The 1939 classic movie The Wizard Of Oz is one of the most beloved movies of all time, and it remains popular with audiences to this day. While the movie itself is timeless, however, it wasn’t very fun to film for star Judy Garland, who played Dorothy Gale.

Filming The Wizard Of Oz was a literal nightmare for Garland, as studio executives forced the then-16 year-old to follow a rigorous diet in an attempt to make her appear smaller and younger. Garland was banned from eating anything other than chicken soup and black coffee, and she was forced to smoke up to 80 cigarettes a day to suppress her appetite. She even had to wear a corset and tape down her breast to make herself appear younger.

Garland’s character of Dorothy may have instantly become friends with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the lion, but the actress found herself being made into an outcast on set after she didn’t bond with any of her costars. Collider reported that the other actors resented Garland because they felt like she was upstaging them, so they shunned her behind the scenes. She would later say that she only had one friend on the set of that movie, and it wasn’t a human one.

“I was always lonesome. The only time I felt accepted or wanted was when I was on stage performing,” Garland said. “I guess the stage was my only friend; the only place where I could feel comfortable. It was the only place where I felt equal and safe.”

Believe it or not, the only actor to show Garland any kindness on the set of The Wizard Of Oz was Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West.

Garland managend to persevere through the diet and the loneliness to give an absolutely stellar performance as Dorothy that has since gone down in history, and she even ended up being given a special Academy Award for her performance. The movie would stick with Garland her entire life until her untimely death in 1969 from a barbiturate overdose at the age of 47.

“I’ve always taken The Wizard of Oz very seriously, you know,” she once said. “I believe in the idea of the rainbow. And I’ve spent my entire life trying to get over it.”

This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.

Read more at UpliftingToday.com:
Melissa Gilbert Says She Would ‘Punch’ The ‘Little House On The Prairie’ Cast Mate Who Slept With Her Husband
Meghan Markle’s Ex-Husband Speaks Out To Give Blunt Comment About The Royal
Barack Obama Reveals Malia’s Boyfriend Quarantined With Their Family This Year

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rob Maness.