Actress and filmmaker Olivia Wilde has responded with humor to criticism of her appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival, where she was promoting her new movie, The Invite. She shared a video on her Instagram Stories that juxtaposed an image from her viral interview with the San Francisco Chronicle at the festival with a picture of the Lord of the Rings character Gollum, according to reports from people.com.
Brotherly Banter
Wilde captioned the clip, "Leave it to your little brother to give you the maximum amount of s---." In the video, her brother, Charlie Cockburn, can be heard asking, "Olivia Wilde, do you care to address recent rumours that you're a resurrected corpse?"
Wilde responded, "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 said while looking toward the camera.
Explaining the Lens
Wilde continued to explain that the unusual appearance was due to the style of lens used in the interview. "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," she said as she and her brother laughed. "Do you have any more questions?" she playfully asked her brother before adding, "I'm not dead." She then covered her face with her baseball cap as they continued to laugh.
Viral Interview Backlash
In the viral interview, the Don't Worry Darling actress discussed her upcoming comedy set in San Francisco. The comments section quickly filled with criticism about her appearance. One person wrote, "The cameraman really doing a disservice here." Another commenter said, "She looks as if she had found the one ring," referencing the fantasy franchise.
About The Invite
The Invite marks Wilde's third time directing a feature film, following 2019's Booksmart and 2022's Don't Worry Darling. The movie follows a troubled couple who host a dinner party with their upstairs neighbors, bringing up unexpected revelations. Adapted from the 2020 novel The People Upstairs, the film also stars Wilde alongside Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton.
Gollum, the character Wilde was compared to, is a corrupted fictional creature from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Introduced in the 1937 novel The Hobbit, he became a major character in The Lord of the Rings. He is known for his emaciated appearance, including large eyes, pale skin, and long, thin limbs.
