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"I Am Agatha:" Kathryn Hahn Reveals How She Mirrors Her MCU Role And What The Cast Of Agatha All Along Represents
Agatha All Along’s Kathryn Hahn opened up about what she has in common with the titular witch, as well as the mythological influences on her portrayal. The actress originated the role of Agatha in 2021’s WandaVision, where the witch attempted to steal Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch’s magic, only to be trapped powerless. Hahn’s character proved extremely popular, and she received her own spin-off, Agatha All Along, in 2024. Also starring Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Patti Lupone, Ali Ahn, and Aubrey Plaza, the series follows Agatha and her coven as they journey down the fabled Witches’ Road.
In an appearance on Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals series, Hahn discussed her connection both to the mythology surrounding witches and Agatha as a character. Speaking about the independent nature of witches, the actress emphasized how Agatha “doesn’t care about” or “need men at all.” She specifically highlighted how Agatha had her son, Nicholas Scratch, without a father being involved, stating: “Like all of a sudden they’re pregnant, and you’re like, ‘how is that witch pregnant?’ Because they know there’s no, no man involved.“
Per Hahn, “they just live on the outskirts saying whatever they want, being as loud as they possibly want, and [having] magic, which [she thinks] women have already.” As for how she relates to her MCU role, the actress simply said: “I am Agatha.” Unpacking how mythology informed her understanding of Agatha, she continued:
“I do feel her very, she’s like one of the parts I felt the most kindred spirit with, you know, they call Hecate, this Greek creature that contains the maiden, mother, crone. And there’s like three stages of some women’s lives, but… there’s something about the witch that is all three. Like she carries all three at all times. And the crone is, of course, the most wise, the most, doesn’t mean need a man at all. She’s the one that they all kind of look up to.”
“So I feel like in this show, I was walking through all these portals to her cronehood, and that was, it was like each, each trial was another, like, lesson of letting your youth go kind of in a way.”
Hahn then credited her costars for also suiting their witchy roles and the unique bonds of their characters. She said: “We had such an amazing cast of all ages, so like incredible women and… incredible queer people, Joe Locke… So, it definitely felt like a little coven because we were… It was such a scrappy group that aren’t usually represented, especially in Marvel. So it felt very wicked stepsister-y.“
Agatha All Along is a show that embraces the unique form of feminity found in witches. Hahn uses mythology to break down Agatha’s arc, which saw her transition from the mother to the crone by making peace with her son’s death and becoming a mentor to Billy Maximoff/Wiccan. This tracks because, in Hahn’s description, the crone is meant to be the wisest, and she has now accepted that role with, of all people, her nemesis’ son.
Related
Kathryn Hahn addresses which characters she wants Agatha to interact with in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, aside from her nemesis, Wanda Maximoff.
As for how the cast members relate to their roles, Hahn isn’t the only one who has noted their similarities. Recently, when asked in an interview who in the Agatha All Along cast was most similar to their character, Locke said “all of them.”
Hahn’s understanding and commitment to Agatha come through in every scene. She took a villainous character and gave her vulnerabilities and flaws while still making her a fun on-screen presence. A large part of that is how Hahn leveraged her mythological knowledge in her portrayal of Agatha’s shift into more of a mentor role. Moreover, the cast sold their status as a ragtag group of outcasts, each with immense potential, and that’s the key to Agatha All Along’s success.
7/10
- Release Date
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2024 – 2023
- Showrunner
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Jac Schaeffer
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Agnes O’Connor / Agatha Harkness
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