“I Just Loved Peeling Back The Layers On Val:” Thunderbolts* Star Julia Louis-Dreyfus Previews Her MCU Antagonist’s Unexpected Arc

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus acknowledges the Thunderbolts* antagonist’s ambiguous intentions and explains why Val is a more complex character than she seems. Val made her MCU debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where she recruited John Walker into her growing team of anti-heroes. She later returned in Black Widow‘s post-credits scene, where she hired Yelena Belova for a secret mission. Since then, Val has acquired Avengers Tower and assembled her own team of heroes.

In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, Thunderbolts* star Julia Louis-Dreyfus addresses the multiple layers behind Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Louis-Dreyfus explains that Val is “complicated” and “a bit of an enigma,” as she’s not evil, but her intentions are ambiguous and her plans are always changing. The actor also reveals that Thunderbolts* will explore “the genesis of Val’s trauma.” Read Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ full comments below:

ScreenRant: Julia, you’ve popped up in so many corners of the MCU over the years. What was it like finally staying in one place long enough to really dig into Val’s character in Thunderbolts*? Are there any unexpected sides you think the fans will be surprised by?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “Well, it was a complete treat for me to really get material that I could sink my teeth into for this. I just loved peeling back the layers on Val and figuring out what makes her tick, why she’s built the way she is, and to see her in action in lots of different ways.

She’s three steps ahead of people, and then all of a sudden the ground shifts underneath her and she has to pivot, and she does it. So, it’s fun to see her find her way through in a very powerful way in the film.

You have to root for your character, even if your character is a bad character. When you’re playing the character, you cannot judge. But I think Val’s not just a bad guy walking into a scene. She’s somebody who’s complicated, and you’re not sure what the move is she’s going to make, and you’re not sure what her intention is. I like that! She’s a bit of an enigma, and that makes sense.

But I think fans are not expecting to see the genesis of Val’s trauma.”

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