I’m here to sing the praises of Kathryn Hahn and her phenomenal turn as the fan-favorite witch Agatha Harkness in the hit Marvel series “Agatha All Along.” From her gleeful cackling to her metaphorical mustache-twirling, Hahn’s performance as the deliciously wicked Agatha has earned her legions of new fans and cemented her status as one of the most versatile and compelling actors working today.
Admittedly, many viewers likely saw Agatha as little more than a one-dimensional villain when she first appeared as the nosy neighbor “Agnes” in “WandaVision.” But in the hands of Hahn and series creator Jac Schaeffer, the character has evolved into a deeply complex and tragically compelling antihero.
“Agatha Harkness isn’t an antihero quite yet, but her profoundly tragic story proves that she’s always been legions more than just a one-dimensional bad girl,” I wrote in a previous blog post. And Hahn’s performance is the driving force behind that transformation.
The actress seamlessly navigates the character’s mercurial shifts, transitioning from gleeful villainy to heartbreaking vulnerability with breathtaking ease. Hahn infuses Agatha with a palpable humanity that makes it impossible for viewers to write her off as a purely evil antagonist.
As Hahn herself put it, Agatha is a character who loves performing and has a “very geeky side” that any potential long-term partner of DiCaprio’s would need to embrace. And Hahn embodies that duality with remarkable skill, delivering both the character’s over-the-top theatrics and her quieter, more introspective moments with equal conviction.
However, Hahn’s exceptional performance goes beyond merely showcasing her technical skills. It’s a culmination of her decades-long career, a synthesis of all the grounded, flawed, and “messy” female characters she’s breathed life into over the years.
“I love telling those stories,” Hahn has said. “A significant number of the women I grew up with are the ethically gray, crunchy women who are not camera-ready, have messy hair, and are not adept at applying makeup.”
And in Agatha Harkness, Hahn has found the perfect vessel to explore those complex, deeply human characters. The character’s tragic backstory, her profound grief, and her inability to escape the cycles of trauma that have defined her life all serve as powerful reflections of the kinds of stories Hahn has gravitated toward throughout her career.
But beyond the impressive emotional depth Hahn brings to the role, she also completely embodies Agatha’s physical presence, from the character’s regal posture to her delightfully campy flourishes. The actress credits her costume designer, movement coach, and the comics themselves for helping her unlock Agatha’s unique physicality, but it’s Hahn’s own keen instincts and deep understanding of the character that truly bring it to life.
The sheer virtuosity of Hahn’s performance struck me as I watched her seamlessly transition between Agatha’s various personas—from the prim and proper “Agnes” to the gleefully villainous “Agatha Harkness”. It’s a masterclass in acting, a tour de force that showcases the full breadth of Hahn’s talent.
The best part is that this isn’t the end of Agatha’s story. With a standalone series on the horizon, Hahn will have the opportunity to further explore the character’s rich inner life and cement her status as one of the most complex and compelling figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As I bid farewell to Agatha All Along, I am deeply grateful for Kathryn Hahn’s indelible mark on this character. Her performance is a testament to the power of great acting and a reminder of the transformative potential of television’s most villainous witches.