When you’re a well known actor with a cameo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, keeping it a secret can be challenging. Pictures from sets leak all the time, even when those sets are supposedly secure. But we didn’t know about Julia Louis-Dreyfus dropping into The Falcon and The Winter Soldier as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine until it happened. The fifth episode of the series introduced Louis-Dreyfus as an enigmatic figure. One ready to help John Walker out of the serious mess he made for himself. And to preserve the secret, the crew brought Louis-Dreyfus to set each day in a hooded cloak.
They snuck me onto set every day in this stunning hooded cloak. I have worn it every day since. Obviously. @MarvelStudios @falconandwinter #Val #ContessaValentinaAllegraDeFontaine pic.twitter.com/3ACQh5Olw6
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) April 23, 2021
The actor shared a video of the crew tucking her and her quite high hairdo into the black cloak. It does a heck of a job obscuring her identity. Louis-Dreyfus wears large sunglasses too, but still… I think she’s fairly recognizable.
Marvel Studios
Though the cloak doesn’t look especially comfortable—it’s definitely not made for lounging—I rather hope Louis-Dreyfus wears it every day.
Overall, she seems happy to be part of the MCU. Louis-Dreyfus shared the below adorable photo with the Contessa’s business card after her first appearance in the Disney+ series.
Yup. @MarvelStudios @falconandwinter #Val #ContessaValentinaAllegraDeFontaine pic.twitter.com/03baCMykKk
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) April 19, 2021
And it’s a character who could have lasting power in the MCU. Given her interaction with John Walker in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier finale, we don’t think we’ve seen the last of her. In her comics history (which you can read about more here), Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (do not call her Val) has entanglements with HYDRA, S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, and Skrulls. She could absolutely figure into the Secret Invasion TV series. Let’s not forget that, reportedly, Louis-Dreyfus would have made her debut in Black Widow. The pandemic changed that, and we’re not sure if she’ll still appear in that film. But we think we’ll see her again.
Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available for pre-order now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.