Diving Into The Real Lives Of The Women Of Marvel
Not only does Marvel dominate comic books, but they've taken over your TV and movie screen as well. With Avengers: End Game becoming the second highest grossing movie all-time domestically and worldwide, it's hard not to notice these heroes. The women superheroes are especially tough to miss. In 2019, Marvel gifted audiences with their first female lead, Captain Marvel as played by Brie Larson. On and off the screen, Larson is incredible, so what about the rest of the Marvel ladies? You're about to find out.
Olivia Munn As Psylocke
In X-Men: Apocalypse, one of Marvel's most beloved characters finally entered the fray. Olivia Munn had the honors to play Psylocke, a master combatant who can manifest swords with her telekinetic powers. She can also use shadows to teleport.
Psylocke isn't someone you want to upset. With her wide range of powers, she's sure to be a tough cookie in a fight. As far as which side she's on, Psylocke is more of an anti-heroine. Maybe Marvel will make her one of the good guys soon.
Olivia Munn In Real Life
Olivia Munn started her career as a journalist working on TV shows like the Daily Show (2010-11) and Attack of the Show (2006-10). Soon enough, she turned to acting full-time after giving journalism a good go. It took a little while, but she eventually landed a role on The Newsroom.
After that, her career began to shape up. Munn played in the drama-comedy Magic Mike, and after that, she never looked back to journalism. Munn also provided the voice of Koko in The Lego Ninjago Movie.
Gwyneth Paltrow As Pepper Pots
The only woman for Tony Stark is Pepper Potts. Gwyneth Paltrow breathes life into her role as Potts and easily convinces audiences that she and Robert Downey Jr. are really in love. She has her hands full trying to tame Iron Man, but she handles it well.
She started as an assistant before leveling up to CEO of Stark Industries. Potts will do anything for Stark, but not if he's risking his life for no reason. That's the last thing she wants to see.
Gwyneth Paltrow In Reality
In real life, Paltrow and Brad Falchuk are married. No, she isn't with Robert Downey Jr., but that would be adorable if it were true. In real life, Paltrow is a true Hollywood star. She's been in all types of films, so she has no fear of getting typecast.
In 2009, Paltrow even received a Grammy nomination for the Best Spoken Word Album for Children for her audiobook Brown Bear and Friends. Not only is she beautiful, but she's talented across the board.
Jennifer Lawrence As Mystique
Jennifer Lawrence made her first appearance in the Marvel realm in 2011's X-Men: First Class. She is an acrobatic, manipulative, shape-shifting hero that plays on both sides. With her powers, she can cause much trouble, pretending to be anyone else she wants.
Her only issue is her moral compass. Sometimes, Mystique does everything right and looks to be on the good side. Then, she'll make a decision that'll make the good guys not so proud of her. Who is her allegiance with, Magneto or Professor X?
Jennifer Lawrence In Real Life
Stepping into the X-Men role was big for Jennifer Lawrence, but let's not pretend she hasn't had more significant roles. Does anyone remember the Hunger Games starring Lawrence as the bow and arrow using babe?
Not only that, but she starred alongside Bradley Cooper in the romantic flick, Silver Linings Playbook. Lawrence won an Academy Award for her part and became the second youngest woman ever to win one. Not bad for a shape-shifting mutant who can't decide if she's good or evil.
Letitia Wright As Shuri
Letitia Wright plays Shuri, who is the sister of Black Panther and the princess of Wakanda. Black Panther shocked the world when it had record-breaking numbers at the box office, and Wright's character was widely popular.
Combining her intellect with the power of Vibranium, Shuri could easily give Tony Stark a run for his money when it comes to making the top of the line gadgets. She's the one who created the suit for the Black Panther!
Letitia Wright In Reality
Letitia Wright's popularity surge comes from her role as Shuri in Black Panther. Way before that, the British actress was very busy making her way to the top. She appeared in the drama Top Boy and made one appearance in the series Doctor Who.
For those who like Black Mirror, Wright starred in the controversial episode "Black Museum." It looks like Wright's fame will only continue to rise from here with the small possibility of her becoming the Black Panther at some point.
Elizabeth Olsen As Scarlet Witch
Elizabeth Olsen plays the sorcery known as Scarlet Witch or Wanda Maximoff. She made her first appearance in Captain America: Winter Soldier but didn't showcase her real power until Avengers: Age of Ultron. She started as a villain with her brother, but after he sacrificed his life for her, she changed sides.
She's the daughter of supervillain Magneto in the comic books, but the two have yet to meet in the movies. Her powers vary, but one of her best tricks is altering people's perceptions of reality.
Elizabeth Olsen In Real Life
Unless you weren't already aware, Elizabeth Olsen is the less famous and younger sister of the Olsen twins. It would be fair if you didn't know this since Elizabeth separated herself from the Olsen brand and blazed her own trail.
The twins made a name for themselves in acting early and now are flourishing in the fashion world. Splitting from them may seem like a bad idea, but Elizabeth seems to be doing fine for herself with all the big time films she's played in over the years.
Krysten Ritter As Jessica Jones
Krysten Ritter plays the role of the unsuspecting heroin Jessica Jones. During the day, she works out of her home office as a private investigator, but her night job is much different. With her superhuman strength, flight capabilities, and durability, Jones is a unique character.
Her show Jessica Jones on Netflix just got canceled, but they are still booting up for the third season that comes out in 2019. Jones might not be as crucial as other Marvel stars, but she is still one of the most fierce on this list.
Krysten Ritter In Reality
One thing you can say about Krysten Ritter is that she isn't afraid to play darker roles. If you recall, she was Jesse's girlfriend in the hit series Breaking Bad. Jessica Jones has a dark tone to it as well, especially in the first season.
Before acting, Ritter started as a model. After killing it on the runway, she appeared on hit shows like Law & Order, Veronica Mars, and Gilmore Girls. Ritter and Adam Granduciel announced they were expecting their first child in February 2019.
Sophie Turner As Jean Grey
In the past, Famke Janssen took on the role of mutant Jean Grey, and she did it for quite some time. Those days are gone, and now we have Sophie Turner taking over as the super powerful psychic living at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning.
When Jean Grey awakens her inner power as The Dark Phoenix, she easily becomes one of the most powerful characters in all of Marvel. Only Professor X can tame that side of her (mostly).
Sophie Turner In Real Life
In real life, Sophie Turner had the attention of the world on her and the rest of the Game of Thrones cast. With the last season having wrapped up in 2019, many were eager to see who would sit on the Iron Throne. Turner didn't get that, but she became the queen of the north.
Outside of Thrones, Turner married former boy band hunk, Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers in 2019. Turner's hot streak in 2019 continues as she has an X-Men movie revolving around her.
Brie Larson As Captain Marvel
Marvel finally introduced Captain Marvel into the Cinematic Universe in 2019. She's been around in the comics since the '60s, but it wasn't until this decade that fans got to experience this powerful heroine.
Producers announced that she is now the strongest character in the cinematic universe and we got to see some of her powers in action in her solo film and Avengers: End Game. Move aside, Iron Man, there's a new leader in town, and she'll fly through a spaceship to prove it.
Brie Larson In Reality
We first saw Brie Larson on the silver screen in 1998, appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Since then, she's come a long way from making sets in her garage and filming movies herself. Her big break came from playing one of the daughters in Raising Dad.
Larson secured an Academy Award in 2015 for her role in the movie Room. She also played Jonah Hill's love interest in 21 Jump Street. She's been all over, but now she will leave her mark as Captain Marvel.
Scarlett Johansson As Black Widow
To regular citizens, she's Natasha Romanova. To the other heroes of the world, they call her Black Widow. Scarlett Johansson made her first appearance as Black Widow in Iron Man 2. That's when fans witnessed her fighting skills, unlike any other around the globe thanks to the extensive training she received as a child.
She escaped that brutal upbringing and decided to fight for the good guys, who happen to be the Avengers. At one point, she even became the romantic plot point for The Hulk.
Scarlett Johansson In Real Life
Not only is Scarlett Johansson a big deal in the Marvel universe, but she's a Hollywood favorite. Who could forget her movie with Joaquin Phoenix, where she voiced the artificially intelligent computer that ended up breaking up with a human to "discover herself?"
Nominated for various awards thanks to her roles in Lost in Translation and A Love Song for Bobby Long, Johansson has been a fan favorite for quite some time now, which is why she will get a solo Black Widow film.
Zoe Saldana As Gamora
Besides the Hulk, it's safe to say Zoe Saldana's Gamora is the only green hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We first met our heroine in Guardians of the Galaxy and have since followed her journey through Avengers: End Game.
We learned that Thanos trained her since he became her father. She has superhuman strength, so don't let her color fool you. Gamora is one of the most skilled fighters on this list, and she has a tough attitude to match.
The Real Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana's career took off long before Avengers. Her big break came in 1999 when she appeared in Law & Order, but it would seem that Saldana likes changing the hue of her skin. Remember, she starred in the worldwide box office leading movie Avatar and was entirely blue?
Blue fit her well, and so did green. She's currently in the middle of filming the sequels to Avatar after a decade of waiting! Fans will soon get a healthy helping of her all over again.