Olivia Wilde, 42, has revealed her family's actual surname, Cockburn, and discussed the experiences of growing up with the name. Appearing on the Armchair Expert podcast with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman on Sunday, the actress and filmmaker shared that her birth name is pronounced "Coburn," a fact she believed few would know.
Wilde explained that the name, spelled C-o-c-k-b-u-r-n, is linked to her Scottish heritage. She adopted the stage name Wilde in tribute to the poet Oscar Wilde. The actress stated that her family's surname led to her being teased as a child, describing the experience as "character-building."
"It is very much like '[A] Boy Named Sue,' you know what I mean?" Wilde said, referencing the 1969 Johnny Cash song about a boy named Sue who endures ridicule for his name. She added that she found the teasing humorous and that it taught her an important lesson in laughing along with situations, rather than giving in to bullies.
She also reflected on how her younger brother, Charlie, might have had a more challenging time with the surname. Dax Shepard, who co-hosts the podcast, joked that regardless of societal progress, a name like Cockburn ensures one will always learn to laugh early.
Wilde's latest directorial project, the film "The Invite," stars Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. The movie is scheduled for release in the United States on July 10.