Elizabeth Olsen recently shared insights from her childhood, detailing how her older sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, influenced her early experiences in acting. In an interview with The Times, Olsen revealed that her sisters were “forced to watch all my plays my whole life and go to my dance performances.” Growing up in a high-profile family, these experiences shaped her approach to her career.
Reflecting on her relationship with her sisters, Olsen noted that they did not provide her with direct acting advice. “No,” she answered when asked if they had guided her in her early pursuits. “We’re just a supportive family. It feels irrelevant to talk about it after 15 years of working.” Despite their shared background in the entertainment industry, Olsen emphasized that acting was not an obvious path for her.
In her candid remarks, she explained, “When you grow up in L.A., you think it’s trite to want to become an actor.” The actress described the city as a place where many people aspire to make it in acting, leading her to believe it was a less noble pursuit. “I was a good student and knew there were other opportunities I could pursue, but I couldn’t think of what they were,” she added.
One of the key lessons Olsen learned from her sisters was the importance of saying “no.” She highlighted the empowerment that comes with this simple word, saying, “The word ‘No’ specifically was something that I remember my sisters isolating and it becoming really empowering.” She pointed out the significance of teaching that lesson to women, stating, “People say ‘Just say no to drugs’, but truly, you can just say no whenever the hell you want! It’s really a powerful thing.”
In a previous interview with Glamour UK in 2021, Olsen expressed her desire to establish her own identity apart from her sisters. She recalled considering dropping the family name during auditions, opting to use her middle name, “Chase,” instead. Despite the “chaotic” nature of her upbringing, Olsen affirmed that her family provided unwavering support throughout her journey.
As she continues to thrive in her career, notably with her role in WandaVision, Elizabeth Olsen’s childhood experiences reflect a blend of familial influence and personal determination. Her reflections highlight the complexities of growing up in the limelight while carving out her own path in the entertainment world.
