Like every sibling relationship, Los Angeles-based actress Elizabeth Olsen has had her fair share of ups and downs, especially with her older twin sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. As the younger sister of the trio and one of the middle children of six, Elizabeth has shared how much she loves her family dynamic. However, she has primarily kept details about her relationship with the twins private—until recently. Keep reading to see what she’s said about her sisters and how their bond has changed over the years.
Elizabeth Olsen shares heartfelt comment about Mary-Kate and Ashley
While Olsen is only two years younger than Mary-Kate and Ashley, all three sisters have always been close. When she recently stopped by Today With Jenna & Friends, she couldn’t help but share her love for the twins.
She started by saying how much she loved being the baby of the three girls. “I also really admire the partnership that [Mary-Kate and Ashley] have and don’t compete with it, in a way. It’s something different,” she continued. “It’s a really interesting thing to watch. I admire it; it’s a different kind of connection.”
Elizabeth Olsen reflects on growing up with the Olsen twins
In a 2022 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Olsen revealed what it was really like growing up with two of the most famous twins in Hollywood.
“I always felt that having older twin sisters was an advantage,” she said. “I felt very clear about how I was going to navigate lots of things because of watching them. I also felt very protected.”
Even though Mary-Kate and Ashley’s bond is unique, Olsen also felt that because of their proximity in age they were more like a trio than two and a third wheel.
“There’s something that I’ll never experience of that connection, but I feel lucky to be witness to it,” Elizabeth said. “I actually think it’s an amazing feeling, being the younger sibling to twin sisters. If I was spoiled by one, the other wanted to match it. I loved it.”
Why Elizabeth almost dropped the Olsen name
Although Olsen has admitted to looking up to her sisters, she almost went by Elizabeth Chase—her middle name—to avoid being in their shadows.
“I was 10 and I was curious about auditioning… and I realized very quickly it wasn’t for me because I was missing my sports teams, my dance class and all the extracurricular activities at school,” Olsen told Glamour UK in 2021.
“But during that time, I thought, ‘I don’t want to be associated with [Mary-Kate and Ashley],’ for some reason,” she continued. “I guess I understood what nepotism was like inherently as a 10-year-old. I don’t know if I knew the word, but there is some sort of association of not earning something that I think bothered me at a very young age.”
However, Olsen doesn’t hold any ill will against her sisters and still found success for herself using her last name.
The Olsen sisters have only acted together a few times
Mary-Kate and Ashley have starred opposite each other, but Elizabeth has only joined them in music videos or smaller projects back in the 90s. Right now, the twins have taken a step back from the spotlight and enjoy a much more private lifestyle.
