Playing the role of Agatha Harkness in the Marvel universe has enchanted Kathryn Hahn so much that she eagerly purchased her Lego figurine from Amazon.

“She even has her own train; she’s holding a Darkhold. Honestly, I feel like I’ve finally made it,” the actress expresses about her role in the new Disney+ series, “Agatha All Along.” “The amusing part is that I bought it and built it myself, enjoying every moment of it. I still had to refer to the instructions, though!”

At 51, Hahn has portrayed numerous best friends and supporting characters across films and television, but she’s currently savoring her leading roles in the 2023 Hulu dramedy “Tiny Beautiful Things” and “Agatha.” She won over superhero enthusiasts and even has her own catchy theme song as the main villain in the 2021 series “WandaVision.” In that show, Agatha pretended to be the nosy neighbor of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) while manipulating the Darkhold, a powerful magical book, to seize Wanda’s incredible abilities as the Scarlet Witch.

In “WandaVision,” Agatha was ultimately bested, leading to her powers being drained by Wanda. The new series picks up with her stuck in a detective-style television narrative until her old rival Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza) brings her back to reality. To regain her powers, Agatha navigates the challenges of the mythical Witches’ Road accompanied by Teen (Joe Locke), a young ally cursed to conceal his actual name.

<p“Along this personal journey, we expand the MCU’s world of witches, which is super exciting, while also conveying a powerful message about discovering one’s own strength,” Hahn explains. “How do we adapt? How can we view aging as a strength? Our accumulated wisdom should be seen as a valuable asset rather than a burden, and that’s an invigorating notion.”

However, Agatha remains as cunning as ever. In “WandaVision,” she “thrived in the strategic back-and-forth,” Hahn notes, highlighting that viewers were often left guessing about Agatha’s true motivations toward Wanda. Was it merely power she sought, or something deeper like friendship or romance? This element of deceit continues in the new series but is presented in subtler ways. “She is still performing and gathering this group of rather downcast witches,” Hahn chuckles. “She’s always trying to gain their sympathy while keeping her schemes. Agatha hasn’t changed much; she’s just employing her tactics differently.”

Hahn was thrilled to learn that Agatha would be getting her own spinoff series: “I thought I would just enjoy my time in ‘WandaVision’ and move on,” she shares. However, her captivating performance as a mid-tier Marvel Comics character struck a chord with fans and creators alike. Receiving the news about her own show felt “like a surreal experience,” she recounts, remembering how overwhelmed she was when a production assistant from “WandaVision” congratulated her on the first day of filming “Agatha.”

“This is something I never envisioned for myself or my career. To play a witch in this context is beyond anything I could have dreamed.”

Diving deep into the character’s comic-book legacy was a joy for Hahn. Agatha, a centuries-old character, first appeared back in a 1970 “Fantastic Four” issue. Over the years, she has portrayed varied roles: mentor, nanny, protector, or mother figure. Sometimes, she’s depicted as an old woman, and at other times, she’s not. “There was undoubtedly a phase where each Marvel heroine needed to wear a bodysuit with ample cleavage. I joked, ‘Could we please bring that version of Agatha back?!’” Hahn remarked humorously.

Hahn describes her interpretation of Agatha as a “blend of many experiences.” She reveals that elements from her high school role as the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz” helped shape her performance—“Donning that funnel on my head felt like preparatory work”—together with her passion for dark comedy. “That kind of humor allows for a lot of freedom and contains an undertone of rage, which are qualities that women often struggle to express boldly and occupy space with,” Hahn shares.

She mentions her recent lead roles that have explored complex moral themes, showcasing her work in shows like “I Love Dick” and “Mrs. Fletcher,” as well as movies such as “Private Life” and “Afternoon Delight.” “The women directors (and) writers truly wanted my authentic self.

“I know it sounds like a cliché, but I genuinely enjoy acting. I’m a hardworking performer,” she adds. “It can be a lead role, a supporting part, or anything in between. I don’t have a significant agenda, but playing Agatha Harkness has been a joy. It’s been a real delight.”

Contributing: Gary Levin