Betty Ross (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Liz Tyler as Betty Ross in The Incredible Hulk

Professor

Doctor Elizabeth "Betty" Ross is a scientist and professor at Culver University, who became infatuated with her colleague Bruce Banner. In 2005, she joined Banner in the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project, administering Banner with a primer she developed that allowed him to survive his exposure to gamma radiation and become Hulk. For five years, she was separated from Banner, while her father Thaddeus Ross spearheaded an international manhunt.

In Banner's absence, Ross had begun dating Leonard Samson. In 2010, she became an accomplice of Banner after she was reunited with him in the United States. Together, they went on the run from the Strategic Operations Command Center, until Banner was captured in New York City while consulting Samuel Sterns. During the Duel of Harlem, when Banner was released to fight the Abomination, Ross' life was saved by Hulk. Afterwards, she and Banner went their own separate ways.

In 2018, Ross was a victim of Thanos' Snap, but was resurrected by Bruce Banner five years later.

## Role in the Films

### Early Life

Elizabeth "Betty" Ross was born around the 1970s to Thaddeus Ross and an unnamed mother, whom would later die from unknown causes. Betty would go off to college and majored in biology, and came across fellow science major Bruce Banner, and the two started a romantic relationship. The two would then go off to Harvard University before graduating and becoming scientists at Culver, where Betty taught celluar biology.

### Banner's Experiment

Following the events of 9/11, Thaddeus and the military decided to start a secret project to re-creater Dr. Abraham Erskine's formula that created the world's first super soldier. Betty and Bruce were recruited to the said program, but didn't know of the miltary's true goal since they were told that it was for radiation sickness. Bruce decided to test the experiment on himself to impress the general, but would be transformed into a giant-like monster and attacked the Ross family. Betty was hospitalized from the incident, leading to Thaddeus to make Banner a fugitive of the United States. Despite the data of the project being erased, Betty kept a back up of it at the her residence. Afterward, Betty would continue to work at Culver, and began a relationship with one of her colleagues Leonard Samson.

### The Incredible Hulk

Betty continued to teach at Culver, but would reunite with Bruce five years later, as he returned to in a attempt to cure himself of the monster. Taking him to her her home, Betty provided Bruce with the data that he needed, but Leonard would inform Thaddeus and the military of Banner's presence. The following day, Thaddeus and the Strategic Operations Command Center attacked Banner at the university, where the latter transformed into the Hulk to fight them off. Betty was nearly killed when a gunship shot at the Hulk, but she was saved by Banner in his monster form and taken into hiding. Afterward, Betty aided Banner in traveling to New York to meet with Samuel Sterns, who could make an antidote to get rid of the Hulk. Once the procedure was complete, Bruce was taken into custody by Thaddeus, whom was chastised by Betty for using Bruce as an excuse for his failures.

While traveling with her father and Bruce, they were alerted that the general's subordiante, Emil Blonsky, had transformed into the "Abomination" and was attacking Harlem. Betty and Thaddeus then witnessed the Hulk defeat the Abomation, and she had a brief moment with him before he fled the area. A month later, Betty would receive mail from Bruce, which was a her mother's necklace that she previously sold.

### Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame

According to *Avengers: Infinity War* directors the Russo brothers, she was one of many who were killed by Thanos. In *Avengers: Endgame*, Banner succeeds in undoing the decimation Thanos wrought with the Nano gauntlet, reviving Betty and all the others whom Thanos killed. It's assumed that Thaddeus reunited with his daughter, and he later attended Tony Stark's funeral to honor his sacrifice.

## Appearances

* The Incredible Hulk - Liv Tyler
* What If...? - Stephanie Panisello
* Captain America: New World Order - Liv Tyler