The Woody Allen Film That Made Elizabeth Olsen Believe She Belonged in Hollywood

Elizabeth Olsen is a name that resonates with millions of Marvel fans around the world, thanks to her iconic portrayal of Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From her emotional journey in Avengers: Age of Ultron to her powerful role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Olsen has firmly established herself as one of the MCU’s most beloved stars. However, her career is far from confined to the Marvel universe.

While many associate her with larger-than-life roles in the superhero realm, Olsen’s career has also spanned a variety of genres and films. She made her debut in 2011 with the critically acclaimed thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene, followed by roles in horror films like Silent House, and big-budget productions such as Godzilla. Despite her immense success in Hollywood, Olsen credits one specific film as having played a pivotal role in shaping her as an actor—Woody Allen’s Annie Hall (1977).

In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Olsen shared how Allen’s collaboration with Diane Keaton in Annie Hall influenced her when she was a teenager. “Woody Allen — namely the Diane Keaton collaborative days — those movies were really important to me when I was like 15, 16 years old because it was when I discovered watching them and went through the canon,” Olsen reflected. This period of discovery, she explained, was a turning point in her understanding of her own potential in the industry.

Annie Hall stands as a landmark film in cinema history, with Allen’s portrayal of Alvy Singer and Keaton’s iconic role as Annie embodying a witty, neurotic, and refreshingly unconventional relationship. For Olsen, the film was a revelation. It showed her that not all female characters in films had to fit into traditional molds of sensuality or perfection; there was room for complexity, awkwardness, and intelligence.

For Olsen, the film demonstrated that there was a place for characters who weren’t defined by sex appeal or standard beauty. “I, for the first time, had seen a woman that I was like, ‘Oh, I can be that kind of a woman. I’m not really the nerd; I’m not really the character-y person. I’m not really the sexy one, but I am a neurotic, nervous, but semi-intelligent one, but I also say stupid things,’” Olsen said.

This realization was profound for Olsen, as it gave her the confidence to explore roles that felt true to herself, even if they didn’t fit the traditional Hollywood archetype. For the young actress, Annie Hall wasn’t just a film—it was a blueprint for what she could become in an industry that often prioritizes convention over individuality.

Through her diverse roles across film and television, including the critically acclaimed Wind River, Olsen has cemented her place as an actress who brings nuance and depth to every character. Her embrace of the “neurotic, nervous, but semi-intelligent” persona she saw in Keaton’s portrayal of Annie Hall allowed her to stand apart from the traditional roles often given to women in Hollywood, carving out her own space as a leading lady with substance.

In the years since, Olsen has continued to explore a variety of characters that defy simple categorization, from the troubled, complex Wanda Maximoff to the intense roles in independent films. And while Annie Hall was just one of the films that shaped her, it was undoubtedly the film that made her realize there was a place for her in Hollywood—a place where she could embrace her authentic self and be seen for her intelligence, wit, and emotional depth.

As Olsen’s career continues to evolve, Annie Hall will always remain a touchstone—a film that not only shaped her as a person but also played a key role in her journey to becoming one of the most respected actresses in Hollywood.