Olivia Wilde Says She Didn't Intend to 'Throw Myself into the Flames' for 'Don't Worry Darling' Publicity

Mar. 15, 2025

Olivia Wilde forELLE.Photo: Cass Bird/ELLE

It’s been three weeks sinceDon’t Worry Darlinghit theaters, andOlivia Wildeis getting candid about how the film —and the drama surrounding it— has affected her.

Wilde, who both directed and stars in the thriller, often found herself in the eye of its months-long media firestorm, which she said was far from intentional.

Inan interview forELLE’s 2022 Women in Hollywood issue, the 38-year-old filmmaker says that she never meant to “throw myself into the flames for the movie.”

“This film is trying to ask big questions, but [it’s] ‘Let’s just focus on this sideshow over here,’ " Wilde said. “Having been a known figure for a while … makes me well-equipped to have a Teflon exterior. But it also means that you’re under a different kind of microscope.”

The star added that the situation has brought her attention to how the media “pits women against one another.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Olivia Wilde forELLE.Cass Bird/ELLE

DuringDon’t Worry Darling’s press tour, Wilde and the film’s leading lady,Florence Pugh, have faced rumors of a feud.

“It is shocking to see so many untruths about yourself traded as fact,” she said. “Florence had a really wise comment that we didn’t sign up for a reality show.”

“[Florence is]so generous in heracting in every scene,” Wilde toldELLE. “She makes everyone around her better.”

RELATED VIDEO: A Complete Timeline of theDon’t Worry DarlingDrama

“WhenFlorence pointed that out, that this film is so much bigger and better than justthe sex scenes, I was so happy that she said that because I feel the same way,” she added.

In the interview, Wilde also got candid about how the increased publicity she has received as a result ofDon’t Worry Darlinghas led to an increase in criticism of her parenting abilities.

“If I’m photographed not with my kids, people assume I have abandoned them, like my kids are just somewhere in a hot car without me,” said Wilde, who shares custody of daughterDaisy, 6, and son Otis, 8, with exJason Sudeikis.

source: people.com