Before she became synonymous with the magic and grief of the Scarlet Witch in the MCU, Elizabeth Olsen starred in a string of critically acclaimed independent films that showcased her dramatic depth. One of these, the 2013 drama Very Good Girls, featured a rare and profoundly emotional moment of Olsen singing on screen, delivering an acoustic cover of Rilo Kiley’s “Take Offs And Landings.” This intimate performance left fans craving more musical showcases from the star, proving her versatile talent extends far beyond blockbuster action.
Very Good Girls, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013, was the directorial debut of veteran screenwriter Naomi Foner. The film co-stars Dakota Fanning and Olsen as two lifelong friends. Olsen plays the character Gerry Fields, and the pivotal moment of her singing occurs during an open-mic scene. The track performed is a cover of “Take Offs And Landings,” originally by the indie band Rilo Kiley. The song’s contemplative lyrics about uncertainty and new beginnings perfectly captured the transitional stage of Gerry’s life. The film’s soundtrack was composed by Rilo Kiley’s former frontwoman, Jenny Lewis, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the musical choice. Olsen’s rendition was raw, emotional, and acoustically stripped down, offering a vulnerable glimpse into Gerry’s internal world.
The brief performance quickly became a treasured clip among fans, highlighting that Olsen is a capable, if reluctant, singer. This was not her only musical role: Olsen later took on the role of Audrey Williams, the wife and musical partner of country legend Hank Williams, in the 2015 biopic I Saw the Light. In that role, she also sang, but was intentionally directed to sing in a “not so stellar” style, as Audrey’s singing ambition often outpaced her talent. Olsen noted the difficulty of having to “sing badly on purpose.”
Given the quality of her pure vocal performance in Very Good Girls, which contrasted with the purposeful off-key singing in I Saw the Light, fans immediately began circulating the Very Good Girls clip, generating discussion and continuous demand for Olsen to take on more roles that utilize her singing voice. The unexpected, emotional purity of her cover of “Take Offs And Landings” in a small indie film confirmed that Elizabeth Olsen’s talent, much like her on-screen universe, contains hidden depths and surprising abilities that fans are always eager to explore.