Olivia Wilde is taking the recent online discourse surrounding her appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival in stride. The Don't Worry Darling star, 42, found herself the subject of viral speculation after an interview at the April 24 event led some social media users to make unflattering comparisons to the Lord of the Rings character Gollum.
Wilde addressed the situation with humor on her Instagram Story, where she was joined by her brother, Charles Cockburn. In a lighthearted video, Cockburn jokingly asked, "Olivia Wilde, do you care to address recent rumors that you’re a resurrected corpse?"
The actress responded with a laugh, attributing the viral image to technical factors rather than her actual appearance. "Listen, that is a fisheye lens," she explained. "And I admit, is that my best angle? Was that my best ever look? No, it’s a startling image." She added, "I don’t know why I was so close to the camera. I didn’t have to be. That’s not the truth. I’m not dead."
Wilde captioned the post by poking fun at her brother, writing, “Leave it to your little brother to give you the maximum amount of s—t.”
While the viral clip initially sparked concern among some viewers, many fans were quick to defend the actress, pointing out that the camera angle and lens distortion were responsible for the unflattering effect. "If you Google this event you can see pictures of her that day where she doesn't actually look like this," one supporter noted. "The camera here has a very unflattering lens."
Wilde was at the festival to promote her upcoming film, The Invite, which she directed and stars in alongside Seth Rogan, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. The dramedy, which explores the complexities of a strained marriage, is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on June 26.