Moira MacTaggert

Moira MacTaggert
Moira MacTaggert as seen in Excalibur #87. Art by Ken Lashley.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Uncanny X-Men #96 (December 1975)
Created by	Chris Claremont (writer) Dave Cockrum (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Dr. Moira Kinross MacTaggert
Team affiliations	Muir Island X-Men Excalibur X-Men
Abilities	Possesses great intelligence and experience in the field of genetics and mutation.

Dr. Moira Kinross MacTaggert (sometimes spelled MacTaggart, McTaggart, or McTaggert) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. She works as a geneticist and is an expert in mutant affairs.

Olivia Williams played a minor role of Dr. Moira MacTaggert in X-Men: The Last Stand. Rose Byrne played the character in 2011's superhero film X-Men: First Class; Dr. Moira MacTaggert was a CIA agent rather than a geneticist in this film. Byrne returned as MacTaggert in the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse.

Moira MacTaggert was created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, and first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #96 (December 1975).

Moira MacTaggert received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #4.

Originally, Grant Morrison wanted to use Moira on his run on New X-Men as the team scientist, but she was killed prior to the start of the series. Instead, he used Beast (Henry "Hank" McCoy).

Moira was one of the feature characters in the 2011 two-issue limited series Chaos War: X-Men.

Born Moira Kinross to Scottish parents, Moira MacTaggert was one of the world's leading authorities on genetic mutation, earning her a Nobel Prize for her work. She was the longest running human associate of the X-Men and was Professor Charles Xavier's colleague, confidante, and also once his fiancée, having met and fallen in love with him while they were postgraduates at Oxford University. She ended their engagement for unknown reasons and returned to Scotland. She was married to her old flame, the late politician Joseph MacTaggert which caused delays with her former engagement to Xavier. Joe proved to be an abusive husband; Moira separated from him after he beat her into a week long coma and, as it is implied, raped her, leaving her pregnant. She kept her son's existence a secret, and when Joe refused her a divorce she allowed people to believe she was widowed.