Wilde brushes off film controversies
Don’t worry about all that “Don’t Worry Darling” drama, Olivia Wilde insisted Wednesday during an appearance on CBS’ “The Late Show.”
The director of the psychological thriller starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh has seen her sophomore flick dominate the headlines, not for its thoughts on feminism but rather for behind-thescenes nonsense, from an apparent feud with Pugh to Styles appearing to spit on co-star Chris Pine at the Venice film festival.
Wilde, though, says it’s all been blown way out of proportion.
“People will look for drama anywhere they can,” she told host Stephen Colbert, specifically about viral speculation that
Styles hocked a loogie, but also likely a more allencompassing statement.
Pine’s team, similarly, has denied any such phlegm-related fiasco, calling it “a ridiculous story.”
As for any feud with Pugh, over rumored pay disparities between the young leads or favoritism on set after Wilde began dating Styles, the director chalked it up to sexism.
“I have nothing but respect for Florence’s talent. She’s fantastic. She’s on the set of her movie ‘Dune’ right now, and there’s nothing cooler than a busy actress. I have nothing against her,” Wilde said before pointing out that a male director would never have to face down questions like this.
“People would actually be talking about the movie itself. They’re praised for being tyrannical. They can be investigated time and time again, it still doesn’t overtake conversations of their actual talent or about the film themselves … It is just very different standards that are created for women and men in the
world at large.”
Wilde danced around confirming that she fired Shia LaBeouf, who has insisted that he quit the movie. Instead, Wilde said, she had to choose between him and Pugh. “Once it became clear that it was not a tenable working relationship, I was given an ultimatum,” Wilde said. “I chose my actress, which I’m very happy I did.”
Lively confirms pregnancy:
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are expanding their family with a fourth baby on the way. Speculation that Lively, 35, and Reynolds, 45, were expecting another child first arose when Lively seemingly revealed her baby bump while wearing a sparkly semi-sheer dress at the recent Forbes Power Women’s Summit.
Lively confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Sunday that also threw shade at the paparazzi.
“Here are photos of me
pregnant in real life so the 11 guys waiting outside my home for a (unicorn emoji) sighting will leave me alone,” she captioned her photo collection. “You freak me and my kids out.”
Lively’s post was composed of candid shots of her baby bump and pictures with Reynolds, her sister Robyn Lively and friends Taylor Swift and Samantha Stone. While Lively said she wasn’t too keen on the paparazzi waiting to sneak a picture, she thanked her supporters and media outlets who “have a ‘no kids policy.’ ”
Sept. 23 birthdays: Singer Julio Iglesias is 79. Actor Mary Kay Place is 75. Singer Bruce Springsteen is 73. Director George C. Wolfe is 68. Actor Rosalind Chao is 65. Actor Jason Alexander is 63. Rapper Jermaine Dupri is 50. Actor Anthony Mackie is 44. Actor David Lim is 39. Actor Cush Jumbo is 37. Actor Skylar Astin is 35.