Olivia Wilde champions controversy over boring projects

In December 2022, during her appearance at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, actress and director Olivia Wilde shared her views on filmmaking and audience acceptance. With a career spanning over two decades, Wilde has always gravitated towards challenging roles and projects that invoke discussion. She emphasized the importance of pursuing artistic endeavors that possess an element of risk, stating that her cinematic choices often reflect a desire to provoke thought rather than seek universal approval. Wilde recalled her earlier work on 'The O.C.' in 2004, where her character's bisexuality generated public discourse, leading to her departure from the show. She expressed that while her initial projects, like 'Booksmart,' garnered positive reception, her subsequent film, 'Don't Worry Darling,' sparked significant controversy due to scandals surrounding its production. Despite the backlash, Wilde stated that she values being controversial over being perceived as boring. She believes that an artist should never become complacent and must consistently seek challenging material to avoid a stagnated creative output. Wilde's commitment to pursuing provocative narratives reveals her desire to push boundaries in storytelling, ultimately prioritizing artistic integrity over public acceptance. Looking ahead, she aims to take on even more demanding projects in her career that will continue to engage audiences and challenge societal norms.