Actress Elizabeth Olsen rose to prominence with the film “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and her role as Wanda in the “Avengers” franchise. We want to share more about her journey. More to come on los-angeles.pro.
Growing Up in California
Elizabeth Olsen was born on February 16, 1989, in Sherman Oaks, California. She grew up in the San Fernando Valley region, an area with a lower population density compared to other parts of Los Angeles. She is the younger sister of the famous twin actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The Olsen family was wealthy; her father worked as a mortgage banker, and her mother was a manager.
Elizabeth attended Campbell Hall School, an independent, co-educational Episcopal K-12 day school located in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles. Her famous twin sisters also attended this school, and all three are listed in the “Notable Alumni” section.
Beyond acting, she was interested in ballet and spent time at a musical theater camp. While her interests initially focused on ballet and later shifted to acting, she once considered a career away from the arts, even contemplating working as an accountant on Wall Street.
She eventually returned to acting in high school. However, in 2004, Elizabeth almost quit her acting career due to her sister Mary-Kate’s public battle with an eating disorder.
Elizabeth Olsen later enrolled at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. In 2008, she was an understudy in the production of the play “Dust,” and in 2009, she understudied in the Broadway production of “Impressionism.” These experiences helped her secure an agent.
Elizabeth Olsen graduated from New York University in January 2013.
The Olsen Siblings
Elizabeth has more than just her older twin sisters. She also has an older brother, Trent Olsen (full name, James). As a child, he appeared in a few projects with his twin sisters as well.
He attended Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles with his sisters before graduating from the University of Southern California. In 2014, he reportedly worked at Storm King Productions, and from 2014 to 2016, he authored several comic books.
David Olsen, the mortgage banker, remarried after his divorce. In his second marriage, he had a daughter, Courtney, and a son, Jake. Courtney Taylor Olsen was born on May 10, 1997. She has never pursued acting but is supportive of her famous siblings.
Jake Olsen, born in 1998, works in the entertainment industry. In 2016, he briefly worked as a model for Runway magazine. In 2022, he became a director’s assistant and appeared in a music video, and in 2023, he starred in an advertisement for Driply Coffee.
Early Roles
Elizabeth was influenced by the success of her older sisters. Starting at age four, she appeared in Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s films, but she soon wanted to develop her own film career. By the age of 11, the girl nicknamed “Lizzie” landed her first small roles in films like “How the West Was Fun” and “Our First Video.” Elizabeth also acted in the series “The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley.” She recalled that her early shoots were a source of fun, a way to have a good time after school.
In 2011, Elizabeth starred in two other projects: “Silent House” and “Peace, Love & Misunderstanding.” She then landed her breakthrough role in the thriller “Martha Marcy May Marlene.” This performance earned the young actress critical acclaim, including a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award.
Intermediate Work
- The drama “Kill Your Darlings,” filmed in 2013, gave Elizabeth a complex and ambiguous role.
- The 2014 blockbuster “Godzilla” allowed Olsen to enter the world of large-scale Hollywood projects.
- The 2017 mystical crime neo-Western “Wind River,” where Olsen showcased her dramatic skills.
- Another film starring Elizabeth Olsen released in 2017 was “Ingrid Goes West.” She played an obsessed fan who stalks a popular blogger.
- From 2018 to 2019, Elizabeth Olsen played a widow trying to cope with the loss of her husband in the American drama series “Sorry for Your Loss.”
- The American biographical limited series and crime drama “Love & Death” premiered in 2023. Olsen starred as the main character, Candy Montgomery, earning her another Golden Globe nomination.
- The American drama film “His Three Daughters” was also released in 2023.
The Avengers Franchise
The actress achieved global recognition for her role as Wanda, who later becomes the Scarlet Witch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe media franchise:
- “Avengers: Age of Ultron” was released in 2015;
- In 2021, viewers saw the miniseries “WandaVision,” for which the actress received nominations for both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award;
- The film “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was released in 2022.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe details Wanda, a refugee from Sokovia who, along with her twin brother Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver, volunteers for Hydra’s experiments. The Mind Stone amplified her innate telekinetic abilities and “chaos magic.” Wanda initially clashes with the Avengers but later joins them to fight Ultron. This character is one of the most powerful in the MCU.
Audiences follow the development of a romantic relationship between Wanda and Vision, a male android based on vibranium. When Vision dies during the battle with Thanos, Wanda becomes mentally unstable. She uses her powers to create a false reality, which brings out her ancient identity—the Scarlet Witch.
Fun Facts You Might Not Know
- Elizabeth Olsen’s acting career and personal life were influenced by Diane Keaton, an American actress who performed for over five decades.
- At one point, Olsen decided to change her last name to Chase to avoid being constantly associated with her famous sisters. She wanted to be recognized for her talent, not her family connections.
- It’s also interesting that she became an atheist at age 13. In one interview, she noted that true religion should be about community and a place for prayer, but not something that defines the freedom of women.
- After her initial move to New York, she earned a real estate license. This is a government-issued authorization that allows Elizabeth to represent a seller or buyer in real estate transactions.
- Elizabeth Olsen is a brand ambassador for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.
Personal Life
Fans are also curious about the actress’s personal life. From 2011 to 2014, Elizabeth dated Boyd Holbrook.
After their breakup and a pause from dating, Elizabeth began seeing musician Robbie Arnett from the band “Milo Greene.” This is an American indie-pop group from Los Angeles. The couple got engaged in July 2019, after which they moved to Los Angeles.
Interestingly, the couple found a shared project in their relationship: they co-authored children’s books, including “Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective” (2022) with illustrations by Marissa Valdez, and “Hattie Harmony: Opening Night” (2023).
The books are aimed at children aged 4 to 8. The character, Hattie Harmony, is full of warmth and humor, teaching children how to cope with anxiety. From the beginning, Elizabeth and Arnett aimed to create a character who could talk about complex feelings in a fun way.