Elizabeth Olsen Shares How Sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Supported Her Acting Journey
Elizabeth Olsen; Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen.
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Elizabeth Olsen Reflects on the Impact of Her Sisters’ Fame
In a recent interview, Elizabeth Olsen discussed the challenges of establishing her acting career against the backdrop of her sisters’ celebrity status. She revealed that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen felt "forced" to support her ventures in the arts.
The 36-year-old actress, known for her role in Eternity, recounted her childhood, describing it as "pretty chaotic." Growing up as the youngest of four siblings, she spent a significant amount of time on film sets while her sisters gained fame for their portrayal of Michelle Tanner on the popular sitcom Full House, which aired from 1987 to 1995. The twins not only starred in Full House but also appeared in other television series and movies during their early years.
“I was the youngest of four, and we were all born within five years,” Olsen shared, reflecting on her upbringing. “So now I think the idea of a calm bath and bedtime story routine is so tender and sweet because we didn’t have anything like that.”
Olsen expressed gratitude for the support her sisters provided, stating, “[They] were forced to watch all my plays my whole life and go to my dance performances.” Despite their own busy careers, Mary-Kate and Ashley remained encouraging while she forged her own path in acting.
The WandaVision star acknowledged that the rigorous scrutiny placed on her sisters influenced her. She nearly considered leaving the acting world due to the intense public attention they faced. “When you grow up in L.A., you think it’s trite to want to become an actor,” she explained. “It seems foolish — it’s a city where people come to act, and you should know better.”
In response to the familial pressures, Elizabeth considered adopting her middle name, Chase, in an effort to distance herself from the notion of nepotism. She was acutely aware of the implications of her last name even at a young age, saying, "I guess I understood what nepotism was… there is some sort of association of not earning something that I think bothered me at a very young age."
She ultimately chose to embrace her identity as an Olsen but worked diligently to prove herself on her own merits. Elizabeth honed her craft by studying at the Moscow Art Theatre School in 2009, which she described as a “profound” experience. Through her journey, she has sought to build a career that stands independent of her sisters’ legacy.
Reflecting on her choices, she remarked, “It feels irrelevant to talk about it after 15 years of working.” As her career continues to thrive, Elizabeth Olsen remains both appreciative of her upbringing and aware of the unique challenges that came with it.
Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen in ‘Full House’ in 1992.
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From left: Mary-Kate, Elizabeth and Ashley Olsen.
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Elizabeth Olsen at a screening of ‘Eternity’ in L.A. on Nov. 5, 2025.
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