Yelena Belova ( Russian : Еле́на Бело́ва ) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . She is depicted as a spy and was the second modern-era character to use the Black Widow name. Created by Devin Grayson and J.G. Jones for Marvel Knights : Wave 2 Sketchbook #1 (January 1998), Belova made her first appearance in Inhumans vol. 2 #5 (January 1999) by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee . She was trained as a spy and assassin in the Red Room . Originally, Yelena was a foe of Natasha Romanova and was sent to kill her, but the two later became allies. She was also a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. , Vanguard , and HYDRA ; the latter organization changed her into a version of Super-Adaptoid . As Super-Adaptoid, she was one of the members of the High Council of A.I.M. After being freed from her Super-Adaptoid identity, Belova reverted to her old Black Widow identity before adopting the codename White Widow . She is the first confirmed asexual character in the Marvel Universe .
50-786: Florence Pugh portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Black Widow , the miniseries Hawkeye (both 2021), and the upcoming film Thunderbolts* (2025); Violet McGraw portrayed the character as a child in the former film. Belova, the second modern Black Widow after Natasha Romanova (Natasha Romanoff), was initially a Russian spy of the GRU . She first appeared in Marvel Knights: Wave 2 Sketchbook #1 (January 1998), then appeared briefly in Inhumans (Vol. 2) #5 (March 1999), and
100-474: A British Independent Film Award win and another nomination. At the 2019 Cannes Film Festival , Pugh was awarded the Trophée Chopard . Tales of Suspense Tales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book anthology series, and two one-shot comics , all published by Marvel Comics . The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as
150-613: A Marvel Universe supporting character since. The final "Tales of the Watcher" story introduced veteran artist George Tuska as a Marvel regular. Four years later, Tuska would become one of Iron Man's signature artists. Beginning with issue #59 (Nov. 1964), Iron Man began sharing the now "split book" with Captain America , who had guest-starred in the Iron Man feature the previous issue. Jack Kirby , Captain America's co-creator during
200-806: A Valentino show in 2022, she wore a sheer pink gown, which led to some backlash as it showed her nipples. Commenting on the reception, she defended her choice and her body on Instagram. A year later, she wore another transparent gown to a Valentino event. Journalists have often noted Pugh's outspokenness when using social media to address issues such as body shaming , cyberbullying , and beauty standards . British Vogue 's Raven Smith reported that her sincerity, interest in others, and humility distinguish her from more guarded actors, whereas Andrea Cuttler of Harper's Bazaar said that her open off-screen persona has come to be expected due to establishing "a career playing women who refuse to be silenced". Annie Lourd of The Independent credits Pugh with "carving out
250-483: A car crash survivor, marked her first producing venture. Instead of opting for a wig, Pugh cut off her own hair for the part. She also wrote and sang two songs, "The Best Part" and "I Hate Myself", for the film's soundtrack. In Christopher Nolan 's biographical film Oppenheimer , starring Cillian Murphy in the title role , Pugh played Communist Party USA member Jean Tatlock . Empire ' s Dan Jolin wrote that she "elegantly dominate[s] her few scenes". With
300-494: A comedy-drama about Paige's career. The film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews. Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent called Pugh "completely convincing as the wrestler", adding that she showed "the same defiance, scruffy glamour and self-deprecating humour as the real life ... Paige". Pugh next headlined Ari Aster 's horror film Midsommar , which chronicles an American couple, played by her and Jack Reynor , who travel to Sweden and encounter
350-479: A cult. Critics complimented Pugh's portrayal of the desolate Dani Ardor, with David Edelstein of Vulture calling it "amazingly vivid". In her final film release of the year, Pugh starred in Little Women , a period drama film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott 's novel of the same name directed by Greta Gerwig . She portrayed Amy March , a fickle artist, from age 12 into adulthood, and has said that
400-494: A double agent for Nick Fury . She believed she was disguised as Belova on Fury's behalf, planted for Osborn to find and invite into the Thunderbolts. However, Osborn revealed to her that he had tricked her into taking on Belova's appearance to get her to do his dirty work. After Natasha's escape from the Thunderbolts, Osborn then revealed the true Yelena in stasis to Scourge and warned him that she could be his replacement on
450-425: A niche playing difficult characters you know you should hate, but, for whatever reason, end up rooting for". Pugh has said that she gravitates towards roles that terrify or challenge her, and observed that "all of my movies have that element of women being forced into a corner, forced into an opinion, forced into a way of life ... And then finally, something cracks". In a 2022 readers' poll by Empire magazine, she
500-681: A nonprofit organisation, during the COVID-19 pandemic . Pugh has polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis . Pugh has been nominated for an Academy Award and two British Academy Film Awards . She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, both for her work in Little Women , as well as a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination. Her performances in Lady Macbeth and The Wonder respectively earned her
550-491: A showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby , Steve Ditko , and Don Heck , then featured superheroes Captain America and Iron Man during the Silver Age of Comic Books before changing its title to Captain America with issue #100 ( cover-dated April 1968). Its sister title was Tales to Astonish . Following the launch of Marvel Legacy in 2017, Tales of Suspense was once again resurrected at issue #100, featuring
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#1732790858744600-413: A spy, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Black Widow . She said the film was about "girls who are stolen from around the world". Released in 2021, it garnered positive reviews from critics, who highlighted Pugh's performance. Caryn James of BBC Culture credited Pugh for making Belova "the most vibrant person in the film, more lived-in than most action-movie characters". She reprised
650-623: A worldwide gross of over $ 967 million, Oppenheimer is Pugh's highest-grossing release. Pugh next played Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Two , a sequel to the 2021 science fiction film . Released in 2024, the film garnered positive reviews and grossed over $ 711 million worldwide. Andrew Garfield and Pugh starred as a couple navigating cancer in John Crowley 's romantic drama We Live in Time . She shaved her head for her role in
700-685: Is defeated, HYDRA disables her using a remote self-destruct mechanism they had implanted in her, rather than let her reveal intelligence to the New Avengers. She has returned working with a vigilante group, the Vanguard . During the Dark Reign storyline, Quasimodo researched Yelena Belova for Norman Osborn . Yelena Belova appeared to join Osborn's Thunderbolts . However it was eventually revealed to be Natasha Romanova in disguise, acting as
750-551: The Secret Empire storyline, Yelena assumes the Black Widow identity again in her honor. She travels around the world to destroy Hydra's remnants, attracting the attention of Natasha's former lovers Winter Soldier and Hawkeye . Black Widow is in peak athletic condition. She also has extensive military, gymnastics, martial arts, and espionage training. As a Super-Adaptoid, she was mutated by material synthesized from
800-769: The 79th Venice International Film Festival , where critics deemed Pugh's performance superior to the film. In The Wonder , she played a nurse in 1862 who is sent to investigate an alleged supernatural miracle. Kevin Maher of The Times found Pugh's "impossibly vivid and convincing" performance to be the film's prime asset. In her final release of the year, she voiced Goldilocks in the DreamWorks animated film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish , which earned over $ 480 million worldwide. Zach Braff 's drama film A Good Person (2023), in which Pugh starred as
850-674: The Crimson Widow while acting as a Hydra agent. Yelena Belova appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , portrayed by Florence Pugh . This version is a sister to Natasha Romanoff and was trained to be a Black Widow alongside her in the Red Room . Florence Pugh Florence Pugh ( / p juː / PEW ; born 3 January 1996) is an English actress. Known for playing troubled and outspoken women, her accolades include nominations for an Academy Award and two BAFTA Awards . After making her acting debut in
900-592: The New Avengers . Belova is genetically altered by the terrorist organization HYDRA , as she had suffered debilitating and disfiguring injuries after her last encounter with the New Avengers in the Savage Land. HYDRA recruited her with the prospect of revenge and after hiring the services of A.I.M. transferred her mind into a new version of Super-Adaptoid . This body appeared as Belova had originally until it began to absorb powers, at which time it changed as
950-569: The "Black Widow" title and teach her the reality of the espionage industry. Belova eventually retires to Cuba, where she becomes a successful businesswoman and model. She is lured back, however, by the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. , and becomes involved in the agency's vibranium mining in the Antarctic Savage Land . Shortly afterward, she barely survives an attack by Sauron , receiving severe burns and being subsequently approached with an offer for revenge against S.H.I.E.L.D. and
1000-539: The 1940s Golden Age of comic books , had drawn the character as part of the superhero team the Avengers earlier that year, and was now illustrating his hero's solo adventures for the first time since 1941. Issue #63 (March 1965), in which editor-scripter Stan Lee retold Captain America's origin, through #71 (Nov. 1965) featured period stories set during World War II , and co-starred Captain America's Golden Age sidekick, James Buchanan Barnes aka Bucky . Sharon Carter
1050-625: The 2014 drama The Falling , playing a precocious teenager opposite Maisie Williams . Tara Brady of The Irish Times deemed Pugh "remarkable", while IndieWire 's Oliver Lyttelton called her "striking". In the same year, Pugh was nominated for Best British Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival as well as for Young British / Irish Performer of the Year by the London Film Critics' Circle . The next year, she
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#17327908587441100-516: The 21-year age-gap between them, following public scrutiny. From 2013 to 2016, Pugh performed cover songs under the name Flossie Rose on YouTube. She was featured on her brother's song "Midnight", released on 15 May 2021. In 2020, she participated in the series Acting for a Cause for a live reading of Kenneth Lonergan 's play This Is Our Youth to help raise funds for the Entertainment Industry Foundation ,
1150-581: The Mtsensk District , and appeared in the first series of the ITV detective series Marcella . In the former, she played Katherine, an unhappily married bride who grows violent. Pugh attributed her attraction to the part to her partiality to characters with "confusing or at least interesting" motivations. The role earned her acclaim. She also credited the production with reviving her interest in cinema after being dispirited by Studio City . Reviewing
1200-490: The Mystic as an anthological-story character; he would be reintroduced as a supervillain in the 1970s. Issue #39 (March 1963) introduced the superhero Iron Man , created by editor and plotter Lee, Lee’s brother scripter Lieber, and artists Heck and Jack Kirby. He starred in generally 13-page but occasionally 18-page adventures, with the rest of Tales of Suspense devoted to the anthological science fiction and fantasy stories
1250-512: The Russian people: " For me, though, no matter where it is that I am living... I am still Russian . And like many Russians, though I am welcoming what it is our leaders do to make us strong... I am not so much wanting to take orders from them. My loyalty is to Russian people . And Russian people we understand there is no Russia if there is no world. " Natasha later subjects Yelena to a cruel but necessary manipulation to shatter her illusions about
1300-659: The Super-Adaptoid where she could adapt the powers of anyone around her like Luke Cage , Iron Man , Ms. Marvel , Sentry , Spider-Man , Spider-Woman , and Wolverine in rapid succession. Yelena Belova appears in Avengers Assemble , voiced by Julie Nathanson . This version is the second incarnation of the Black Widow following Baron Strucker reactivating the Red Room program and the self-proclaimed rival of Natasha Romanoff who later rechristens herself
1350-738: The Winter Soldier and Hawkeye in a story called "The Red Ledger". Tales of Suspense and its sister publication Tales to Astonish were both launched with a January 1959 cover date . Initially published under Atlas Comics , the 1950s forerunner of Marvel, it fell under the Marvel banner with issue #19 (July 1961), the first with a cover sporting the early "MC" box. It contained science-fiction mystery /suspense stories written primarily by editor-in-chief Stan Lee and his brother, Larry Lieber , with artists including Jack Kirby , Steve Ditko , and Don Heck . Issue #9 (May 1960) introduced Chondu
1400-579: The artists category of its 100 Next list, which highlights rising stars and emerging leaders in their fields, in 2021. In 2023, the magazine featured her in their Next Generation Leaders list. From 2019 to 2022, Pugh was in a relationship with American actor and filmmaker Zach Braff . They met while working together on the short film In the Time It Takes to Get There , which Braff directed, and lived together in Los Angeles. She defended
1450-566: The character is in a "sweet spot of not knowing how to deal with her emotions". The film received critical acclaim and grossed $ 209 million. In his review, David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised the "disarming grace, humor and a willful streak that grows almost imperceptibly into wisdom" with which Pugh managed the part's "tricky contradictions". Pugh earned nominations for the BAFTA and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. Pugh portrayed Yelena Belova ,
1500-472: The comic normally ran. After debuting with bulky gray armor, Iron Man was redesigned with similar but golden armor in his second story (issue #40, April 1963). The first iteration of the modern, sleek red-and-golden armor appeared in #48 (Dec. 1963), drawn by Ditko (though whether he or Kirby, singly or in collaboration, designed it, is uncertain). From #53-58 (May-Oct. 1964), the cover logo was "Tales of Suspense featuring The Power of Iron Man". Two months before
1550-707: The debut of the sorcerer-hero Doctor Strange , Lee, Kirby and scripter Robert Bernstein , under the pseudonym "R. Berns", introduced a same-name criminal scientist and Ph.D. , Carl Strange. Making his sole appearance in the Iron Man story "The Stronghold of Dr. Strange" in Tales of Suspense #41 (May 1963), the character gained mental powers in a freak lightning strike. The Mandarin debuted in issue #50 (Feb. 1964) and would become one of Iron Man's major enemies. The Black Widow first appeared in #52 (April 1964) and Hawkeye followed five issues later. The first Marvel superhero work by future company editor-in-chief Roy Thomas
Yelena Belova - Misplaced Pages Continue
1600-400: The drama film The Falling (2014), Pugh gained praise for starring in the independent drama Lady Macbeth (2016) and the miniseries The Little Drummer Girl (2018). Her international breakthrough came in 2019 with her portrayals of professional wrestler Paige in the sports film Fighting with My Family , a despondent American woman in the horror film Midsommar , and Amy March in
1650-649: The film for Variety , Guy Lodge commended her portrayal of the character's "complex, under-the-skin transformation". She won the BIFA for Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film for the role. In 2018, Pugh was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award at the 71st British Academy Film Awards . She then played Cordelia to Anthony Hopkins 's titular King Lear in Richard Eyre 's television film King Lear and appeared in
1700-567: The film. Glenn Whipp of the Los Angeles Times deemed her performance to be the production's prime asset. Pugh will next reprise the role of Yelena Belova in the 2025 film Thunderbolts* . She will also play the lead role of Cathy Ames in a limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck 's novel East of Eden . Pugh is known for her fashion sense, with publications such as Harper's Bazaar and British Vogue calling her fashion choices "bold", "daring" and "unique". At
1750-588: The investigation were part of a ploy to get Belova to assert herself as the new Black Widow. Believing herself to be the rightful successor to the "Black Widow" title, Yelena enthusiastically volunteers for a mission that will put her at odds with Natasha, although the meeting and confrontations between the two do not lead to a decisive battle. Natasha refers to Yelena as "little one" and "russkaya", meaning "Russian", and encourages her to find what makes her unique and her personal identity rather than blindly devote herself to her nation. But Yelena remains steadfastly loyal to
1800-554: The mantle of the second modern Black Widow. Belova is an amoral spy and assassin who was trained at the Red Room by the same spymasters who trained Natasha Romanoff , the first Black Widow. Yelena was born in Moscow , Soviet Russia ; at the age of 15 she was recruited by the GRU . After the death of her trainer, Pyotr Vasilievich Starkovsky, she is activated as the new Black Widow and deployed to investigate. She apprehends and eliminates his killer, unaware that both his murder and
1850-540: The original did, though now yellow in color. Now equipped with the ability to copy all of the New Avengers' powers, she engages the superhero team in combat. She is eventually defeated by a combination of Tony Stark's 49 successive Iron Man armors—from the first, Tales of Suspense #39, to the then-current—and the Sentry's use of his Void persona, which she absorbs with the rest of the Sentry's powers and energy. When she
1900-633: The period drama Little Women . For the last of these, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . Pugh has played Yelena Belova in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , beginning with Black Widow (2021). In her highest-grossing releases, she voiced Goldilocks in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), and portrayed Jean Tatlock in Oppenheimer (2023) and Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Two (2024). Florence Pugh
1950-459: The role in the Disney+ series Hawkeye later in the year. In 2022, Pugh starred in the thriller Don't Worry Darling , directed by Olivia Wilde , and the drama The Wonder , an adaptation of Emma Donoghue 's namesake novel . While filming the former, she allegedly clashed with Wilde, causing her to limit the amount of promotion she did for the film. Don't Worry Darling premiered at
2000-436: The series were Frank Giacoia (as "Frank Ray") and Joe Sinnott , though Don Heck and Golden Age Captain America artist Syd Shores inked one story each. Tales of Suspense became Captain America with #100 (April 1968). Iron Man appeared in the one-shot Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 (April 1968), and then debuted in his own title with Iron Man #1 (May 1968). A Tales of Suspense one-shot (Jan. 1995) which had
2050-689: The short film Leading Lady Parts in support of the Time's Up initiative. Later that year, Pugh portrayed Elizabeth de Burgh in the Netflix historical film Outlaw King , co-starring Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce . Charles Bramesco of The Guardian found her to be "excellent despite her thankless role". She next starred in a six-part miniseries adaptation of John le Carré 's spy novel The Little Drummer Girl , in which she played an actress who becomes embroiled in an espionage plot. Her performance
Yelena Belova - Misplaced Pages Continue
2100-635: The team. The real Yelena is later freed from stasis by members of A.I.M. who install the female Adaptoid on the High Council of A.I.M. (alongside Andrew Forson , Graviton , Jude the Entropic Man, Mentallo , Superia , and an undercover Taskmaster ) as the Minister of State in Bagalia (a country populated by supervillains). After Captain America 's Hydra doppelganger kills Natasha during
2150-462: The warmer weather would improve her health. They lived there until she was six, when they moved back to Oxford. At six years old, Pugh played Mary in a school nativity play , for which she spoke in a Yorkshire accent . She was privately educated at Wychwood School and St Edward's School, Oxford , but disliked how the schools did not support her acting ambitions. While still studying in sixth form , Pugh made her professional acting debut in
2200-530: Was born on 3 January 1996 in Oxford to dancer Deborah and restaurateur Clinton Pugh. She has three siblings: actor and musician Toby Sebastian , actress Arabella Gibbins, and Rafaela "Raffie" Pugh. She suffered from tracheomalacia (a windpipe condition causing breathing problems) as a child, which led to frequent hospitalisations. The family relocated to Manilva in Spain when Pugh was three years old, hoping
2250-406: Was cast as a singer-songwriter in the dramedy pilot Studio City , co-starring Eric McCormack as the character's father. The pilot was not picked up to series. Pugh later characterised her experience on Studio City negatively due to pressures to change her appearance. In 2016, Pugh starred in the independent drama Lady Macbeth , a film based on Nikolai Leskov 's novella Lady Macbeth of
2300-428: Was fully introduced in the 1999 Marvel Knights mini-series Black Widow . A second miniseries also titled Black Widow featuring Natasha Romanoff and Daredevil followed in 2001. The next year, she did a solo turn in her own three-issue miniseries, Black Widow: Pale Little Spider under the mature audience Marvel MAX imprint. The storyline by writer Greg Rucka and artist Igor Kordey was a flashback to her taking on
2350-535: Was his scripting the Iron Man story "My Life for Yours" in #73 (Jan. 1966), working from a plot by editor Lee as well as a plot assist from Marvel secretary-receptionist Flo Steinberg . From #49–58 (Jan.–Oct. 1964), one anthological story each issue acquired a framing sequence and ran as "Tales of the Watcher ," narrated by the namesake cosmic witness introduced in The Fantastic Four #13 and used as
2400-633: Was introduced in issue #75 (March 1966) and later became a love interest for Captain America. The Red Skull , Captain America's major nemesis in the World War II era, was revived in the present day in issue #79 (July 1966). MODOK first appeared in #94 (Oct. 1967). Kirby drew all but two stories, for which Gil Kane and John Romita Sr. each filled-in. Several stories were finished by penciler-inker George Tuska over Kirby layouts, with one finished by Romita Sr. and another by penciler Dick Ayers and inker John Tartaglione . Kirby's regular inkers on
2450-482: Was met with praise. While divided on the series overall, Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair called Pugh "terrific throughout" and added that she "smartly mixes earthiness with sophistication, wisdom with naïveté." Pugh starred in three major films in 2019, during which she was recognised as having experienced an international breakthrough. She first played professional wrestler Paige in Fighting with My Family ,
2500-470: Was voted one of the 50 greatest actors of all time. Terming her "one of the very best of her generation", the magazine attributed her success to bringing "a grounded empathy to her characters". Pugh was included on the entertainment category of Forbes magazine's annual 30 Under 30 list, which recognises the 30 most influential people in Europe under the age of 30, in 2019. Time magazine placed her on
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