Widowmaker is the perfect assassin: a patient, ruthlessly efficient killer who shows neither emotion nor remorse.

It is believed that in her former life, Widowmaker was married to Gérard Lacroix, an overwatch agent spearheading operations against the talon terrorist organization. After several unsuccessful attempts to eliminate Gérard Lacroix, Talon decided to change its focus to his wife, Amélie. Talon operatives kidnapped her and subjected her to an intense program of neural reconditioning. They broke her will, suppressed her personality, and reprogrammed her as a sleeper agent. She was eventually found by overwatch agents, apparently, none the worse for wear, and returned to her normal life.