Yelena Belova (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Yelena Belova
Marvel Cinematic Universe character
Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova in Thunderbolts* (2025)
First appearance	Black Widow (2021)
Based on	Yelena Belova by Devin Grayson     J. G. Jones
Adapted by	Eric Pearson Jac Schaeffer Ned Benson
Portrayed by	Florence Pugh Violet McGraw (young)
In-universe information
Aliases	Black Widow
Occupation	Contract killer
Affiliation	New Avengers Thunderbolts Black Widows Red Room
Weapon	Dual batons
Family	Natasha Romanoff (adopted sister) Alexei Shostakov (adopted father) Melina Vostokoff (adopted mother)
Origin	Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian

Yelena Belova is a fictional character portrayed by Florence Pugh in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film franchise based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. She is depicted as the adopted sister of Natasha Romanoff.

Trained as a Black Widow assassin in the Red Room, Belova went on to become one of the greatest child assassins. As an adult, she helps Romanoff and their adoptive parents, Alexei Shostakov and Melina Vostokoff, take down the Red Room operations led by Dreykov. She falls victim to the Blip and, after being restored to life, works as a contract killer for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who tasks her to kill Clint Barton, but Belova spares his life. She later joins a team of other contract killers who go on to form the Thunderbolts, later rebranded as the New Avengers.

Pugh appeared as the character in the films Black Widow (2021), Thunderbolts* (2025), and the Disney+ series Hawkeye (2021). Violet McGraw portrays a young Belova. Pugh's portrayal has received generally positive reviews.