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Long before Elizabeth Olsen became an Emmy nominee, her older sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen made their mark on TV. The Olsen twins didn’t exactly work on the same kind of fare as their sibling when they were active in Hollywood. But some may be surprised to learn they have a history with the Emmys.

Elizabeth Olsen was nominated for an Emmy in 2021

Elizabeth Olsen stuck to the big screen for much of her career, appearing in films like Ingrid Goes West. However, her role in the MCU brought her to TV. She starred in WandaVision, the first Marvel-Disney+ series to hit the streaming service. The show quickly earned acclaim for its music, story, and, of course, its performances.

On July 13, 2021, the Television Academy announced the Emmy nominees for the 2020-2021 TV season. WandaVision earned an impressive 23 nominations, including Outstanding Limited Series. Additionally, Elizabeth Olsen earned a nomination for Lead Actress in a Limited Series for portraying Wanda.

“I’m just really proud of us!” Elizabeth Olsen said in a statement (via Variety). “We had a great time together making our show, and for it to even have had the response that it had was enough, and then to be recognized on this level is very surprising and exciting,” the actor continued.

Mary-Kate Olsen received a Daytime Emmy nod

Before their younger sister, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen paved the way in show business. They began acting as infants, appearing in the popular sitcom Full House as youngest child Michelle Tanner. The Olsen twins remained on the series through its end in 1995, all while growing their own media empire.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen released straight-to-video shorts via their production company, Dualstar Entertainment. They also appeared in several feature films. Additionally, the young celebrities sold merchandise, which eventually led to their fashion careers.

Full House remains the TV show Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are best known for. But it wasn’t their only small-screen venture. They starred in two short-lived sitcoms: Two of a Kind and So Little Time. For the latter, Mary-Kate Olsen earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series.

Elizabeth Olsen on following in Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s footsteps

(L-R): Mary-Kate Olsen, Elizabeth Olsen, and Ashley Olsen
(L-R): Mary-Kate Olsen, Elizabeth Olsen, and Ashley Olsen attend Elizabeth and James Flagship Store Opening Celebration with InStyle at Chateau Marmont on July 26, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. | Donato Sardella/Getty Images for InStyle
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Before WandaVision, Elizabeth Olsen’s TV experience consisted of the Facebook Watch series, Sorry for Your Loss. The Marvel show combined drama with comedy as it paid tribute to Full House and other sitcoms. The actor realized that despite her origins, perhaps she was meant to follow Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s path.

“It was so challenging but such a joy, it was really one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had because of these sitcoms through the decades,” Elizabeth Olsen said of the show. “It made me realize, ‘Oh maybe I should be a sitcom actor, what am I doing with all these dramas?'”

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