Elizabeth Olsen’s Career: From ‘WandaVision’ to ‘The Assessment’

Elizabeth Olsen began her career with powerful roles in independent films, quickly earning a reputation as a gifted actor. She first gained widespread attention for her intense and complex debut performance in 2011. While she is the younger sister of the famous Olsen twins, she carved out her own distinct path in Hollywood with her impressive range and dedication to her craft.

Over the next decade, Olsen balanced her work in smaller, character-driven films with a major role in one of the largest movie franchises in history. Her portrayal of Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe brought her global fame, allowing her to explore the character’s journey across multiple films and a hit television series. This list highlights the key roles that have defined her successful and varied career.

‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ (2011)

This psychological thriller was Elizabeth Olsen’s debut film and breakout role. She played Martha, a young woman who escapes a manipulative cult in the Catskill Mountains and tries to reconnect with her estranged sister. The film follows her as she struggles with severe paranoia and flashbacks, blurring the lines between her past and present.

Olsen’s performance received widespread critical acclaim. She portrayed Martha’s trauma with a haunting subtlety that was both captivating and disturbing. The role established her as a serious and talented actor right from the start of her career. For her performance, she was nominated for numerous awards, including the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

‘Red Lights’ (2012)

In this supernatural thriller, Elizabeth Olsen joined a cast that included Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver. The story is about two paranormal investigators who study and expose fraudulent psychics. Olsen plays Sally Owen, the top student of one of the investigators, who assists in their work.

Olsen’s character is intelligent and resourceful, serving as a key member of the investigative team. The role allowed her to hold her own alongside veteran actors in a suspenseful, plot-driven film. It demonstrated her ability to fit into an ensemble cast while still delivering a memorable performance.

‘Silent House’ (2012)

Elizabeth Olsen starred in this horror film about a young woman named Sarah who becomes trapped inside her family’s secluded lake house. As strange events begin to occur, she must fight for survival while uncovering a dark secret. The film is unique because it is edited to appear as if it were shot in a single, continuous take.

The movie’s real-time format placed immense pressure on Olsen, who is on screen for nearly the entire film. Her performance is a showcase of endurance and raw emotion, as she portrays escalating terror and desperation without cuts. ‘Silent House’ was a technically demanding project that proved her commitment and skill as a lead actor.

‘Peace, Love & Misunderstanding’ (2012)

This comedy-drama saw Olsen play Zoe, a college student visiting her estranged, free-spirited grandmother. The film centers on a family reunion where a conservative lawyer takes her two teenage children to meet their hippie grandmother, played by Jane Fonda. The story explores the clashes and connections between three generations of women.

Olsen’s character finds a summer romance and navigates the quirky dynamics of her newly reunited family. She provided a grounded and relatable presence amidst the film’s comedic and heartfelt moments. The role showed her lighter side and her ability to work within a family-focused narrative.

‘Liberal Arts’ (2012)

In this romantic comedy-drama, Elizabeth Olsen played Zibby, a 19-year-old college student. She forms a strong connection with a 35-year-old man, played by director and writer Josh Radnor, who is visiting his old university. Their bond develops through a shared love for literature, music, and classical arts.

Olsen portrayed Zibby with intelligence and maturity beyond her years, making the age-gap relationship feel genuine and compelling. Her performance was praised for its charm and intellectual depth. The film explored themes of nostalgia, aging, and romance, with Olsen’s character representing youthful idealism.

‘Kill Your Darlings’ (2013)

This biographical drama is about the early days of the Beat Generation poets. Elizabeth Olsen portrayed Edie Parker, the first wife of writer Jack Kerouac. The film focuses on a murder that brought together key figures like Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, and William S. Burroughs at Columbia University in the 1940s.

Olsen’s role was a supporting one, but she effectively captured the spirit of the era and the complex social circles of these famous writers. She played Edie as a smart and grounded woman caught up in a revolutionary and chaotic artistic movement. The film added another historical drama to her growing resume.

‘Oldboy’ (2013)

In Spike Lee’s remake of the South Korean thriller, Elizabeth Olsen played Marie Sebastian. Her character is a social worker who tries to help the protagonist, a man who was mysteriously imprisoned for twenty years. As she helps him investigate his past, she gets drawn into a dangerous and violent world.

The role was emotionally demanding, requiring Olsen to portray empathy, fear, and resilience. She served as the film’s moral center and a source of humanity in a dark and brutal story. Her performance provided a crucial emotional anchor amidst the film’s shocking twists and intense action sequences.

‘In Secret’ (2014)

Based on the 1867 novel ‘Thérèse Raquin’, this dark thriller stars Elizabeth Olsen in the title role. She plays Thérèse, a young woman trapped in a loveless, arranged marriage to her sickly cousin in 19th-century Paris. She begins a passionate and destructive affair with her husband’s friend, leading to tragic consequences.

Olsen’s performance captured the character’s journey from quiet repression to obsessive passion and, finally, to guilt-ridden torment. She powerfully conveyed the intense emotions of a woman desperate for freedom. The period piece was a showcase for her ability to lead a dramatic and emotionally complex film.

‘Very Good Girls’ (2014)

In this coming-of-age drama, Elizabeth Olsen starred alongside Dakota Fanning. They played best friends, Gerry and Lilly, who make a pact to lose their virginity during their last summer in New York City before heading to college. Their friendship is tested when they both fall for the same street artist.

Olsen played the more confident and rebellious of the two friends. Her character, Gerry, pushes her shy friend to be more adventurous. The film explored themes of friendship, first love, and the transition to adulthood, with the chemistry between Olsen and Fanning being a key strength.

‘Godzilla’ (2014)

Elizabeth Olsen had a main role in this blockbuster monster film that rebooted the famous franchise. She played Elle Brody, a nurse and the wife of the movie’s protagonist, a U.S. Navy bomb disposal officer played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. While her husband is on the front lines of the monster battle, she is in San Francisco trying to protect their young son.

The role was Olsen’s first major part in a big-budget Hollywood production. She portrayed Elle as a capable and compassionate character, providing the human emotional core of a story dominated by giant creatures and mass destruction. Her performance grounded the film’s spectacular action sequences.

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)

This film marked Elizabeth Olsen’s official debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Wanda Maximoff. Alongside her twin brother Pietro, she starts as an antagonist, using her telekinetic and telepathic powers against the Avengers. After realizing they are on the wrong side, the twins switch their allegiance and help fight the villainous Ultron.

Olsen brought a mix of anger, grief, and vulnerability to the powerful character. She established Wanda as a complex figure haunted by her past. Her introduction was a significant moment, as Wanda Maximoff would go on to become one of the most important and powerful characters in the entire MCU saga.

‘I Saw the Light’ (2015)

In this biographical film about country music legend Hank Williams, Elizabeth Olsen played Audrey Williams. She was Hank’s first wife, manager, and duet partner, whose own musical ambitions and turbulent relationship with him were a major part of his life and career. The film chronicles his rise to fame and his struggles with health and addiction.

Olsen’s portrayal of Audrey was sharp and commanding. She depicted a determined woman who was both a supportive partner and a source of conflict in the singer’s life. The role required her to sing, and she convincingly played a complex historical figure in a challenging relationship.

‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)

Olsen reprised her role as Wanda Maximoff in this pivotal MCU film. Now an official member of the Avengers, her immense power becomes a point of controversy after a mission goes wrong. This event helps trigger the Sokovia Accords, the legislation that divides the Avengers and forces them to choose sides between Captain America and Iron Man.

Wanda’s journey in this film is one of learning to control her abilities while dealing with guilt and public fear. Olsen explored the character’s vulnerability and her growing bond with Vision. Her role was central to the ideological conflict that drove the film’s plot, showing her evolution into a key player in the franchise.

‘Ingrid Goes West’ (2017)

In this dark comedy, Elizabeth Olsen played Taylor Sloane, a seemingly perfect social media influencer living in Los Angeles. She becomes the object of obsession for the film’s unstable protagonist, Ingrid, who moves to L.A. to befriend her. The movie satirizes the curated and often fake nature of Instagram culture.

Olsen’s performance perfectly captured the essence of a modern influencer, from her pristine aesthetic to her carefully crafted online persona. She balanced Taylor’s surface-level charm with hints of insecurity and emptiness, creating a character that was both a product and a victim of social media.

‘Wind River’ (2017)

This neo-Western thriller featured one of Olsen’s most praised performances. She played Jane Banner, a rookie FBI agent sent to a remote Native American reservation in Wyoming to investigate a murder. Unprepared for the harsh environment and local customs, she enlists the help of a local wildlife tracker, played by Jeremy Renner.

Olsen portrayed Jane’s transformation from an inexperienced outsider to a determined and capable investigator. She conveyed the character’s mix of vulnerability and strength as she confronted the brutal realities of the case. Her powerful performance was a key element in the film’s tense and emotional story.

‘Kodachrome’ (2018)

In this drama film, Elizabeth Olsen played Zooey Kern, a nurse and assistant to a famous, dying photographer. She joins the photographer and his estranged son on a road trip to the last lab in the country that develops Kodachrome film. Along the way, she acts as a mediator between the two men as they try to reconcile.

Olsen provided the heart of the film, bringing warmth and compassion to her role. Her character helps bridge the emotional gap between the father and son. The part showcased her ability to shine in a character-driven story, delivering a subtle and moving performance.

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)

Olsen returned as Wanda Maximoff, now also known as the Scarlet Witch, in this massive MCU crossover event. Her romantic relationship with Vision is a central part of the story, as the Mind Stone embedded in his forehead is one of the Infinity Stones that the villain Thanos is hunting. The couple is forced to go on the run to protect Vision.

In this film, Wanda’s powers are shown to be stronger than ever, and she is faced with an impossible choice. Olsen’s emotional performance highlighted the personal stakes of the universe-ending conflict. Her scenes were some of the most dramatic and heartbreaking in the entire movie.

‘Sorry for Your Loss’ (2018–2019)

In this acclaimed web television series, Elizabeth Olsen took on the lead role of Leigh Shaw, a young writer struggling to put her life back together after the sudden death of her husband. Each episode explores a different aspect of her grief as she uncovers secrets about his life and navigates her relationships with her family.

Olsen, who also served as an executive producer, gave a raw and nuanced performance that earned her a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination. She expertly portrayed the complex and often messy reality of grief with honesty and depth. The series was a powerful showcase for her incredible talent as a dramatic actor.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

After being a victim of Thanos’s snap in the previous film, Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch returned for the epic conclusion. She comes back during the final battle and has a powerful confrontation with Thanos, unleashing the full extent of her rage and grief over the loss of Vision.

Although her screen time was limited, her appearance was one of the most memorable moments in the film. She demonstrated just how powerful the Scarlet Witch had become, single-handedly overwhelming the main villain. This moment set the stage for her character’s future and her central role in subsequent MCU projects.

‘WandaVision’ (2021)

This Disney+ series put Elizabeth Olsen’s character at the very center of the story. Following the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame’, a grieving Wanda Maximoff creates an alternate reality in a small town, living out an idyllic suburban life with a magically recreated Vision. The series unfolds like a mystery, jumping through different decades of sitcom history.

Olsen’s performance was a tour de force, earning her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She flawlessly shifted between comedic sitcom personas and the raw, heartbreaking grief that fueled Wanda’s actions. The series was a deep character study that fully explored her trauma and immense power, officially naming her the Scarlet Witch.

‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ (2022)

In this sequel, Elizabeth Olsen returned as the Scarlet Witch, but this time as the film’s primary antagonist. Corrupted by a dark magic book known as the Darkhold, she hunts for a new reality where she can be with her children. Her immense power makes her a nearly unstoppable force as she tears through the multiverse.

Olsen fully embraced her character’s villainous turn, delivering a performance that was both terrifying and tragic. She portrayed the Scarlet Witch as a figure consumed by grief, whose desperate love for her family turned her into a monster. Her role was a bold and dark evolution of the character she had played for years.

‘His Three Daughters’ (2023)

This intimate drama stars Elizabeth Olsen alongside Natasha Lyonne and Carrie Coon. They play three estranged sisters who reunite in their childhood home to care for their father during his final days. Olsen plays Christina, a self-described “momfluencer” who clashes with her sisters over their father’s care.

The film is a character-driven piece that relies heavily on the performances of its three leads. Olsen’s portrayal of Christina explored themes of family resentment, grief, and the different ways people cope with loss. Her performance was praised for its depth and for capturing the complex dynamics of sibling relationships.

‘The Assessment’ (2024)

Elizabeth Olsen starred in this science-fiction thriller set in a near-future world devastated by climate change. In this society, prospective parents must undergo a grueling, seven-day assessment to determine if they are fit to have a child. Olsen’s character and her partner’s relationship is pushed to the absolute limit by the intense process.

The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, is a tense psychological drama. Olsen’s role required her to navigate a high-stakes, emotionally draining scenario. Her performance explored the pressures of parenthood and societal control in a dystopian future.

Let us know which Elizabeth Olsen role has left the biggest impression on you in the comments below.