Elizabeth Olsen opens up about how her childhood shaped her, describing her early years with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as anything but ordinary.
The actress said The times that being the youngest of four siblings, all born within five years, made life “quite chaotic.”
Elizabeth, now 36, recalled spending much of her youth on movie sets while Mary-Kate and Ashley worked.
That hectic environment meant that some everyday childhood routines didn’t exist for her.
She said the idea of a slow, quiet bedtime still feels special because, “I now think the idea of a quiet bath and a bedtime story routine is so cute and sweet because we didn’t have any of that.”
Those demanding schedules also meant that her older sisters were always expected to show up for her, even when she pursued acting as a child.
He explained that the twins “were forced to watch all my plays my entire life and attend my dance shows.”
Despite what seemed like a strong support system, Elizabeth said they didn’t exchange much career advice between them.
When asked if her sisters guided her, she responded, “No. We’re just a supportive family,” adding that it feels unnecessary to talk about the past after working alone for years.
The actress grew up in Los Angeles with her siblings Mary-Kate, Ashley and James Trent, children of Jarnette and David Olsen.
His parents later divorced and his father remarried and had two more children with his wife McKenzie Olsen.
Even with so much movement and responsibility within the home, Elizabeth does not reflect negatively on those memories.
In March, she shared that being surrounded by a large, busy family was still rewarding, saying she “loved it” and especially enjoyed being the youngest.
Looking back, he recognizes the chaos but also the closeness it created.
It wasn’t a traditional childhood, but it made her the person she is today, someone who still appreciates the little moments she didn’t always have growing up.
