Olivia Wilde

Info

Full Name: Olivia Wilde
Date of birth: March 10, 1984 (42 years old)
Location: New York City, New York
Country: USA
Height: 1,71m

Olivia Wilde has been active for 22 years, participating in 33 movies that average a 6.3/10 score.

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Tráiler en VOSE de 'Harry Potter' T1

Biography

In her family the normal thing was winning journalism awards, so she had to find another trade to stand out. Olivia Jane Cockburn was born in New York on 10 March 1984 and grew up in Washington's Georgetown neighbourhood surrounded by typewriters: her parents, Andrew and Leslie Cockburn, are investigative reporters and producers of the legendary '60 Minutes', and even her uncles Alexander and Patrick are storied bylines of Anglo American journalism. When she decided to act, she chose her stage surname in homage to Oscar Wilde, a nod to the literary tradition at home.

From star pupil to 'The O.C.' girl

She studied at the demanding Georgetown Day School and Phillips Academy, and was accepted into Bard College, but deferred enrolment three times to chase acting, training at Dublin's Gaiety School. The gamble paid off fast: in 2004 she became famous as Alex Kelly, the bisexual bartender who shook up the second season of 'The O.C.', a pioneering character for bisexual visibility in primetime.

Television consecration came as Thirteen in 'House', the enigmatic Dr. Remy Hadley she played between 2007 and 2012 opposite Hugh Laurie's irascible doctor, which made her one of the most recognisable faces on global television.

Sci-fi muse and indie actress

Cinema claimed her quickly. After early turns in 'Paradise Lost' (2006) and 'Alpha Dog' (2006), she was the digital warrior Quorra of 'Tron Legacy' (2010), a role that made her a sci-fi convention favourite, the heroine of 'Cowboys & Aliens' (2011) and part of the dystopia 'In Time' (2011).

But she picked prestige too: she was Suzy Miller, wife of racing driver James Hunt, in Ron Howard's 'Rush' (2013), alongside Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, appeared in the Oscar winning 'Her' (2013), by Spike Jonze, with Joaquin Phoenix, and produced and starred in the indie comedy 'Drinking Buddies' (2013).

That decade never let up: the thriller 'The Next Three Days' (2010) with Russell Crowe, the comedies 'Year One' (2009) with Jack Black, 'The Change-Up' (2011) and 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' (2013) with Steve Carell, the literary drama 'The Words' (2012) with Bradley Cooper, the horror of 'The Lazarus Effect' (2015), the festive ensemble 'Love the Coopers' (2015) and her celebrated dramatic turn in the indie 'Meadowland' (2015). In 'A Vigilante' (2018), which she also produced, she transformed into a domestic abuse survivor turned avenger, one of her most demanding roles.

Later came the journalist of 'Richard Jewell' (2019), by Clint Eastwood, a role she defended amid the controversy over its portrayal of the real reporter, and an appearance in the excessive 'Babylon' (2023), by Damien Chazelle, with Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. In 2017 she also made her Broadway debut in the adaptation of '1984', and left two easter eggs for curious film fans: she was the physical form of the villain Gozer in 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' (2021) and the voice of Lois Lane in 'DC League of Super-Pets' (2022).

Behind the camera: from 'Booksmart' to 'The Invite'

Her true revolution came behind the camera. Her directorial debut, 'Booksmart' (2019), with Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever, became one of the best received comedies of the year and won her the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. She had warmed up directing music videos, among them Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Dark Necessities'.

Her second film, the retro thriller 'Don't Worry Darling' (2022), with Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, made history for other reasons: its Venice premiere whipped up such a whirlwind of rumours and headlines that the film ended up eclipsed by its own promotion, though it topped the US box office on its opening weekend and grossed more than 87 million dollars.

Critics have proved her right the third time: 'The Invite' (2026), premiered at Sundance and released this summer, the A24 comedy about swinging neighbours that she directs and stars in alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, is being celebrated as one of the best comedies of the year. Almost simultaneously she appeared in 'I Want Your Sex' (2026), the long awaited comeback of Gregg Araki alongside Cooper Hoffman and Charli XCX, and she is already preparing her next film as director, 'Naughty', a Christmas comedy she describes as heartbreaking and hilarious at once.

A prince, a comedian and a pop star

Her love life has produced as many headlines as her shoots. At 18 she eloped with the Italian filmmaker and aristocrat Tao Ruspoli, marrying aboard a converted school bus, the only place where they could hold the ceremony in secret; the marriage lasted until 2011. Then came the comedian Jason Sudeikis, whom she met at a 'Saturday Night Live' party: they got engaged and had two children, Otis and Daisy, before separating in 2020.

From the Don't Worry Darling shoot came her relationship with Harry Styles, which lasted until late 2022 and made her a daily paparazzi target. Since then she has kept her private life firmly under wraps, split between her children, the Proximity Ventures investment firm she co-founded in 2023 and her long standing activism for social causes.

The girl who grew up surrounded by reporters ended up telling stories with a camera instead of a notebook. Given the results so far, few still doubt that hers was never rebellion: it was pure aim.