Olivia Wilde Claps Back at Gollum Comparisons After Viral Interview

Olivia Wilde is not holding back.

The 42-year-old actress and director took to Instagram to respond to the online frenzy following her April 24 appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival, where she was promoting her latest flick, The Invite.

In a cheeky video shared on May 2, Wilde juxtaposed a clip from her viral interview with an image of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. “Leave it to your little brother to give you the maximum amount of s---,” she quipped, showcasing her signature humor.

View this post on Instagram

Her brother, Charlie Cockburn, threw some playful shade, asking, “Olivia Wilde, do you care to address recent rumors that you're a resurrected corpse?”

Wilde shot back with a grin, “Listen, that's a fish-eye lens. And I admit, is that my best angle? Was that my best-ever look? No. No, it's startling. It's a startling image.”

She continued to defend herself, insisting it was all about the lens choice. “It was a fish-eye lens. I don't know why I was so close to the camera. I didn't have to be. That's not the truth,” she said, laughter bubbling between them.

“Do you have any more questions?” she teased her brother before adding with a smirk, “I'm not dead.”

As they shared a laugh, Wilde playfully hid her face under her baseball cap, clearly unfazed by the online chatter.

The interview had sparked a wave of criticism about her appearance, with comments like, “The cameraman really doing a disservice here,” and another quipping, “She looks as if she had found the one ring.”

The Invite marks Wilde's third directorial venture after 2010's Booksmart and 2022's Don't Worry Darling. This new film follows a troubled couple hosting a dinner party with their upstairs neighbors that takes an unexpected turn.

Adapted from the 2020 play The People Upstairs, it was the opening-night feature at the festival and received a standing ovation at Sundance in January.

Wilde stars alongside heavyweights like Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton in this intriguing comedy.

Last year, she expressed her gratitude for the project on Instagram, saying, "I don't yet have the words to say how meaningful this experience has been. So for now just want to say THANK YOU to every brilliant, kind, hilarious person who made this production happen. I can't wait to show the world what we all made together."