Natasha Romanoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Natasha Romanoff
Marvel Cinematic Universe character
Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in The Avengers (2012)
First appearance	Iron Man 2 (2010)
Last appearance	Black Widow (2021)
Based on	Black Widow by Stan Lee Don Rico Don Heck
Adapted by	Justin Theroux
Portrayed by	Scarlett Johansson Ever Anderson (young; Black Widow)[1]
Voiced by	Lake Bell (What If...?)[2]
In-universe information
Full name	Natalia Alianovna Romanoff
Aliases	Black Widow Natalie Rushman
Nickname	Nat
Occupation	Leader of the Avengers[a] Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Assassin
Affiliation	Avengers Stark Industries S.H.I.E.L.D. S.T.R.I.K.E.[3] KGB Red Room
Weapon	Various firearms Dual Glock 26 handguns Dual batons "Widow's Bite" electrified bracelets[4]
Family	Ivan Romanov (father) Alexei Shostakov (adoptive father) Melina Vostokoff (adoptive mother) Yelena Belova (adoptive sister)
Origin	Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian-American

Natalia Alianovna Romanoff, more commonly known as Natasha Romanoff, is a fictional character primarily portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name—sometimes known by her alias, Black Widow. Romanoff is depicted as an expert spy and hand-to-hand combatant, trained in the Red Room from childhood to be a KGB assassin. This brought her under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar, and Clint Barton is sent to kill her but instead spared her life and recruited her into the organization.

When Nick Fury activates the Avengers Initiative, she becomes a founding member. Following the fallout related to the Sokovia Accords, Romanoff became a fugitive and eventually reunites with her adopted family, including sister Yelena Belova, and they work together to destroy General Dreykov's Black Widow program. After Thanos erases half of all life, Romanoff leads the Avengers for five years until sacrificing herself to obtain the Soul Stone, successfully helping the Avengers restore trillions of lives across the universe.

Romanoff was introduced in Iron Man 2 (2010), and became a central MCU character, appearing in nine films, including her final live-action appearance in Black Widow (2021).^[5] Johansson's portrayal of Romanoff was met with positive reception.

Alternate versions of the character appear in the animated series What If...? (2021), voiced by Lake Bell. These versions include an incarnation of Romanoff who sees her world decimated by an alternate version of Ultron, eventually resulting in her being recruited into the Guardians of the Multiverse by the Watcher.^[6]

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