Olivia Wilde Reacts to Being Compared to “The” “Lord of the Rings”’ Gollum After Viral Interview
Olivia Wilde Reacts to Being Compared to “The” “Lord of the Rings”’ Gollum After Viral Interview
Raven BrunnerSun, May 3, 2026 at 8:56 PM UTC
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Olivia Wilde; Gollum in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' (2002)Credit: Miikka Skaffari/Getty; New Line Cinema -
Olivia Wilde responded to criticism of her recent appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival, where she was promoting her new movie, The Invite
She shared a video of herself on her Instagram Stories that had an image of her viral interview at the event and one of the Lord of the Rings character Gollum
"It's a startling image,” she said
Olivia Wilde is setting the record straight.
The actress and filmmaker, 42, responded to criticism of her April 24 appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival, where she was promoting her new movie, The Invite.
She shared a video of herself on her Instagram Stories on Saturday, May 2, that had an image of her viral interview with the San Francisco Chronicle at the festival and one of the Lord of the Rings character Gollum.
“Leave it to your little brother to give you the maximum amount of s---,” Wilde captioned the clip.
Olivia Wilde at the 2026 San Francisco International Film Festival opening night on April 24Credit: Miikka Skaffari/Getty
Her brother, Charlie Cockburn, can be heard asking, “Olivia Wilde, do you care to address recent rumors that you're a resurrected corpse?”
"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 responded while looking toward the camera.
Wilde continued to insist that it was the style of the 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.”
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Wilde covered her face with her baseball cap as they continued to laugh.
Olivia Wilde's Instagram Stories postCredit: Olivia Wilde/Instagram
In the viral interview, the Don't Worry Darling actress spoke about her upcoming comedy being set in San Francisco. The comments section erupted with criticism about her appearance, with one person writing, “The cameraman really doing a disservice here.”
“She looks as if she had found the one ring,” another said, referring to the fantasy franchise.
The Invite marks Wilde's third time directing a feature film, following 2010's Booksmart and 2022's Don't Worry Darling. The movie follows a troubled couple who host a dinner party with their upstairs neighbors that brings up something unexpected.
The movie, adapted from 2020's The People Upstairs, was the opening-night pick for the film festival. At the Sundance Film Festival in January, it received a standing ovation.
Wilde also stars in the movie, along with Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.
Olivia Wilde attends the 12th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Santa Monica, Calif., on April 18, 2026Credit: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
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Last year, she celebrated wrapping the movie, which was written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones.
"I don't yet have the words to say how meaningful this experience has been," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "So for now just want to say THANK YOU to every brilliant, kind, hilarious person who made this production happen. I can't wait to show the world what we all made together."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
