy Rich Asians, also directed by Jon M. Chu.
“The mother, Mrs. Eleanor Young, is also a very commanding figure, but not loud, she never raises her voice, but when she speaks in her tone, every gesture is measured and intentional. This is not taken lightly. Nothing like that,” says Yeo.
“So when she stops to look at you, you say, 'Okay,'” she adds.
Creating a Sisterhood
Based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, bringing Wicked and Wicked: For Good to the big screen was a multi-year effort that began back in the early 2000s.
Yeoh joined the cast in 2022 and simultaneously filmed the original and sequel along with the rest of the cast, including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
“You'll miss them because, at the end of the day, you have such a strong bond and it's family,” says Yeo, who explains that while goodbyes can be difficult, they are also an inevitable part of the business.
“It is what it is, but the good news is that if you get really close, they will always be there. I still talk to Jamie Lee Curtis, many years later. And on Crazy Rich Asians, we still have group chat,” she says.
As for Grande and Erivo, Yeoh says that even though the films are done, what she takes away from her co-stars is a strong sisterhood.
“We support each other. We believe in each other. We support each other. No questions asked, let's just go forward, up and above, let's just do it together,” says Yeo.
“And when we are not with each other, we do not forget that the connection will always be there.”
