Olivia Wilde Tackles 'False Narratives' & 'Female Hunger' As Vogue's January Cover Girl

Olivia Wilde is excited to premiere her new film Don’t Worry Darling starring Florence Pugh and rumored boyfriend Harry Styles. The actress/director shared with Vogue her ultimate vibe for the thriller and its focus is on female empowerment... in a sense.

Wilde, who grew up on sets credits her mother’s fearlessness as why she thrives to make female characters stand out even if they do have a partner by their side. She wanted to show this in her latest project due out in September 2022. “I’ve been really lucky to be raised by a woman who has always been fiercely independent and true to herself, and a father who admires her.”

Pugh plays a 1950s housewife who begins to suspect that her idyllic lifestyle and neighborhood are not as cozy and safe as they seem. “The 1950s get this rap as a very controlled, conservative era, when in fact it was incredibly debaucherous,” shared Wilde indicating that what is amiss in the community is people are having a lot more personal relations than the main character thinks.

Wilde describes the film as “Feminine Mystique on acid” and hopes to play on the 90s femme fatale vibe like Indecent proposal or Fatal Attraction.

The director admits that the film is quite different from her directorial debut Booksmart. “If you can make a comedy that works, you tend to stay in that world, because it can be incredibly lucrative,” she admits but noted that after that success she longed for a challenge.

“Sophomore slump is a real thing,” she states and pointed out that she sought advice from Jordan Peele who was once in her position not too long ago with his film GetOut and the anticipated follow-up Us. However, she knew that she wanted to push her limits and wanted to make a film with a female lead, of course.

One that focuses on feminine exploration. “I kept saying, ‘Why isn’t there any good sex in film anymore?’ ” she hopes that this film is “really sexy, in a grown-up way.”

Vogue also touched on Wilde’s relationship with Styles. The couple’s relationship has been tabloid fodder and she is the envy of many many people crushing on Styles. That being said, she felt zero need to clear up any controversy.

“It’s obviously really tempting to correct a false narrative,” she states. “But I think what you realize is that when you’re really happy, it doesn’t matter what strangers think about you. All that matters to you is what’s real, and what you love, and who you love.”

The actress admits that even she is sick of seeing false news about her relationship everywhere she goes. She chooses to speak through her film's main character who like her, learns that not everyone’s opinion matters.

“In the past 10 years, as a society, we have placed so much more value on the opinion of strangers rather than the people closest to us,” she notes. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been. And I’m healthier than I’ve ever been, and it’s just wonderful to feel that.”