Beth Broderick: Then and Now
Known primarily for her role in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Beth Broderick, full name Elizabeth Alice Broderick, has several more worth mentioning achievements under her belt. Amongst which are roles in series such as Lost and Under the Dome, but she's no stranger to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina either! With an extensive acting career, there's plenty to write about when it comes to Beth, so lets dive straight into it, shall we?
The origins of Beth Broderick
Born in Falmouth, Kentucky, she was interested in theater from a very young age onwards. Therefore it came as absolutely no surprise she ended up attending the American Academy of Arts as soon as she graduated from high school. Despite this, her acting career was off to a somewhat rocky start when she made her debut in two adult films that didn't end up doing all that well. These were followed by several minor roles until finally landing a much more significant role in the 1988 movie, Stealing Home.
The Road to Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Several more roles in both movies and television shows followed. Including The Bonfire of the Vanities, French Exit, Glory Days and The 5 Mrs. Buchanans which all preceeded Beth Broderick's time as Zelda Spellman in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. There were a few smaller roles along the way as well. Particularly in well known and established shows such as Married... with Children, Doctor Doctor and Matlock.
Beth Broderick as Zelda Spellman
While already having established herself as a great actress prior to joining the cast of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Beth Broderick definitely managed to rise to stardom quickly through her role as Zelda Spellman. One of two aunties who ended up taking in Sabrina to not just raise her, but to teach her on how to be a witch as well. As the middle child of several siblings, she's a force to be reckoned with and Beth most definitely managed to portray the character perfectly. From her intelligence to her level-headedness, she makes Zelda's interest in physics and chemistry look cool. Not to mention how she balances the arrogant and egotistical tendencies so well with her love and care for Sabrina. That teenage witch really couldn't have a better set of aunties!
Beth Broderick in Private
Born to Nina Lou and Thomas Broderick on February 24, 1959, Beth managed to graduate high school at sixteen and her graduation from the American Academy of Arts followed shortly after. While her acting career might not set off instantly, she was someone who wouldn't give up on her dream and kept trying. Something that most definitely ended up paying off, as many of us still fondly remember her for her role in what is arguably one of our favorite series: Sabrina the Teenage Witch. In her private life, she married twice, was a founding member of Momentum (one of New York's first organizations that helps people with AIDS) and a founding member of the Celebrity Action Council of the City Light Women's Rehabilitation Program. As of 2014 she moved to Austin, Texas. Which is where she primarily appears in theater productions and indie films.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Despite having retreated to Texas in 2014, Beth Broderick did make a much anticipated appearance in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in 2020. Starring in not one, but two episodes of the fourth and final season, it was a moment many fans of both STW and CAOS fans have been looking forward to. It all starts, when Sabrina travels to a parallel universe. Instead of landing in her bedroom, she finds out she's on a set. Which, you probably already guessed it, belongs to the Sabrina the Teenage Witch tv show. Of course, the 'actual' aunties are there as well, but they're only secondary to the Hilda and Zelda of the original show and nothing more than their stand ins. Which eventually leads to a double dose of Hilda and Zelda before Sabrina eventually finds her way back to her own universe.
Did You Know?
During their time on the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina show, Beth Broderick and Caroline Rhea got an extensive tour behind the scenes. This tour was given to them by none other than Lucy Davis (Hilda) and Miranda Otto (Zelda). Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the mastermind behind the CAOS comic books as well as the hit tv show, made sure to spend some time with the two sets of aunties as well. The four even ended up taking a picture on the staircase in the Spellman family home!