Kat Dennings carved an unusual path through Hollywood—trading indie credibility for mainstream hits without ever fully leaving either world behind. She found her biggest audiences on opposite ends of the entertainment spectrum: as sarcastic waitress Max Black in CBS’s 2 Broke Girls and as astrophysicist Darcy Lewis across multiple Marvel blockbusters. This guide runs through her complete filmography, MCU timeline, and what she’s working on next.

4 related posts

Breakthrough Film: The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) · Signature TV Role: Max Black in 2 Broke Girls (2011–2017) · MCU Character: Darcy Lewis · Voice Role: Valerie in The Simpsons

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Max Black in 2 Broke Girls (2011–2017) on CBS (Wikipedia)
  • Darcy Lewis across Thor films and WandaVision (Wikipedia)
  • The 40-Year-Old Virgin rated 85% on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact 2026 release date for Shifting Gears on ABC
  • Whether Netflix may carry any unlisted cameo appearances
  • Future MCU projects beyond Doomsday speculation
3Timeline signal
  • Acting debut: 2000 (Wikipedia)
  • Breakthrough: The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • MCU debut: Thor (2011) (Wikipedia)
  • 2 Broke Girls: 2011–2017 (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Shifting Gears: upcoming ABC comedy starring Kat Dennings (Bleeding Cool)
  • Marvel digitally scanned her; future MCU involvement unconfirmed (Parade)

The table below consolidates career milestones, from her earliest screen credit to her most recent Disney+ appearances.

Category Details
Primary Fame 2 Broke Girls and MCU Darcy Lewis
Birth Date June 13, 1986 (Wikipedia)
Film Debut Raise Your Voice (2004)
Notable Comedy The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) — 85% RT
MCU Appearances Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), WandaVision (2021), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), What If…?
Voice Credit Valerie in The Simpsons
Current Project Shifting Gears (ABC, upcoming)

What is Kat Dennings best known for?

Kat Dennings’ defining roles sit at the intersection of network comedy and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her six-season run as Max Black on 2 Broke Girls (2011–2017) gave her a signature TV character known for sardonic wit and relentless ambition (Wikipedia). Parallel to that, she plays astrophysicist Darcy Lewis across multiple MCU entries—a role that began in Thor (2011) and continued through WandaVision (2021) (Wikipedia).

2 Broke Girls

The CBS sitcom paired Dennings with Beth Behrs as two waitresses in Brooklyn hustling to save money for a cupcake business. The show ran for six seasons and 138 episodes, cementing Dennings as a household name in American comedy.

Marvel Cinematic Universe roles

Darcy Lewis has appeared in five MCU productions so far: Thor (2011, 77% Rotten Tomatoes), Thor: The Dark World (2013, 67%), WandaVision (2021), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), and the animated What If…? series (Rotten Tomatoes). Her character evolved from comic relief intern to trusted scientist, often working alongside Jane Foster and Vision.

The pattern is clear: Dennings brings dry humor to scientific characters who ground MCU stakes in human moments.

Dennings has managed to stay relevant in two very different entertainment worlds—network sitcoms and billion-dollar superhero films—by playing to her sardonic strengths in both.

How did Kat Dennings get famous?

Kat Dennings was born Katherine Victoria Litwack on June 13, 1986, and made her acting debut in 2000 (Wikipedia). Her early film career built gradually from supporting roles toward breakout parts.

Early film roles

Her film debut came in Raise Your Voice (2004), a musical drama that also starred Hilary Duff. She followed it with The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), which became her highest-rated film at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes). Other early credits include Charlie Bartlett (2007), Big Momma’s House 2 (2006, her lowest-rated film at 5%), and The House Bunny (2008) (Wikipedia).

Breakthrough performances

The real shift came with Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008), rated 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, where her indie sensibility found a natural home (Rotten Tomatoes). Then Thor (2011) introduced her to the MCU audience the same year 2 Broke Girls premiered on CBS. The dual launch made 2011 her breakout moment.

The catch: her filmography shows a gap between prestige indies and broad comedies, with fewer mid-tier roles that could have expanded her range earlier in her career.

Which MCU actress forgot her role?

Kat Dennings herself publicly forgot she was part of the MCU. In interviews about Shifting Gears, she said: “Oh my god, I am in these movies” and confirmed she had forgotten her status as Darcy Lewis (Bleeding Cool).

Kat Dennings MCU journey

Her MCU tenure spans over a decade, starting with Thor (2011). She appeared in both Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), bridging the original and newer Thor franchises. Her Disney+ series WandaVision (2021) brought Darcy back for a live-action small-screen role (MCU Fandom Wiki).

Darcy Lewis appearances

  • Thor (2011) — first appearance
  • Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  • WandaVision (2021)
  • Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
  • What If…? (animated, voice role)

The implication: Dennings has been a consistent MCU presence even when her appearances are years apart. Her digital scan by Marvel suggests they see value in keeping the character available for future films (Parade).

The upshot

Dennings has a standing invitation from Marvel via her digital scan, but her calendar is currently clearest for network TV comedy on ABC.

Who did Kat Dennings voice in The Simpsons?

Kat Dennings voiced Valerie, a character in The Simpsons, according to her TV Guide credits (TV Guide). Beyond The Simpsons, she has provided guest voice work for Big Mouth and voiced the animated series Dallas & Robo (TV Guide).

Voice acting credits

  • Valerie in The Simpsons
  • Guest roles in Big Mouth
  • Dallas & Robo (animated series)
  • Marvel’s What If…? (alternate Darcy Lewis)

Other TV guest roles

Dennings’ TV appearances extend beyond her starring roles. She produced and starred in Dollface on Hulu (2019–2022), a comedy series about rebuilding her social life (TV Guide). This production credit shows her behind-the-scenes ambitions, not just acting work.

The pattern: her voice work clusters in animated projects and adult comedies, fitting her sardonic brand.

Film ratings range

Her Rotten Tomatoes scores span from 5% (Big Momma’s House 2, 2006) to 85% (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, 2005), with most indie titles clustering in the 67–74% range (Rotten Tomatoes).

What movies and TV shows is Kat Dennings in now?

Right now, Kat Dennings is moving between Marvel speculation and her next live-action project. No Netflix original series or movies starring her appear in her verified filmography as of 2025 (TV Guide).

Upcoming projects

Her most concrete upcoming work is Shifting Gears, an ABC comedy series. Marvel has also digitally scanned her, which means they could add Darcy Lewis to future films—but Dennings herself has denied involvement in Avengers: Doomsday (Bleeding Cool). As she told Parade: “I mean, I’m not in it. I am telling you right now, I’m not in it” (Parade).

Streaming availability

MCU films featuring her are available on Disney+, where subscribers can watch her across the Thor saga and WandaVision. 2 Broke Girls streams on Max. Her Hulu series Dollface remains on Hulu. There are no confirmed Netflix additions to her filmography.

For fans looking to stream her work today: Disney+ has the most complete MCU coverage, while Max covers her sitcom run.

“"I mean, I’m not in it. I am telling you right now, I’m not in it."”

— Kat Dennings, Actress (Darcy Lewis)

“"They did scan me, so to be honest, they could put me in anything they want at this point. I’m in the system."”

— Kat Dennings, Actress

Related reading: John Turturro Movies and TV Shows: Full Filmography · Elaine Hendrix Movies and TV Shows – Complete Filmography 2024

Additional sources

snapshot.apple.com, fandango.com

Kat Dennings shone in 2 Broke Girls and Thor alongside early roles like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, detailed further in complete filmography list spanning her full career.

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Frequently asked questions

What ethnicity is Kat Dennings?

Kat Dennings is of Jewish descent and was born Katherine Victoria Litwack. Her background includes Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

Did Ryan Gosling date Kat Dennings?

There are no verified records of Ryan Gosling and Kat Dennings dating. This appears to be unconfirmed rumor rather than documented fact.

What is Kat Dennings age?

Kat Dennings was born June 13, 1986, making her 38 years old in 2025.

Who is Kat Dennings husband?

Kat Dennings married musician Matthew Graybosch in 2022. The wedding was private, and details are limited in public sources.

What is Kat Dennings net worth?

Celebrity net worth estimates place Kat Dennings’ fortune around $10 million, accumulated through film, television, and producing credits.

What are Kat Dennings Disney projects?

Her Disney projects are all Marvel Cinematic Universe titles: Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), WandaVision (2021), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). All stream on Disney+.

How did Kat Dennings start her career?

Dennings began acting in 2000 with an early TV appearance before transitioning to film. Her breakout came with The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) and accelerated with the dual launch of 2 Broke Girls and Thor in 2011.

For anyone following her career, the choice is straightforward: stream the MCU films for her most recognizable work, watch 2 Broke Girls for her sitcom roots, and keep an eye on ABC’s Shifting Gears for her next live-action chapter.