I would have to say either Eden Espinosa, Julia Murney, Nicole Parker, Ana Gasteyer and Stephanie J. Block.
IMO, Eden looks like a teenage version of Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch from the 1939 film.
What are your thoughts???

Now let me first preface with my saying that I think Julia Murney is a beautiful woman. But I would have to say she has those angular features that Ms. Hmilton also possessed. Julia just has them in all the right places:)

As far as looks go I would have to say Nicole Parker. As for acting/movements I'm gonna go with SJB

Julia Murney is the correct answer.

I'd have to go with Julia Murney and Willemijn Verkaik.

Ana Gasteyer and Julia Murney have the sharp, angular-like features that just scream Maggie Hamilton XD

Julia Murney

I completely agree with you, those were the ones that came up in my mind too.

Julia Murney. She also resembles her physicality the most too, with the whole hunching over and hooked fingers.

For me it's definitely Julia Murney and Caissie Levy.

Idina, Julia, Willemijn.

Definitely Caissie Levy.

I completely agree.

Definitely Julia. Hahaha. I think she wins this one. Sharp features, definitely, and enhanced with the green makeup and the eyebrows and the highlights.

Ana and Julia most definitely.

There is a photo of Ana that is really a great example:

Julia Murney, Willemijn Verkaik, Caissie Levy, Ana Gasteyer, and Idina Menzel.

Willemijn Verkaik both in appearance and behaviour. She plays Elphaba as if she were a more detailed personification of the MGM film character.

Julia Murney in appearance and with some of her acting choices.

Carmen Cusack, I think, appears pointy in appearance in the role but also, like Willemijn, plays the role as the Wicked Witch of popular culture. Splayed, bent fingers and cackling voice in act 2 especially.

Ana Gasteyer certainly looks the part. I don't know a great deal about her performance to comment further.

^^Ana was very sarcastic. She delivered a lot of lines so brilliantly it made you laugh because of the sarcasm.

Julia Murney and Ana Gasteyer.

Julia Murney in appearance and acting, Stephanie Block because she did the witch voice.

Julia, Willemijn, Eden.

In descending order.

Julia Murney & Caissie Levy.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts on the subject.

Julia Murney and Willemijn.. Dee Roscioli somewhat but the other two def

I am going with the majority and saying Julia Murney with her angular features.

I love this topic cuz it's one I feel very strongly about. By that I mean I have been fortunate enough to see most of the broadway and tour Elphaba's. Julia definately wins as far as a Margaret Hamilton look alike. I even remember thinking in the scene right before For Good "wow THATS the wicked witch of the west". The reason I like this subject is because as talented as I think all the current Elphies are (understudies included) I do feel that the casting directors need to focus more on the character and not as much on who has a flawless voice. We have alot of actresses right now with powerhouse voices which is one of the important factors, however, I'm getting a little tired of the high school looking and sounding witch of the west's haha. Julia made a flawless transition from schoolgirl to the infamous icon we all know and love. VERY few Elphies do that now because for one, there just too young. I much prefer the age range of Idina, Steph, and Julia. Sorry for rambling haha but I just wish there could be more mature actresses in this role. By the end of the show I want to see the Wicked Witch of the West.

I think Eden is the total package for me in terms of looks, cackling/voice, etc. Others may look the part more but i love how she transitions from teen Elphaba to the witch in the castle scene and catfight.

I'm really glad you made this statement. I read the Maguire novel originally before the musical came about. I really do think his blueprint for Elphaba's character in the novel is the best one. I think much of the 'Wicked Witch' persona has gone from Wicked around the world. I would argue that those who developed Elphaba into the 'Wicked Witch' by act 2 are the exceptions; Julia, Idina, Carmen, Stephanie, Willemijn, Alexia and Eden. By that I don't mean the MGM portrayal necessarily but the twisted, bent, narky and sarcastic witch we all imagine. Actresses really bring out the best in the show when they depict the downward spiral from intelligent university student to the broken Witch of the West. Elphaba seems to be far too 'misunderstood' these days negating all other interpretations and seemingly diminishing the character's responsibility over her actions.

I don't see age itself being a large factor, rather the current interpretation of Elphaba and perhaps previous experience. I personally like more experienced actresses approaching the role whether younger or older. However, I think Wicked Inc. have settled on a type of Elphaba they like to cast and how they like the role to be played. Othewise interpretations would vary greatly rather than rarely. Sometimes I find it hard to tell the difference between one Elphaba and another as they're more frequently played the same way. This is a similar problem in The Phantom of the Opera in which actors are given the piece and told "this is how it pretty much goes". I think it must come from higher up. I remember an interview with Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack where they stated that their acting choices were restricted because the show was a franchise and therefore the roles had uniformities.

idinarules - I agree 100% in everything you just said.

Well thank's guys! I don't get chances to post often because I'm so darn busy so I'm glad to hear sum people agree with me haha.

I think Carmen Cusack most definitely.

Oh yeah, Carmen is another one.

For me, Julia Murney no contest. I think that everyone else summed it up perfectly though.

That's tough. I would have to say ethier Eden or Julia.

Julia Murney, totally. No contest. Not only does she look exactly like a witch in that green makeup, but she acts and sings exactly like I imagine the witch would.