From its inception, the romance between Kingpin and his partner seemed destined for tragedy. When Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) first crossed paths with Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer) during the early days of the original Netflix Daredevil series, it felt inevitable that she would eventually pay a heavy price for being entangled with such a ruthless figure. Yet, even after surviving a near-fatal attack in the first season, she proved her resilience, eventually evolving into a formidable power player who briefly seized control of Fisk’s criminal empire.
However, the tides turned in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again. In the second episode, “Gloves Off,” the couple faced a brutal assault from Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) during a high-stakes boxing exhibition, leaving Vanessa critically wounded.
What followed sent shockwaves through the narrative, fundamentally shifting Fisk’s trajectory. Zurer recently sat down with Polygon to discuss this pivotal departure for her character.
[Ed. note: Significant spoilers ahead for episode 5, “The Grand Design.”]Throughout “The Grand Design,” there was a glimmer of hope that Vanessa might pull through, mirroring her previous recovery from poisoning. Ultimately, though, she succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. The aftermath saw a shattered Kingpin descend into a new tier of brutality, even lashing out violently against a medical professional offering condolences.
With her character’s journey now concluded, Ayelet Zurer spoke with us via Zoom about the complexities of portraying Vanessa, the creative struggles she encountered, and how her approach to the role matured between the Netflix era and this latest Disney Plus chapter.
Polygon: How were you informed of Vanessa’s death, and what was your initial reaction?
Ayelet Zurer: I received briefings from showrunner Dario Scardapane and executive producer Sana Amanat well before production commenced. They were understandably delicate, concerned that I might take the decision personally. It was purely a narrative necessity—a catalyst to push the story into uncharted territory. Vincent also advocated strongly to change the outcome, though he wasn’t able to sway them. Ultimately, I grasped the reasoning; there is truly nothing else capable of driving Fisk into such a destructive, unhinged state.
Did you always feel this relationship was built on a foundation of doom?
In a sense, yes. I could have continued exploring her character for years, as she remains endlessly fascinating to me. However, the show’s heart is the power dynamic between Daredevil and Kingpin. Everything else, including our romance, serves as a mechanism to escalate that central conflict.
Were you ever surprised by the writing choices made for Vanessa?
Absolutely. When I returned for Born Again and learned she had taken a lover, I was stunned. To me, Vanessa is defined by the strict dichotomy of loyalty versus truth. I struggled to justify that plot point until I convinced the writers to reframe him as someone from the art world. It made sense that she would value an artist’s perspective. I interpreted her infidelity as a calculated act of betrayal, intended to sting Fisk because she felt abandoned by him. It was a fascinating logic to play through.
How do you characterize their love story?
They’ve always reminded me of classic movie stars. It’s grand, larger-than-life, yet rooted in raw human emotion. Fisk is such a massive, imposing presence, and I’ve always felt that Vanessa acts as the perfect, poised counterpart—almost like a modern femme fatale.
Who, in your eyes, is the more ruthless of the two?
Fisk, without question. For Vanessa, power is a tool for security and protection; it’s never been about an insatiable hunger for control. For him, however, power is the end goal itself. That is the definition of ruthlessness.
How did your portrayal evolve between the Netflix series and this new chapter?
It was a challenge because I’ve grown and changed. I couldn’t return to the naive version of Vanessa I played years ago. I leaned into the world-weariness—a woman who has seen and done things that have left a mark. It was incredibly fulfilling to dig into her capacity for manipulation and her acute ability to read people. In Born Again, they gave me much more depth to work with.
What was the experience of working with Vincent D’Onofrio like?
It was wonderful. We’ve become close friends, and he has always been my fiercest advocate on set. Being two Cancers with birthdays only days apart, we hit it off immediately—there was a natural shorthand between us.
Looking ahead, how do you expect Vanessa’s absence to impact Kingpin?
It’s going to be absolutely devastating.
Daredevil: Born Again is currently streaming its eight-episode second season on Disney Plus, with new episodes releasing every Tuesday.
Source: Polygon
