So, here’s the thing about Marvel—they love a good secret. While everyone was busy guessing if Aubrey Plaza was playing Mephisto or Death (spoiler: she was definitely Death), a huge piece of the emotional puzzle was hiding right in front of us. Maria Dizzia, a powerhouse of the indie film world and a Tony nominee, finally stepped into the MCU spotlight. She didn't have a pointy hat. She didn't throw purple fire. But honestly? Her role as Rebecca Kaplan in Agatha All Along might be one of the most heartbreakingly human things we’ve seen in a superhero show in years.
It's kinda wild how long we had to wait to see her.
Maria Dizzia was announced for the cast way back when the show was still called Coven of Chaos. Fans spent months theorizing. Was she a secret witch? Part of the Salem Seven? Maybe a long-lost Harkness? Nope. She plays the mom. But not just any mom—she's the mother of William Kaplan, the boy whose body becomes the vessel for Billy Maximoff.
Who exactly is Maria Dizzia playing?
Basically, Dizzia plays Rebecca Kaplan. She and her husband, Jeff (played by Paul Adelstein), are your standard, loving suburban parents from Eastview. They’re Reform Jews, they throw a great Bar Mitzvah, and they clearly adore their son. But there’s a massive, supernatural catch that makes their family dynamic incredibly tense for the audience.
In Episode 6, "Familiar by Thy Side," we see the moment everything changes. A car crash. A dying boy. And then, a soul from the collapsing Westview Hex—Billy Maximoff—slips into William's body.
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Imagine being Rebecca. Your son "dies" for a heartbeat, wakes up with no memory of his life, and you spend the next three years just... trying to get him back. Maria Dizzia plays this with such a quiet, frantic sort of love. You can see it in the way she looks at Joe Locke. She knows something is "off," but she loves him so much she doesn't care. Or maybe she’s just terrified to ask.
Why the Rebecca Kaplan role actually matters
Most people watch these shows for the Witches' Road trials or the cameos. That's fine. But Dizzia’s performance anchors the show's theme: motherhood.
Think about the parallels:
- Agatha Harkness is haunted by the loss (and sacrifice) of her son, Nicholas Scratch.
- Wanda Maximoff literally tore reality apart because she couldn't be a mother to her boys.
- Rebecca Kaplan is the only one actually doing the job, even though the soul inside her son isn't technically the one she gave birth to.
It’s heavy stuff for a show with a catchy theme song. Dizzia mentioned in interviews that she actually looked at comic book panels for inspiration. Specifically, there's a moment in the comics where Rebecca gives Billy a massive bear hug after he comes out to them. She wanted to capture that "effusive" love. Honestly, she nailed it. Even with those strict, rectangular glasses that make her look like a serious professional, she radiates warmth.
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What Maria Dizzia thinks about the "Two Moms" situation
There’s this devastating realization in the show that Billy hasn't told his "new" parents who he really is. He’s keeping the reincarnation a secret to protect them.
Maria Dizzia has talked about how Rebecca would probably be okay with it. She thinks the universe "gave her something" back. It’s a bittersweet perspective. Rebecca thinks she saved her son through her love and care after his "amnesia," not realizing he’s a legendary magical being with a completely different lineage.
She also has a history with the Scarlet Witch in real life! Dizzia worked with Elizabeth Olsen years ago on Martha Marcy May Marlene. It’s a cool little full-circle moment for the "moms" of Billy Maximoff to be connected like that.
Where have you seen her before?
If Maria Dizzia looked familiar but you couldn't place her, you’ve probably seen her in about a dozen high-quality projects. She’s one of those "actor's actors."
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- She was Polly Harper in Orange Is the New Black (Piper’s best friend who, uh, made some questionable choices).
- She played the lead in the Oscar-winning short The Neighbor's Window.
- She’s been in 13 Reasons Why, The Staircase, and School Spirits.
She’s got this incredible range. She can go from being the funniest person in the room to someone who makes you want to cry just by the way she holds a coffee mug. Putting someone with that much dramatic weight into a "normal parent" role was a genius move by the Agatha casting team. It makes the stakes feel real. If Billy fails, it’s not just the world at risk—it’s this nice lady’s heart.
The Witches' Road vs. The Upper West Side
In the comics, the Kaplans are eventually clued in. They become the ultimate support system for the Young Avengers.
In the show, we’re left with a bit of a cliffhanger regarding their future. Since Billy is now fully "Wiccan" and heading off with Ghost-Agatha to find his brother Tommy, where does that leave Rebecca?
It’s kinda tragic. She’s just waiting at home in Eastview, probably wondering why her son is hanging out with a "strange lady from the woods."
Insights for the future of the MCU
If you’re wondering what happens next for Maria Dizzia’s character, keep an eye on any Vision Quest or Young Avengers rumors. You don't cast a Tony-nominated actress for two episodes and then never show her again. Marvel needs that human grounding.
What you should do next:
Go back and re-watch Episode 6. This time, don't just look for Marvel Easter eggs. Look at Dizzia's face during the hospital scenes. The way she tries to "re-teach" Billy his own life is a masterclass in subtle acting. It adds a layer of grief to the show that makes the magical stuff feel much more earned. Plus, check out her work in School Spirits if you want to see her play another "mom dealing with the supernatural" role with a completely different vibe.