When it comes time to summarize the most original and refreshing television events of the decade, Kathryn Hahn is likely to be a standout, thanks to the many projects she chooses with the precision of a chef picking the perfect parsley.
But first and foremost, she will be remembered for one heartwarming moment at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic: Agatha All Along, the song that revealed the true identity of the witch in the series WandaVision, showcasing what Marvel can achieve when talented writers are given rare creative freedom.
Agatha All Along trailer
(Video: Courtesy of Disney+)
In fact, the song and the character of Agatha were so well-received that Marvel decided to build an entire spin-off around her. This is no small feat for a studio that hasn't had much commercial success at the box office in recent years and is caught between the desire to produce female-led projects and a somewhat aggressive fanbase.
But much like the way Better Call Saul emerged from Breaking Bad as a masterpiece, the temptation to give Hahn the spotlight was strong enough to take a gamble. The result, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, which debuted last month on Disney+.
If Hahn feels any pressure from the high expectations and investment in the series, she hides it like a well-guarded treasure. In the London hotel where we meet, decorated to reflect the show's witchy atmosphere, she appears as fresh as a cucumber and excited for an interview with an Israeli journalist, as if it were a cover story for Rolling Stone.
When asked about dealing Marvel's intense and demanding fanbase, the actress opted to characterize them as "passionate."
“You can't have any expectations. You just do your best work and know that the fans are so passionate and I so appreciate it,” she says. “They know these characters in the comics like the back of their hand. If you're just not going to please everybody, that's awesome. You'd rather have that than apathy. So you can't have any expectations or be worried about that. That's out of your hands”
What was it like working with Marvel, a massive corporation under Disney, but within a more creatively free project like WandaVision and Agatha?
“I've only been in [Marvel] projects that have felt very much kind of ‘wicked stepsistery’, they've all felt very not of the norm. Projects that have had a lot of practical magic, incredible artistry and very specific, very new storytelling. It's like a slow burn that pays off. That's the world that I know Marvel to be. You feel a part of the mythology of Marvel and it's very thrilling to be a part of yourself as a Disney villain. That's a really amazing legacy. But while we were making it, we didn't really feel that it was just like this show we were on.”
From supporting roles to center stage
Things certainly happen in the first four fun episodes of the series, which begins with a sharp parody of an entirely different genre, reminiscent of WandaVision. It follows Agatha’s journey to regain her powers after they were taken from her. To achieve this, she must navigate the Witches' Road with the help of other witches and a young magic fan named Teen, whose true connection to her remains unclear at this point.
Agatha also contends with her complex relationship with Rio, another wild witch played by Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus). The two actresses, who first worked together on Parks and Recreation, now share an intense on-screen chemistry, complete with a noticeable sexual tension.
For over 20 years, Hahn has mostly stood out in scene-stealing supporting roles, such as Rabbi Raquel Fein in Transparent, or in Bad Moms and the recent Knives Out sequel. Now, Agatha gives her the full stage to shine: she is uninhibited, incredibly funny, somewhat vulnerable and every moment she spends on screen is a masterclass in how to make such a self-centered character lovable. In fact, the entire series revolves around the ancient trope of women as "witches" and how it enables them to be blamed for every misfortune.
“I'd say [Agatha] is a witch through and through,” Hahn says,” and I think that she is a particularly tough witch to crack. All she wants is power. She's a sadist. She's got a great sense of humor and she doesn't need anybody else. She works alone.”
Since she started as a secondary character, was there any hesitation about making her easier to love?
“I never thought about that but [show creator] Jac Schaeffer and I would always joke around that Agatha never saw herself as a sidekick. She was always the main character. She had a lot of ‘main character energy’ as the kids say. So, I think that she was always the lead all along. That's what she would say. But I think that the trick of this one and what Jac has so beautifully written is to allow her, and then us as viewers, to see a little bit of vulnerability, which is her nightmare.”
Her relationship with Teen feels very much like that of a mother to a teenager. Did you draw on your own experience as a mother?
“I must have. It's a beautiful and complicated relationship because she doesn't want to feel anything ever. He just happens to be her familiar this time around. She's been a nanny, a mentor, a mom. It's all a part of this really self-absorbed narcissist. That's all in there.”
By the way, a few years ago, you mentioned you wouldn’t let your son Google your name to avoid seeing things he shouldn’t. Has that changed?
“I don't police his Google search maybe as much as I should,” she says, laughing, “but he's almost 18. He went to a party and Step Brothers happened to be on in a room and he said ‘I walked in and I saw it playing and I walked out of the party.’ He couldn't be anywhere near it.”
"I Hope My Path Crosses with Shira Haas"
At 51, Hahn is no longer just a secret favorite among pop culture aficionados but a recognizable face many are happy to see on any screen. She was born in Westchester, Illinois, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio—far from the entertainment hubs and without any favors.
She made her breakthrough in the early 2000s with a regular role created specifically for her in Crossing Jordan, a show that lasted six seasons on NBC. Despite her undeniable talent, she often found herself relegated to the sidelines during TV’s golden age of cable dramas, dominated by confused white men. In 2011, she even appeared in two episodes of the ill-fated sitcom Traffic Light, based on the Israeli smash hit TV show Ramzor.
Hahn always found work, but her status began to shift in 2014 with the debut of Transparent, where she played a Reform rabbi so convincingly that many viewers believe she’s Jewish. In reality, Hahn was raised in a completely Catholic household but enjoys being considered an honorary Jew.
“I am aware that a lot of people [think I’m Jewish],” she says. “That part was so important to me and I still take hikes and walks with Rabbi Susan Goldberg who is my touchstone throughout all of it. I really learned so much as a human throughout that entire process.”
I read that you really loved Unorthodox [starring Israeli actress Shira Haas].
"Oh, I love that show."
I wanted to say that Shira Haas is also part of the Marvel universe now. Maybe you two will meet.
"Yes! Yes! I really hope that paths cross so I can gush over her performance in that show."
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