Valentina Allegra de Fontaine

: "Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Actually, it's Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. I know it's hard, but I don't like to repeat myself, so you can just call me Val. But don't call me Val, just keep it in your head."
: ―Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to John Walker[src]
Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is a noblewoman and the Director of the CIA, who had become interested in recruiting powerful individuals. De Fontaine personally recruited John Walker, who lost his position as Captain America, and Yelena Belova, offering her a chance to avenge her sister. When political tensions arose between the United States and Wakanda, with the U.S. wishing to obtain vibranium for themselves, de Fontaine assigned her ex-husband and subordinate Everett Ross, who strongly opposed any offensive actions against Wakanda, to work with her. However, de Fontaine knew Ross would betray them and arrested him for committing treason after she gained evidence of him giving classified intelligence to Wakanda.
== Biography ==
=== Early Life ===
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is a Contessa who met and married Everett Ross, but eventually got divorced.
=== Finding Recruits ===
==== Meeting with John Walker ====
: "You did the right thing taking the serum. Yeah, of course I know about that. And I'll tell you something. It has made you very, very valuable to certain people."
: ―Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to John Walker[src]
In 2024, following John Walker being stripped of his title as Captain America and military rank due to him murdering Nico, a foreign national and member of the Flag Smashers who was surrendering, de Fontaine met with him and his wife, Olivia Walker, at a bench outside the main courtroom in the United States Capitol. She introduced herself to the two, noting the name that she would prefer them to address her by, before she then awkwardly sat down between them.
Sitting down, de Fontaine had told Walker that, if she had been in the same position that he had been in, she would have killed Nico too, as he had been responsible for the death of Battlestar, while saying the only reason Walker was being punished was the government had to uphold their laws. She explained that she was aware Walker took the Super Soldier Serum before fighting the Flag Smashers, that he no longer possessed his shield, since Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes had managed to subdue him and then reclaimed it, and that taking that serum made him valuable to certain people, whom de Fontaine was connected to.
As Walker's wife tried to ask who de Fontaine was, she continued speaking to Walker and gave his wife a blank business card. She told Walker that his decision to take the serum was the best decision he had ever made, along with choosing to marry Olivia. She told Walker that the next best decision he would make would be to pick up the phone when she called him. She noted that the shield did not belong to the government before leaving.
==== Creating U.S. Agent ====
: "Things are about to get weird. So when they do, we're not gonna need a Captain America. We're gonna need... a U.S. Agent."
: ―Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to John Walker[src]
With the Flag Smashers defeated, de Fontaine reunited with John Walker, after he had helped in the fight. While Walker put on his uniform, de Fontaine talked with Olivia Walker about all but one of the remaining Flag Smashers being killed while being transported to the Raft, saying that Helmut Zemo, who intended to destroy all super soldiers, had gotten the last laugh after all. Walker then stepped into the room in a new version of his suit, now all-black. As de Fontaine complimented the suit, she told the Walkers that the world was changing and that people did not need a Captain America, giving Walker the new name of "U.S. Agent" before leaving.
==== Meeting with Yelena Belova ====
: "Maybe you'd like a shot at the man responsible for your sister's death."
: ―Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to Yelena Belova[src]
Contessa de Fontaine met Yelena Belova, a trained assassin and spy and the surrogate sister of Natasha Romanoff. In December 2024, de Fontaine was contacted by Eleanor Bishop to assassinate Clint Barton. De Fontaine visited Romanoff's grave to speak with Belova, who was paying her respects there, making her presence known by blowing into a handkerchief and joking that she was "allergic to the Midwest."
Belova called de Fontaine desperate for coming to her while she was on holiday and asked for a raise. De Fontaine joked that she wanted one too, before telling Belova that she had a new assignment for her. Handing her a tablet, de Fontaine told Belova that her target was Barton and claimed that he was the one responsible for Romanoff's death.
=== Director of the CIA ===
==== Anti-Wakandan Sentiments ====
: "It's an eight hour drive.""Yeah, we can talk about the case. Actually, wouldn't mind apologizing to you for a couple of things I said during our marriage."
: ―Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to Everett Ross[src]
Hearing of an event regarding Wakandans and the FBI, de Fontaine went to Cambridge, Massachusetts and requested help from Everett Ross. Upon arriving, she observed a pair of Kimoyo Beads on the ground and secretly rigged it so she could know who was using it. When Ross arrived, she complimented him on his fitness and proceeded to speak with the FBI agents.
The Special Agent in Charge approached de Fontaine, who was rude to him. He then said he believed it was a car crash, but could not find the cars. The SAC said that the cars must have been taken and dropped into the river, which de Fontaine believed was outrageous. Afterwards, she asked Ross if he could give her a ride back to George Bush Center for Intelligence as she wanted to speak about their marriage.
==== Meeting in Langley ====
: "I don't see how they figured out who built it. That information is highly classified."
: ―Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to Everett Ross[src]
De Fontaine and Everett Ross then arrived in Langley, and de Fontaine expressed her confusion as to how the Wakandans were able to deduce who built the Vibranium Detector, as the information was highly classified. De Fontaine then heard a ringing from Ross' pocket. Addressing her as director, Ross told her he would have to answer it. De Fontaine told him he could answer it without the formalities. De Fontaine expressed surprise when she overheard Ross address his caller as his partner, and then left his car to enter the CIA headquarters.
De Fontaine and Everett Ross talked with the U.S. State Secretary. The secretary brought up that the President wished for the CIA to commence destabilization efforts on Wakanda. De Fontaine asked Ross what he thought. Ross claimed that his sources told him there was another enemy at play. Ross asked for time to investigate, or they could find themselves at war. The secretary asked de Fontaine for her opinion, and she simply said Ross was the expert. Ross repeated himself that it would be a mistake to attack Wakanda.
==== Confronting Her Ex-Husband ====
: "You ever thought for a second what they could be doing? Ever thought what we would be doing if the U.S. was the only country in the world with vibranium?""Oh, I actually dream about that."
: ―Everett Ross and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine[src]
At Everett Ross' House, de Fontaine greeted Ross and showed him a news report about the death of Ramonda. As Ross expressed his shock at this news, de Fontaine pondered what other secrets the Wakandans kept from him. He attempted to bluff to her he had no unsanctioned contact with Wakanda, but de Fontaine revealed she had Shuri's Kimoyo Beads bugged before he arrived at the crime scene and knew about his contact with Ramonda.
Ross defended his decision, stating that Wakandans are good people, before asking what the United States of America would do if they were the only ones with had access to vibranium. de Fontaine informed him that was exactly what she wanted, in fact, she dreamed of it. Ross tried to reason with de Fontaine, but she coldly refused to listen and placed him under arrest for his act of treason against the United States.
== Personality ==
: "I would've killed the bastard too. Nobody in there is mad at you about that. I mean, you would've been doing 'em a favor if you'd taken out the whole lot."
: ―Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to John Walker[src]
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is a very influential and manipulative figure, with a friendly and sarcastic facade. Her knowledge of how the United States government operates enabled her to convince John Walker to work for her. Additionally, de Fontaine was able to switch the narrative of Natasha Romanoff's sacrifice and frame it as a murder, convincing Yelena Belova that Clint Barton killed her, and sending her on a mission to kill him.
While insincere about Romanoff's sacrifice, she deeply admired the fallen hero and voiced her respect for her at her headstone.
De Fontaine covets strange materials such as vibranium, so she wanted to take action against Wakanda, which is believed to be the native country of the mineral. She even dreams of United States being the only country with vibranium.
== Abilities ==
* Expert Tactician: De Fontaine is very skilled at forming teams and manipulating people. She was able to recruit both John Walker and Yelena Belova. When Eleanor Bishop called her to get rid of Clint Barton, de Fontaine manipulated Belova into thinking that Barton killed her sister, Natasha Romanoff so that Belova would finish the mission with extreme lethality.
== Facilities ==
* Everett Ross' House: De Fontaine used to live at the house when she was married to Everett Ross. She later visited the house to arrest Ross.
* United States Capitol: De Fontaine met up with Olivia Walker and her husband John Walker at the United States Capitol following the latter's status as Captain America being stripped away.
* George Bush Center for Intelligence: As director of the CIA, de Fontaine worked at the George Bush Center for Intelligence. She attended a meeting there with Everett Ross regarding political tensions rising between the United States of America and Wakanda.
== Relationships ==
=== Family ===
* Everett Ross - Ex-Husband and Former Subordinate
=== Allies ===
* CIA - Subordinates
* Olivia Walker
* Eleanor Bishop - Client
* FBI
* United States Department of State
** U.S. State Secretary
* Thunderbolts - Recruits
** Yelena Belova
** John Walker/U.S. Agent	
=== Enemies ===
* Clint Barton
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine is an alleged Italian noblewoman who joined S.H.I.E.L.D. and even ascended temporarily to the rank of Deputy Director, becoming Nick Fury's lover. Eventually, she infiltrated HYDRA and assumed the identity of Madame Hydra, though she was actually a Russian triple agent, having worked for Leviathan as a sleeper agent since before being recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D.
** In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fontaine shares similarities and covers a similar role to Valerie "Val" Cooper, a government advisor and liaison specialized in regulations of superhuman activities in the United States of America, who recruited and collaborated with John Walker for many years.
* De Fontaine is allergic to pollen.
== Behind the Scenes ==
* Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the second live-action incarnation of the character, following an incarnation portrayed by Lisa Rinna.
* Julia Louis-Dreyfus was set to be introduced as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in Black Widow before her appearance in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, but this was changed due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
* In an early draft for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, when de Fontaine arrests Everett Ross, she reveals that she had a recording of Graham's final phone call about the Talokanil but kept it to herself.
== References ==
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
# ↑ Jump up to:1.0 1.1 1.2 The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.05: Truth
# ↑ D23 Expo 2022: Marvel Studios' 'Thunderbolts’ Casting Announced
# ↑ Jump up to:3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
# ↑ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.06: One World, One People
# ↑ Jump up to:5.0 5.1 Black Widow Post-credits Scene
# ↑ Hawkeye: 1.05: Ronin
# ↑ Marvel Has Big Plans for That Surprise The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Cameo
== External Links ==
* Valentina Allegra de Fontaine on Marvel Database
* Valerie Cooper on Marvel Database
* Valentina Allegra de Fontaine on Wikipedia
* Valerie Cooper on Wikipedia