Olivia Wilde has humorously addressed the cruel comparisons to the Lord of the Rings character Gollum that surfaced after a recent red carpet interview. The actress and director, 42, attended the San Francisco International Film Festival last month to promote her upcoming film The Invite. However, a viral clip from the event led to thousands of comments about her appearance, with many likening her to the iconic Middle Earth creature.
Wilde's Playful Response
In the book series, Gollum is described as a small, slimy creature with pale, lamp-like eyes and thin limbs. One user on X wrote, 'She looks as if she had found the one ring.' Rather than ignoring the remarks, Wilde decided to respond with a light-hearted video on Instagram. The post featured a split screen of her interview and an image of Gollum, with the caption: 'Leave it to your little brother to give you the maximum amount of s***.'
In the video, her brother Charlie Cockburn asks, 'Olivia Wilde, do you care to address recent rumours that you're a resurrected corpse?' Leaning into the camera, she replies, 'Listen, that's a fish-eye lens. And I admit, is that my best angle? Was that my best-ever look? No. No, it's startling. It's a startling image.' She explains that the lens distorted her appearance, adding, 'It was a fish-eye lens. I don't know why I was so close to the camera. I didn't have to be. That's not the truth.' After laughing with her brother, she concludes, 'I'm not dead.'
Support from Fans
Following the viral interview, many defended Wilde against the harsh comments. One person posted, 'It's unflattering lighting and a bad camera lens. She otherwise looks beautiful and is aging gracefully.' Another agreed, 'I think it may have been the camera settings, or a filter of whoever took that video. I saw a news clip where she didn't look as bad.'
About 'The Invite'
Wilde was at the festival promoting The Invite, her third directorial effort after Booksmart (2010) and Don't Worry Darling (2022). The film is an English-language remake of the Spanish movie The People Upstairs by Cesc Gay. It stars Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. The synopsis teases: 'A dinner party spirals into unexpected places when a couple invite their enigmatic neighbours over. Have they reignited the spark in their troubled marriage – or lit the match that burns it all down?' The film received a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
When filming wrapped last year, Wilde shared an Instagram post saying, 'I don't yet have the words to say how meaningful this experience has been. So, for now just want to say THANK YOU to every brilliant, kind, hilarious person who made this production happen. I can't wait to show the world what we all made together.'
Personal Life Updates
Last week, Wilde's ex Harry Styles made headlines after it was revealed he is engaged to actress Zoë Kravitz, whom he has been dating for eight months. A source told Page Six, 'He is completely smitten. He would jump off a cliff for her.' Zoë is said to be 'on cloud nine,' and 'no one in their circle is surprised.' Wilde and Styles were together for nearly two years after meeting on the set of Don't Worry Darling and broke up in November 2022. Wilde is now dating art dealer Caspar Jopling, the ex-husband of Ellie Goulding. The couple were first spotted publicly kissing outside a London restaurant in September last year.
