In nine episodes, Marvel's WandaVision took the world by storm. Both Marvel and non-Marvel fans found themselves enjoying the sitcom-inspired series and the new characters it introduced. Among those new characters is Agatha Harkness, played by Kathryn Hahn.
Hahn has played a number of humorous characters in comedic projects including Bad Moms and Mrs. Fletcher. In a recent interview with the A.V. Club, Hahn dished on what it was like breaking into the Marvel scene.
Most actors that join the MCU dive into the history of their characters and Hahn was no different. She mentions that at the beginning, she did a ton of research about Agatha and was given a "huge binder" from WandaVision producer Mary Livanos, that covered Agatha's extensive appearances in Marvel Comics. With Agatha emerging in so many issues, Hahn revealed that in the end, she "kind of had to throw all that away." Instead, Hahn identified what she found to be the consistencies of Agatha's character.
In Hahn's eyes, Agatha is still a witch, a nanny, a mother, and was still in New Salem. While Hahn thinks that even in Westview Agatha still is those things, she was pulled toward Westview because of Wanda's magic and went there in search of the magic that succeeded the knowledge she had cultivated for so many years.
Even though Agatha did not always have the purest intentions, Hahn does find a piece of herself in the witch. She mentions that witches are always connected to something natural in the world. This is also evident in Agatha's costume, as Hahn mentions her collaboration with costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo, who incorporated vines into Agatha's dress. The natural aspect of Agatha is what Hahn finds herself identifying with, especially in her physicality. In what Hahn refers to as Agatha's "full witch mode," she admits that the elemental feel of Agatha with dirty matted hair, nails, and her hand gestures, reminds her of when she was "a scrappy kid in Ohio."
While Agatha is considered the villain of WandaVision, Hahn didn't want her to feel that way throughout the entire show. As Hahn points out, Wanda and Agatha could have been friends, mentors, or even mother and daughter. As complex as Agatha and Wanda's on-screen relationship is, Hahn said that Elizabeth Olsen was a scene partner she was able to learn a lot from.
WandaVision is now streaming on Disney+.
Source: AV Club