Elizabeth Olsen, the acclaimed actress known globally as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, manages a sophisticated bi-coastal lifestyle in the United States while harboring a strong emotional desire to make her temporary British retreat a permanent home.
The actress and her husband, musician Robbie Arnett, currently divide their time between their properties in the US, but Olsen has repeatedly expressed a profound affinity for her former Thames-side residence in the UK.
🇺🇸 The Primary Base: Los Angeles
Olsen’s main operational base and financial center remains Los Angeles, California, the state where she was born.
- San Fernando Valley Home: The actress and Arnett significantly renovated a mid-century home in the San Fernando Valley, near Mulholland Drive. This property is described as her “happy space,” where her passion for interior design and gardening takes precedence over the Hollywood spotlight. A 2025 valuation places a similar home in her portfolio at approximately $3.1 million.
- East Coast Connection: Reflecting her academic background at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Olsen maintains ties to Manhattan, owning a stylish pied-à-terre in the city (estimated at $1.8 million).
🇬🇧 The Emotional Sanctuary: Richmond-upon-Thames
The most significant shift in Olsen’s residential preference occurred during her extensive filming schedule in England for the MCU.
- The British Dream: While filming the hugely successful Disney+ miniseries WandaVision (2021) and the subsequent film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Olsen and Arnett settled in Richmond-upon-Thames.
- The Thames-Side Retreat: Olsen openly described this period as living her “British dream.” The couple enjoyed a house in Richmond situated “right by the water,” between the River Thames and the sprawling Richmond Park (home to numerous deer).
- The Emotional Reason: The emotional reason for her desire to relocate permanently is the sense of calm and safety she feels in the UK compared to the US. Olsen confessed in an interview that concerns over US gun violence had prompted terrifying dreams, leading her to consider the UK more seriously. She stated:
“I got in [to central London] last night. And this morning, the immediate moment I stepped outside and had a coffee, I’m just calmed. There’s just a calm I feel here.”
She has also expressed: “I don’t think I’m supposed to live in the United States. London feels like a place you can work very hard and diligently, and you can stop, and you can be in parks and nature.”
The couple even explored the legal requirements for permanent residency, demonstrating their serious intent to make Richmond their long-term home, viewing it as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
📈 Career Data Point
Olsen’s financial success, with an estimated net worth around $11-12 million, stems largely from her lucrative, long-running role in the MCU. This wealth allows her the freedom to prioritize emotional well-being and pursue a unique, multi-national lifestyle that balances Hollywood commitments with the tranquility of her cherished British retreat.