#11 The Grand High Witch Eva Earnst
Roald Dahl has a remarkable talent for creating characters that linger in the imagination long after the final page, and few are as unforgettable as the Grand High Witch from his 1983 classic The Witches. Celebrated with the Whitbread Children’s Book Award the same year, the story introduced readers to a terrifyingly clever villainess determined to rid the world of children by turning them into mice.
Bringing this iconic character to life on screen has been a challenge taken on by some of Hollywood’s finest. Angelica Huston delivered a chilling yet captivating portrayal in the 1990 adaptation, balancing menace with dark humor. More recently, Anne Hathaway took on the role in the 2020 remake, infusing the character with modern energy while staying true to Dahl’s vision of a cunning, all-powerful antagonist. The Grand High Witch remains a perfect example of how a masterful villain can capture audiences across generations, cementing her as one of literature and film’s most enduring female characters.