Yelena

Biodata

Background

Yelena and Natasha grew up as sisters in a small town in Ohio, with Melina as their adoptive mother. After their family fled America following a failed mission, the sisters were taken to the Red Room in Russia and trained as agents 172 177.

After Natasha left the Red Room, Dreykov grew distrustful of his agents. He made Yelena the first subject of his mind-control program and implanted miniature bombs in the Black Widows. Although Yelena could not resist his commands, she retained a semi-conscious awareness of what she was doing 172 175.

Appearance

Yelena is approximately 1.7 meters tall, with an athletic build developed through years of agent training 174 175.

• Light platinum-blonde hair and ice-blue eyes 175.
• Fair skin, defined Slavic facial features, and a clear jawline 174.
• A muscular, broad-framed physique; she ties her hair back for combat 174 177.
• A white combat uniform in the same style as Natasha’s black Widow suit 177.

Personality

Yelena is competitive and teasing, particularly with Natasha. She initially kissed Li Chen to provoke her sister and later sought a film role partly because she wanted to prove she was no less capable than Natasha 176 199.

Despite her resentment toward Natasha, Yelena remains protective of the other Black Widows. She wants freedom for the agents still controlled by Dreykov and insists on taking part in his downfall herself 179 180 184.

Abilities & Skills

Agent training and combat

Yelena is a highly trained Red Room agent who broke Natasha’s records and was regarded by Michelle as the strongest among the rescued Black Widows 184.

• She can subdue other agents without killing them, as she does when freeing controlled Widows at Dreykov’s base 186.
• Her reflexes allow her to protect teammates; she tackles Natasha out of the path of gunfire during the assault 186.
• Her skills have limits: Rem quickly overpowers her, and Red Widow’s spear keeps both Yelena and Natasha at a distance 175 186.

Leadership

The rescued Black Widows choose Yelena to lead them, citing her strength. She later directs them during the escape from Dreykov’s base and co-manages the agents with Melina 184 188 189.

Equipment

• White Widow uniform — A white combat suit worn for missions and her confrontation with Natasha 177 182.
• Supergirl costumes — For her film tryout, Yelena wears a classic blue-and-red suit with a cape and skirt, followed by a skintight design. Li Chen and James Wan choose the classic look for the first film appearance 200 201.

Relationships

• Natasha Romanoff — Her non-biological older sister. Yelena resented Natasha for leaving the other Widows behind, but their anger eased after a fight and they later worked together against Dreykov 176 178 180.
• Melina Vostokoff — Her adoptive mother and fellow Red Room agent. Yelena helps rescue her from Dreykov, then manages the Black Widows alongside her 172 188 189.
• Li Chen — He saves Yelena from Dreykov’s control and removes her bomb. She initially kisses him to provoke Natasha, but their relationship becomes intimate 174 176 202.
• Dreykov — Her former commander and enemy. He controls her and orders her to assassinate Li Chen; Yelena later leads the Black Widows in beating him to death 172 188.
• Michelle — A fellow Black Widow whom Yelena helps free. Michelle chooses Yelena as the rescued agents’ leader and assists during the assault on Dreykov’s base 184 187.

Story Role

Assassination attempt and reunion

Dreykov sends Yelena to America to kill Li Chen after recognizing Natasha in Lucy. Li Chen intercepts her outside Starlight Pictures, knocks her unconscious, and removes the bomb from her neck. Psylocke frees Yelena from the mind control 172 174 184.

At Li Chen’s estate, Yelena learns that he does not blame her for the attempt. He arranges a video call with Natasha, but Yelena’s resentment erupts into an argument. When Natasha arrives in person, the sisters fight without using killing moves; afterward, they begin to reconcile 175 176 178.

Fall of the Red Room

Yelena and Natasha travel to Russia with allies to find Dreykov and free the Black Widows. At an evacuated base, they use a red-spray antidote to release several agents from mind control. Michelle and the rescued Widows then follow Yelena’s lead 180 181 184.

During the assault on Dreykov’s current base, the sisters fight Red Widow and allow themselves to be restrained by controlled agents so their allies can release antidote over the group. After the freed Widows subdue Red Widow, Yelena and the others confront Dreykov, who holds Melina hostage. Once 2B shoots his gun hand, Yelena leads the Widows in killing him 186 187 188.

Li Chen offers the rescued agents choices for their futures. Most prefer to remain agents, and he asks Yelena and Melina to manage them. The pair subsequently lead a worldwide effort to free other controlled Widows with an improved antidote 189 190.

Supergirl casting

Li Chen invites Yelena to play Supergirl in James Wan’s upcoming Superman sequel. Although excited, she worries that she cannot act. She tries on two costume designs, and the filmmakers select the classic suit for her initial appearance. Filming has not begun by the time she tours the set, as she has yet to sign a contract 199 200 201.