Olivia Wilde facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olivia Wilde
Wilde in 2022
Born	Olivia Jane Cockburn (1984-03-10) March 10, 1984 (age 41) New York City, U.S.
Citizenship	United States Ireland
Occupation	Actress director producer
Years active	2003–present
Works	Filmography
Spouse(s)	Tao Ruspoli ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2011)​
Partner(s)	Jason Sudeikis (2011–2020)
Children	2
Parents	Andrew Cockburn (father) Leslie Cockburn (mother)
Relatives	Claud Cockburn (grandfather) Sarah Caudwell (aunt) Alexander Cockburn (uncle) Patrick Cockburn (uncle)

Olivia Wilde is an American actress and director. She was born Olivia Jane Cockburn on March 10, 1984. She became well-known for playing Remy "Thirteen" Hadley in the TV show House from 2007 to 2012. She also appeared in popular movies like Tron: Legacy (2010) and Cowboys & Aliens (2011).

In 2017, Olivia Wilde made her debut on Broadway, acting in the play 1984. She then started directing films. Her first movie as a director was the teen comedy Booksmart (2019), which was highly praised. She also directed the thriller film Don't Worry Darling (2022), where she also had a role.

Early Life and Family

Olivia Jane Cockburn was born in New York City on March 10, 1984. She grew up in Washington, D.C., and spent her summers in Ardmore, Ireland. She went to Georgetown Day School and Phillips Academy, finishing school in 2002.

Olivia Wilde is a citizen of both the United States and Ireland. She chose her professional last name, Wilde, from the famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde. She started using this name in high school to honor the many writers in her family who used different names for their work. She was accepted into Bard College but decided to pursue acting instead. She later studied acting at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin.

Her father, Andrew Cockburn, is a British journalist. Her mother, Leslie Cockburn, is an American producer and journalist who worked on the TV show 60 Minutes. Olivia has an older sister and a younger brother. Many of her relatives, including her grandfather Claud Cockburn and uncles Alexander and Patrick Cockburn, were also journalists. Her aunt, Sarah Caudwell, was a writer.

Acting and Directing Career

Early Roles and House (2003–2012)

Wilde in 2007

Olivia Wilde first appeared in the TV series Skin in 2003. She gained more attention for her role as Alex Kelly in the teen drama The O.C. from 2004 to 2005. She also acted in several films during this time, including The Girl Next Door (2004) and Alpha Dog (2006).

In 2007, Olivia Wilde joined the cast of the popular medical drama House. She played Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley, a doctor with Huntington's disease who was chosen by Dr. House to be part of his medical team. Her first episode was "The Right Stuff".

Wilde also appeared in the comedy film Year One (2009) and starred as Quorra in Disney's science fiction movie Tron: Legacy (2010). Inspired by her parents, she also helped produce documentary short films. One of these was Sun City Picture House (2010), which was about a community in Haiti building a movie theater after a big earthquake.

Wilde at the Tron: Legacy premiere in December 2010

In 2011, Olivia Wilde decided to leave House to focus more on her film career. She starred in the action film Cowboys & Aliens (2011) as Ella Swensen, who helps save Earth from aliens. She also appeared in the comedy The Change-Up (2011) and other films like In Time (2011). In 2011, she also directed and wrote her first short film called Free Hugs.

In May 2012, Wilde returned to House for the show's final two episodes. She also starred in films like People Like Us (2012) and The Words (2012). In 2012, she was featured in the PBS documentary series Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. This series showed her learning about the challenges women face in Nairobi, Kenya. She also produced a short film called Baseball in the Time of Cholera (2012), which looked at a health crisis in Haiti.

Films and Broadway Debut (2013–2018)

Wilde (right) with the cast of Her in 2013

In 2013, Olivia Wilde starred in and helped produce Drinking Buddies. She had a supporting role in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) as a magician's assistant. She also played Suzy Miller in the drama Rush (2013), which was about race car drivers. Wilde had a main role in the critically acclaimed film Her (2013). She continued to executive produce documentary short films, including Body Team 12 (2015), which won an award at the Tribeca Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award.

In 2014, Wilde starred in Better Living Through Chemistry and The Longest Week. In 2015, she starred in the thriller The Lazarus Effect as Zoe, a medical researcher who is brought back to life with unexpected side effects. She also starred in and produced the drama Meadowland (2015).

In 2016, Olivia Wilde directed music videos for bands like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Red Hot Chili Peppers. She also starred as Devon Finestra in the HBO TV series Vinyl. In 2017, Wilde made her Broadway debut in the play 1984, playing the role of Julia. Her documentary short Fear Us Women (2017) followed a Canadian woman who volunteered to fight in Syria.

Wilde at the premiere of A Vigilante in 2018

In 2018, Wilde appeared in A Vigilante and the drama Life Itself.

Directorial Success and Recent Work (2019–present)

Olivia Wilde made her directing debut with the teen comedy Booksmart, released in May 2019. The film was very popular with critics and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.

In 2019, Wilde also appeared in Richard Jewell, playing reporter Kathy Scruggs. The film faced some criticism for how it showed her character.

In 2020, Wilde directed a short film called Wake Up. In 2022, she directed her second feature film, Don't Worry Darling, a psychological thriller where she also had a supporting role. The movie starred Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. It premiered at the 79th Venice Film Festival. Critics praised the acting and visuals, but had mixed reviews about the story and direction. Also in 2022, she voiced Lois Lane in the animated movie DC League of Super-Pets.

Upcoming Projects

Olivia Wilde is currently directing and starring in a comedy film called The Invite. She is also set to direct a movie about gymnast Kerri Strug and several other comedy films. She is also involved in adapting the comic book Avengelyne and a TV series based on the novel A Visit from the Goon Squad.

Other Activities

Wilde on The Insider in January 2011

Olivia Wilde is known for being a feminist. She has been involved in many social and political causes.

In 2008, she campaigned for Barack Obama during his presidential election. She also supported an organization called 18 in '08, which encouraged young people to vote.

In 2011, she supported the Fair Food Program, which helps farmworkers. In 2013, she appeared in a video for Gucci's "Chime for Change" campaign, which helps women with education, health, and justice issues. She is also on the board of directors for Artists for Peace and Justice, which helps with education and health in Haiti, and for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

In 2015, she introduced Hillary Clinton at a campaign event. In 2016, Wilde appeared in a public service announcement for World Down Syndrome Day. She also participated in the 2017 Women's March and the 2018 Women's March to support women's rights.

In 2022, she recorded a poem for a project called "For the Birds: The Birdsong Project," which helps The National Audubon Society. In late 2023, Olivia Wilde co-founded a company called Proximity Ventures, which invests in new businesses.

Personal Life

Wilde with then-partner Jason Sudeikis in 2013

On June 7, 2003, when she was 19, Olivia Wilde married Italian filmmaker and musician Tao Ruspoli. They were married secretly on a school bus. They separated in 2011, and their divorce was finalized in September 2011.

Wilde began dating actor Jason Sudeikis in November 2011. They got engaged in January 2013. They have two children: a son born in 2014 and a daughter born in 2016. Their relationship ended in November 2020.

In January 2021, Wilde started dating singer Harry Styles after they met while filming Don't Worry Darling. Their relationship ended in November 2022.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Olivia Wilde para niños

• List of female film and television directors