Judy Garland was just 16 years old when she was cast as Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were often given to young actors to help them sleep after studios shot them up with adrenaline so they could work long hours.
Garland’s mother gave her and her two sisters pep pills to help them keep up with the demanding schedule and maintain their performances.
MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy diet of cigarettes, coffee, and chicken soup.
The adult cast The Wizard of Oz resented the teenager’s attention and were concerned that she would overshadow them in the film. Instead of giving the insecure girl the support she desperately needed, she was shunned by the four male leads: Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion), Ray Bolger (Scarecrow), Jack Haley (Tin Man), and Frank Morgan (Wizard of Oz). Ironically, her one lifeline and adult friend on the set was Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West.
