Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde, born Olivia Jane Cockburn on March 10, 1984, is a versatile American actress, director, and producer. Rising to prominence with her role as Remy "Thirteen" Hadley on the medical drama series "House" (2007–2012), Wilde has showcased her talent across various film genres.
In addition to her television work, Wilde has made significant contributions to the film industry. She has appeared in notable movies such as "Tron: Legacy" (2010), "Cowboys & Aliens" (2011), "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" (2013), and "The Lazarus Effect" (2015), demonstrating her range as an actress.


Transitioning behind the camera, Wilde made her directorial debut with the teen comedy "Booksmart" (2019), which received widespread critical acclaim and earned her the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Her directorial prowess was further recognized with the release of her second feature film, the thriller "Don't Worry Darling," in 2022.
Beyond her work in film and television, Wilde made her mark on Broadway with her debut as Julia in "1984" in 2017, showcasing her versatility as a performer across different mediums.
With her multifaceted talents and creative vision, Olivia Wilde continues to captivate audiences both in front of and behind the camera, establishing herself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.


Olivia Wilde, originally born Olivia Jane Cockburn, came into the world on March 10, 1984, in New York City. Growing up, she spent her formative years in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., while also enjoying summers in Ardmore, Ireland. Wilde attended Georgetown Day School in D.C. and later Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where she graduated in 2002.
The decision to adopt the surname "Wilde" professionally was a homage to the renowned Irish author Oscar Wilde, reflecting her admiration for the literary talents within her family, many of whom used pen names. Wilde's academic path included acceptance to Bard College, although she deferred enrollment multiple times to pursue her passion for acting. She further honed her craft at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland.


Wilde comes from a family with a rich history in journalism and literature. Her father, Andrew Cockburn, hails from Willesden, a suburb of London, and is a British journalist, while her mother, Leslie Cockburn (formerly Redlich), is an American producer known for her work on "60 Minutes" and her career in journalism.
The Cockburn family's association with prominent figures extends further, with writer Christopher Hitchens having served as Olivia Wilde's babysitter during her childhood in Washington, D.C. Additionally, her grandfather, British novelist Claud Cockburn, along with his sons Alexander and Patrick Cockburn, were esteemed journalists, and her aunt, Sarah Caudwell, was a noted writer as well.


Olivia Wilde's career saw significant strides in both television and film during the mid-2000s. She portrayed "Jewel Goldman" in the television series "Skin" (2003–2004), and gained attention for her recurring role as the bisexual bar owner Alex Kelly on the popular teen drama "The O.C." (2004–2005).
In the realm of film, Wilde appeared in several productions including "The Girl Next Door" (2004), "Conversations with Other Women" (2005), "Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas" (2006), "Turistas" (2006), and "Alpha Dog" (2006).


Her career continued to flourish as she starred off-Broadway in the political thriller "Beauty on the Vine" (2007) and appeared in "The Death and Life of Bobby Z" (2007) and the drama series "The Black Donnellys" (2007). Wilde then joined the cast of the medical drama "House" (2007), portraying the character Remy "Thirteen" Hadley, a bisexual internist with Huntington's disease.
Wilde's filmography expanded with roles in "Year One" (2009) and Disney's "Tron: Legacy" (2010), where she played the character Quorra. Inspired by her parents' work in journalism and filmmaking, Wilde also executive-produced several documentary short films, including "Sun City Picture House" (2010), documenting a community's effort to build a movie theater in Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake.


In 2011, Wilde announced her departure from "House" to focus on her film career. She subsequently appeared in films such as "Cowboys & Aliens" (2011), "The Change-Up" (2011), "In Time" (2011), "On the Inside" (2011), and "Butter" (2011). Additionally, she became a global brand ambassador for Revlon in 2011.
Wilde made her directing and screenwriting debut with the film "Free Hugs" (2011), part of Glamour Magazine's short film series. She also returned for the series finale of "House" in 2012 and continued to star in films such as "People Like Us" (2012), "Third Person" (2012), "The Words" (2012), and "Deadfall" (2012). Additionally, she participated in the PBS docu-series "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide" (2012) and produced the short film "Baseball in the Time of Cholera" (2012), examining the cholera epidemic in Haiti.


Olivia Wilde ventured into directing with her debut film, the teen comedy "Booksmart," which was released on May 24, 2019. The film garnered critical acclaim, with a 97% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised Wilde's filmmaking skills, noting the film's humor, intelligence, and optimism. "Booksmart" won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature at the 35th Independent Spirit Awards in 2020.


In 2019, Wilde also appeared in "Richard Jewell," portraying Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs. The film faced criticism for its portrayal of Scruggs, with allegations of depicting her unethically. Wilde defended her role, citing a sexist double standard and emphasizing the film's intent to expose character assassination.


In 2020, Wilde directed the short film "Wake Up," starring Margaret Qualley. Her second directorial feature, "Don't Worry Darling," released in 2022, is an erotic psychological thriller set in the 1950s, in which Wilde also plays a supporting role. The film stars Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Gemma Chan, and Chris Pine. While it garnered attention for its controversies, including both on- and off-set issues, it premiered at the 79th Venice Film Festival to mixed reviews.


Wilde's upcoming projects include directing "Perfect," a biopic about gymnast Kerri Strug for Searchlight Pictures, an untitled holiday-comedy film for Universal Pictures, and a female-centered superhero film as part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe franchise. Additionally, she voiced Lois Lane in the animated film "DC League of Super-Pets" in 2022.

References

1.  Vilkomerson, Sara (April 15, 2007). "Wilde at Heart". The New York Observer. ... Wilde moved to Dublin to study acting (her father's family is Irish, and she has dual citizenship and a family residence there). She changed her name when she moved from behind the camera ...
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7. a b Hitchens, Christopher (February 23, 2010). "Fashion Spotlight: Olivia Wilde". Elle. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
8. ^ Fanning, Evan (December 12, 2010). "Olivia's fond memories of a Wilde time in Ardmore". Irish Independent. Independent News and Media. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018. each summer the family ... decamped to Ardmore.
9. Vilkomerson, Sara (April 11, 2007). "Wilde At Heart". New York Observer. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
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12. ^ "Olivia Wilde Remembers Her LGBT Character on 'The O.C.' : 'I'm So Happy to See How Far We've Come'". People. January 10, 2019. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
13. ^ Grace Gavilanes (March 10, 2015). "Birthday Girl Olivia Wilde on Being in Love with Jason Sudeikis". InStyle. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
14. ^ "Thirteen's Final Farewell". Sheknows.com. October 17, 2011. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.