How a 1994 Song by Her Sisters Inspired Elizabeth Olsen’s Unexpected Role
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Elizabeth Olsen, an acclaimed American actress known for her portrayal of Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has had a career filled with diverse and complex roles. From Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) to the critically acclaimed WandaVision (2021), Olsen has shown immense versatility. However, her early career holds a unique connection to a song that has since become a viral part of her legacy. This article explores how a song from her childhood, “B-U-T-T Out,” played a significant role in one of her first film appearances.
Early Career and the “B-U-T-T Out” Song
In 1994, when Elizabeth Olsen was just four years old, she appeared in the short film The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley: The Case of Thorn Mansion. This film, a mystery-solving adventure for young viewers, featured a playful song titled “B-U-T-T Out.” The track, created by her older sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, was a cheeky “diss track” aimed at Elizabeth, highlighting the sibling rivalry between them.
The lyrics of “B-U-T-T Out” are a humorous take on the sisters’ reluctance to have Elizabeth join their adventures, with lines like, “We’d rather be picked up by a twister / Than tagged along after by a sister.” Elizabeth, at such a young age, appeared in the video for the song as herself, directly tied to the playful narrative in the lyrics.
The song’s chorus emphasized, “B-U-T-T Out! B-U-T-T Out! Turn your tiny frame about and B-U-T-T Out!” This became a memorable moment for fans of the Olsen twins and has recently gained viral attention, particularly during the 2021 release of WandaVision. On social media platforms like X, the song gained a resurgence, further cementing its place in Olsen’s career history.
The Role in The Case of Thorn Mansion
Elizabeth’s appearance in The Case of Thorn Mansion was unique because she wasn’t playing a traditional character, but rather herself, directly influenced by the song written about her by her sisters. The song’s narrative was so personal that it shaped her inclusion in the film, making it a one-of-a-kind instance in her career where a role was explicitly inspired by a song. At the time, Elizabeth was too young to have a full-fledged acting career, but this brief appearance is a quirky chapter in her early career.
Exploration of Other Roles
To ensure completeness in understanding Olsen’s career and potential musical influences, a review of her subsequent roles was necessary. Notably, her portrayal of Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was not inspired by a song. While WandaVision featured musical numbers like “Agatha All Along” and “Sokovian Lullaby” (which she performed), her character’s creation and backstory are deeply rooted in Marvel Comics rather than any particular song.
Other roles in films such as I Saw the Light (2016), where she portrayed Audrey Williams, the wife of country singer Hank Williams, were based on real-life people rather than inspired by specific songs. Similarly, in her other notable films like Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), Godzilla (2014), and Wind River (2017), no connections to music were found. These roles were driven by themes such as psychological drama or action, not by songs or musical influences.
Analysis and Conclusion
While it’s clear that Elizabeth Olsen’s more recent roles were shaped by her acting talent and the stories told within those films, the early role she played in The Case of Thorn Mansion is distinct in that it was directly inspired by the song “B-U-T-T Out.” The song was specifically written about her, and her appearance in the video was a result of the playful and personal nature of the lyrics. Despite the minor role, this instance stands out as a unique case where a song inspired an actress’s involvement in a project.
Though the query may imply a role inspired by a song in a more traditional sense, the viral nature of the song and its connection to Elizabeth’s early career provide a fitting answer. The song “B-U-T-T Out,” which was once a playful family moment, has become a fun, nostalgic piece of Olsen’s history, particularly as fans revisit it during her later success with WandaVision. This role, though small, remains an interesting and personal chapter in her career that connects her acting journey to a viral moment.



