Olivia Wilde on Breaking Barriers in Hollywood: From Acting to Directing

The filmmaker calls for a cultural shift and industry accountability at the Red Sea Film Festival.

Olivia Wilde, one of the few actresses to successfully transition into directing, shed light on the obstacles women face in the film industry during a talk at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. She emphasized the early messaging young girls receive about their place in cinema.

“For many young women, when we love movies as little girls, we’re told, ‘Oh, you should be an actress.’ When little boys say they love movies, people say, ‘You should be a director,’” Wilde remarked.

Wilde attributed the lack of female directors not to audiences but to financial gatekeepers unwilling to take perceived risks. “Movies directed by women don’t make less money. It’s not the audience’s problem; it’s the financiers and studios,” she said. She also advocated for raising women to be fearless leaders who aren’t conditioned to apologize for taking up space. “Being a director requires confidence, and we need to shift how we raise women to encourage that fearlessness,” Wilde stated.

Reflecting on her career, Wilde shared that she had wanted to act since age three. After moving to Hollywood at 18, she landed her first role in the TV series Skin and rose to fame with The O.C. and House. However, her time on House was not without challenges. The storyline of her bisexual character, Remy, was groundbreaking but controversial, leading to death threats and increased studio security.

Wilde’s directorial debut, Booksmart (2019), came after years of working in front of the camera. She noted her transition to directing was fueled by her desire to have her experience and wisdom celebrated, not diminished by age. “Acting is the only job where the more experience you have, the less valuable you become… I wanted to flip that narrative,” she said.

She also commented on the pressures of fame, describing its damaging effects on creativity. “The fear of judgment makes artists self-conscious, which is never good for creativity,” she shared. Wilde credited her mentors for helping her navigate this and focus on her art rather than celebrity.

Wilde’s next projects include acting in Gregg Araki’s erotic thriller I Want Your Sex and directing Avengelyne, starring Margot Robbie. She also reflected on her 2022 film, Don’t Worry Darling, which made headlines for its controversies and viral moments at the Venice Film Festival, including the infamous “Spitgate” incident.

Speaking alongside industry heavyweights like Michelle Yeoh and Emily Blunt, Wilde called for a cultural and systemic overhaul to level the playing field for women in film.