Olivia Wilde, 42, is advising Gen Z to embrace moments of embarrassment, describing them as "badges of honor" to be collected like awards. Speaking to Impact magazine in promotion of her upcoming film, "I Want Your Sex," Wilde suggested that a life devoid of awkward experiences is a "boring life" and a "wasted time."
Wilde plays Erika Tracy, a provocative artist, in the erotic-comedy directed by Gregg Araki. The film is from the director known for cult classics such as "The Doom Generation" and "Mysterious Skin."
Her remarks come as she reflected on being named the No. 1 female on Maxim's Hot 100 list nearly two decades ago. Wilde expressed mixed feelings about the accolade, calling it "the most f----- up thing in the world" during an appearance on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast.
She recalled that while part of her felt validated by the recognition, as someone who felt awkward and didn't fit in during high school, she also disliked that her value was "entirely dependent on our fickle, subjective definition of beauty."
Despite these reservations, Wilde acknowledged that the Maxim honor contributed to her acting career, leading to numerous roles and casting opportunities. She stated, "You have to take responsibility for your participation in that self-objectification."
Transitioning from acting, Wilde has also made a mark as a director. Her directorial debut, the 2019 teen comedy "Booksmart," was followed by "The Invite," a dramedy where she also stars alongside Seth Rogen and Penelope Cruz. The latter film follows a couple navigating marital issues after hosting friends. Wilde also directed the 2022 film "Don't Worry Darling."
Wilde described directing as a "profoundly liberating" experience, offering a sense of agency that differs from acting. "As an actor, you are very dependent on people choosing you and people projecting a certain kind of definition onto you of a character of what you are," she explained. "With being director, there's a sense of agency. I think the first time that I called action on my own set of my first film, I felt a thrill of independence for the first time."
