Olivia Wilde Response to Gollum Comparisons Sparks Online Conversation
Olivia Wilde has recently responded with grace and humor to some not-so-nice comments about her appearance following a red carpet interview that went viral for all the wrong reasons. The 42-year-old actor and director chatted with SFGate at the San Francisco International Film Festival about her upcoming film, The Invite.
Some social media users criticized Wilde’s appearance in the interview, saying she looked bug-eyed and skeletal, even comparing her to Gollum from the Lord of the Rings movies. Wilde took the comparisons in stride, sharing a screenshot of the interview next to a photo of Gollum on her Instagram Story. In the background, her brother jokingly asked her about rumors that she was a resurrected corpse.
Wilde explained that the striking image was due to the camera lens, saying, “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 reassured everyone by adding, “I’m not dead,” in response to the rumors. In the caption, she humorously noted, “Leave it to your little brother to give you the maximum amount of s***.”
During the film festival, Wilde discussed filming The Invite in San Francisco, sharing her excitement about the city’s cultural diversity and how it influenced the movie. She also talked about working with her co-star Seth Rogen and how they connected while filming. The Invite, adapted from the Spanish comedy The People Upstairs and directed by Wilde, follows a married couple, Angela and Joe, played by Wilde and Rogen, navigating a rough patch in their relationship when they invite their upstairs neighbors, Pina and Hawk, portrayed by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, over for dinner.
Before The Invite, which was co-written by Rashida Jones, Wilde had directed two films: 2019’s Booksmart and 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling. It’s clear that Wilde is a talented filmmaker with a sense of humor and a knack for handling criticism like a pro.
