Wanda Maximoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Wanda Maximoff is a character portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, she is depicted as a Sokovian orphan who, alongside her twin brother Pietro Maximoff, volunteers to undergo Hydra's experiments with the Mind Stone, which awaken Wanda's latent mythical ability to harness chaos magic and imbue her with psionic and telekinetic powers. Wanda and Pietro join Ultron to seek revenge against Tony Stark for the death of their parents, but defect to the Avengers upon learning of Ultron's plan to cause human extinction, during which Pietro is killed.

Wanda becomes one of the Avengers' most powerful members and develops a romantic relationship with team member Vision until he is killed by Thanos and she falls victim to the Blip. Despite being restored to life five years later, Wanda grows mentally unstable due to Vision's death and, in her grief, uses her abilities to trap the town of Westview, New Jersey, in an idyllic suburban false reality in which she marries Vision, bears twins Billy and Tommy Maximoff, and comes into conflict with S.W.O.R.D. and Agatha Harkness, culminating in the manifestation of her ancient prophesied identity as the Scarlet Witch. After collapsing the "Hex" reality, Wanda is corrupted by the Darkhold and attempts to take teenager America Chavez's multiverse-traveling abilities to reunite with alternate versions of her children. Wanda defeats Stephen Strange and the Earth-838 Illuminati, but becomes overwhelmed with guilt when confronted by that reality's Billy and Tommy, causing her to sacrifice herself to destroy all copies of the Darkhold across the multiverse.

Wanda has appeared in seven MCU films, beginning with a cameo in the mid-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and starred in the Disney+ television series WandaVision (2021). Alternate versions of the character have appeared in the animated series What If...? (2021-2023). Olsen's performance has been well-received and garnered several accolades, earning her nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.