Peggy Carter is one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). As a founding member of S.H.I.E.L.D. and love interest of Captain America, she has a special place in fans’ hearts. But one question has lingered about Peggy’s personal life – does she have any children?
The Sharon Carter Question
In the MCU films, we’re introduced to Sharon Carter, who is Peggy’s great-niece in the comics. But could Sharon actually be Peggy’s daughter in the films instead? There are a few clues that suggest this could be a possibility:
- Sharon is close in age to Peggy’s children would be, assuming she had kids shortly after WWII.
- She’s highly competent like Peggy and works for S.H.I.E.L.D., almost like she’s carrying on Peggy’s legacy.
- Her surname is still Carter, even though she’s supposedly Peggy’s great-niece.
However, there are also several counterpoints that make it seem unlikely Sharon is meant to be Peggy’s daughter:
- Peggy’s children are never mentioned or shown.
- Sharon calls Peggy her “aunt” when referencing her.
- The films directly refer to Sharon as Peggy’s niece, not daughter.
Peggy’s Love Interests
If Peggy did have a secret daughter in the MCU, who might the father be? The two main possibilities are:
Steve Rogers
Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, was Peggy’s main love interest. They shared a kiss right before he crashed into the ice and was frozen for decades. When he woke up in the present day, Peggy was an elderly woman.
Some fans speculate that perhaps Peggy and Steve had one night together right before his final mission, resulting in a pregnancy. This daughter would then have been Sharon Carter. However, this doesn’t seem likely for a few reasons:
- Peggy never indicated she had a child with Steve.
- Sharon and Steve showed romantic interest in each other in Civil War, which would be strange if they were half-siblings.
- The timeline doesn’t quite line up perfectly, especially since Steve was frozen for so long before fathering a child would have been possible.
Daniel Sousa
In the Agent Carter TV series, which takes place after WWII, Peggy develops a relationship with Daniel Sousa. The two shared a kiss right before Peggy left to go to Los Angeles. Some fans speculate that perhaps their romance led to a child that we never saw on screen.
However, it seems unlikely for a few reasons:
- The show never indicated Peggy and Daniel had conceived a child together.
- There’s about a 10 year age gap between Daniel and Peggy, making it unlikely they’d have a daughter Sharon’s age.
- Sharon never indicated Daniel Sousa was her father.
Does Peggy Have Kids in the Comics?
So if Sharon isn’t Peggy’s daughter in the MCU, does Peggy have any children in the Marvel comics?
In the original comics, Peggy Carter married a man named Harrison Carter after WWII and took his last name. They had three children together:
- Amanda Carter
- Tony Carter
- Unnamed son
Sharon Carter is the daughter of Peggy’s brother, Harrison Carter, making her Peggy’s niece in the comics. None of Peggy’s own children have appeared in the MCU.
The Verdict
Based on all available evidence from the films, TV show, and comics, it seems clear that Sharon Carter is not meant to be the secret daughter of Peggy Carter in the MCU.
While an interesting theory, there are too many contradictions and pieces of evidence that dispute it. Sharon is most likely simply Peggy’s grand-niece, like in the comics. As for Peggy, it’s left ambiguous if she had any children in the MCU or not.
MCU Connections Between Peggy and Sharon
Though not mother and daughter, Peggy and Sharon do still have an important connection in the MCU. As Peggy’s close relative and a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent herself, Sharon carries on Peggy’s legacy:
- She upholds Peggy’s values of duty and integrity.
- She helps Captain America, keeping that partnership alive.
- She works to take down Hydra, an old enemy of Peggy’s.
Additionally, Sharon seems to have a deeper emotional connection to Peggy’s memory beyond just being her great-niece. When she attends Peggy’s funeral in Civil War, she is clearly quite distraught. This could be because Peggy served as an important maternal-like figure in her life, if not her actual mother.
Peggy’s Character Arc in the MCU
| Film/Show | Peggy’s Arc |
|---|---|
| Captain America: The First Avenger | Meets and falls for Steve Rogers before he becomes Captain America. They share their first and only kiss right before he crashes the plane and becomes frozen. |
| Agent Carter (TV Show) | Struggles to find her place after WWII while working for the SSR. Develops a relationship with Daniel Sousa. Defeats enemies trying to misuse Howard Stark’s inventions. |
| Captain America: Winter Soldier | Is revealed to have helped found S.H.I.E.L.D. along with Howard Stark. Is elderly and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease when Steve visits her for the last time before her death. |
| Avengers: Endgame | Steve goes back in time to return the Infinity Stones and decides to stay in the past to live out his life with Peggy, implied to be her secret husband all along. |
While Peggy’s story remained mysterious in some ways, she had a strong and compelling arc throughout her MCU appearances. As one of the franchise’s first female heroes, she paved the way for characters like Black Widow and Captain Marvel.
Sharon Carter’s Character Arc in the MCU
| Film | Sharon’s Arc |
|---|---|
| Captain America: Winter Soldier | Introduced as Agent 13, assigned to watch over Steve without him knowing. Later revealed as Peggy’s great-niece Sharon. Fights against Hydra within S.H.I.E.L.D. |
| Captain America: Civil War | Agrees to help Steve and Bucky escape capture, betraying the CIA in the process. Shares a kiss with Steve, showing romantic interest. |
| Avengers: Infinity War | Does not appear. |
| Avengers: Endgame | Does not appear. |
While introduced strongly in The Winter Soldier, Sharon Carter unfortunately faded into the background after Civil War. Fans hope she will return in future MCU projects and get more development as Peggy’s tough, capable niece carrying on her legacy.
Conclusion
In summary, the evidence clearly shows Sharon Carter is not secretly the daughter of Peggy Carter in the MCU films. Sharon is Peggy’s great-niece, like in the comics. While Peggy’s personal life remains ambiguous, she lived a full life as a founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. and inspiration to future heroes like Sharon. Her legacy powerfully carries on through characters like Sharon Carter.
