Elizabeth Olsen has proven that she is a talented acting powerhouse. Regardless of the role or genre, she never fails to bring the characters she portrays to life with a brilliance that fans and critics alike have noticed. More recently, she was even nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for her work on Wandavision.
While her role as Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made her into a household name, she’s been performing in feature films and television series for over ten years. She has shown the world her talent is undeniable through numerous, breathtaking performances.
10She Proved Herself With Her First Leading Role In Silent House
The horror genre rarely gets noted for its performances, even though they often deserve praise. In Olsen’s first lead film role, she portrays a young woman, Sarah, trapped in her family’s lake house when sinister forces attack.
Silent House was shot to appear like it was shot in one long take, allowing viewers to follow the terror in “real-time.” While the film itself doesn’t bring much new to the genre, and could use some more memorable villains, Olsen’s performance is fantastic. Fans and critics noted that she carried the film in its entirety.
9In Godzilla She Proved A Monster Film Could Make Room For Honest Performances
Big blockbuster monster movies generally exchange acting talent for the required combination of CGI and action. However, Elizabeth Olsen proves this subgenre have it all with her brilliant portrayal of Elle Brody in Godzilla (2014).
In this 30th film in the Godzilla franchise, a soldier is caught in a war between Godzilla and two MUTOs as he tries to return to his family. Olsen, as his wife Elle, manages to bring nuance and realism to an otherwise outrageous film.
8She Brings A Realistic Portrayal of Teenage Emotion In Very Good Girls
The coming of age film, Very Good Girls, tells the story of two teenage girls, played by Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen, as they make a pact to lose their virginity before starting college. Things get complicated when they fall for the same guy and an inevitable love triangle ensues.
While the film received mostly negative reviews from critics, it was praised for its two young leads’ performances. Thanks to her Olsen’s portrayal, it’s impossible not to love her as the emotional and affable Gerri.
7Her Range Is Showcased In I Saw The Light
I Saw the Light is the biographical dramatization of Hank Williams’s life, focusing on his marriage and divorce. It stars Elizabeth Olsen as his wife, Audrey, and another recognizable MCU face, Tom Hiddleston as Hank himself.
Olsen’s range is showcased here as she portrays Audrey Williams at various stages of their relationship. Her emotional depth in the portrayal of a woman struggling with life as the spouse of a country music legend and all of his dalliances and drinking is exceptional. As an added bonus, it’s a delight to hear her and Tom sing Hang Williams songs together in Southern dialect.
6Wind River Shows Her Grit
In another pairing with a fellow member of the MCU, Olsen stars in Wind River with Jeremy Renner, of Hawkeye fame. The film follows the mysterious murder of a young Native American woman on a reservation in Wyoming. Renner stars as a veteran hunter and Olsen as a rookie FBI agent as they try to find answers that will lead them to the person responsible for the crime.
The film is beautifully written and directed by Taylor Sheridan (popular for the hit series Yellowstone) and Olsen’s gripping performance will keep you on the edge of your seat.
5She Forced The World To Take Notice With Wandvision
When Wandavision hit Disney+ in 2021, Elizabeth Olsen became a household name. While she had portrayed Wanda Maximoff numerous times throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the series marked her first time leading a story as a title character.
She was able to beautifully pull off Wanda in multiple sitcom scenarios throughout the decades. The series culminates in the realization that she fabricated the world she’s inhabiting through her intense grief. Even though Wanda committed unspeakable acts by trapping an entire town in her fake reality, viewers were sympathetic to the character thanks to Olsen’s captivating performance that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
4Martha Marcy May Marlene Made Her An Indie Darling
Martha Marcy May Marlene is a dark tale about a young woman, Olsen, who escapes a cult and attempts to re-assimilate into society with her sister’s help, played by the equally talented Sarah Paulson. The film jolts between modern-day and flashbacks to Martha’s cult life brilliantly, shedding light on her past trauma in quick glimpses.
Elizabeth brings a brilliant performance to life as Martha, showcasing the harrowing effects of PTSD caused by her time at the cult’s farm. The film brought her into the spotlight in the indie world when it premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2011.
3Ingrid Goes West Showcases Her Quirky Side
Back in the indie spotlight, Olsen starred alongside Aubrey Plaza in the dark comedy Ingrid Goes West. The film centers around a problematic young woman, Ingrid, played by Aubrey Plaza, and her obsession with internet fame. The plot revolves around her attempts to befriend her Instagram idol, Taylor, brought to life by Elizabeth Olsen.
2In Sorry For Your Loss, She Portrays The Brutal Realties Of Grief
Sorry for Your Loss is a brilliant series that has gone mostly unnoticed due to its release via Facebook Watch. It follows a young widow, Olsen, as she struggles to cope with the unexpected death of her husband. Her performance is remarkable and she brings the character to life with a nuanced, raw performance that almost feels voyeuristic to watch.
Running for two seasons, Sorry for Your Loss is quite possibly one of Olsen’s most impressive performances. Between this role and her role as Wanda Maximoff, it’s safe to say she portrays young women living with grief brilliantly.
1She Proves She Can Do Anything With Her Performance In Doctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness
Fans of the MCU had already fallen in love with Olsen as Wanda Maximoff when Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness hit the big screen. When she was revealed as the villain at the film’s start, it wasn’t a huge surprise. However, throughout the film, viewers were shown the true range of her talent. Not only did Olsen play the Wanda viewers had grown to love, but she also embodied a brutal, menacing Scarlet Witch.
As if that wasn’t enough, Olsen also portrayed Wanda in another universe (838), the average, loving, suburban mother to Tommy and Billy. In an integral scene, she manages to play all three; as the Scarlet Witch realizes she is the monster, Olsen’s eyes seem to flicker between personas, bringing Wanda back to the moment. Her work in the film truly proves she is capable of anything as an actres
