Olivia Wilde recalls death threats over 'House, M.D.' role
Olivia Wilde revealed that she received "insane death threats" while working on the series House, M.D. The reason? Her character's relationship with a Black character in the series.
The actress, known for her role as Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley in the popular medical series that aired from 2007 to 2012, discussed this experience at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. As reported by The Independent, Wilde confessed that the criticism was directed at her character's relationship with Dr. Eric Foreman, played by Omar Epps.
Olivia Wilde on the death threats
The actress reflected on the "insane death threats constantly coming into the studios." She also mentioned that her character was bisexual, which stirred controversy at the time. Comparing it to current shows like Euphoria, she remarked that what was once considered shocking and groundbreaking for her character now seems insignificant by today’s standards.
"House, M.D." ended its broadcast in 2012 after eight seasons. It was recognised as the most popular broadcast TV programme according to the Guinness Book of World Records, watched by 81.8 million people in 66 countries. To this day, episodes can be watched on Netflix.
Wilde also shared her reflections on women's work in the film industry during the festival. "Movies directed by women don't make less money," she emphasised. "It's not the audience's problem. It's the financiers, it's the studios. They need to take what they perceive as a risk." The actress encouraged young women to boldly enter the entertainment world, saying: "There’s no shortage of talent, only shortage of opportunity. There aren’t less women studying film. There’s less women getting their movies made."
Let's recall that Wilde has been an actress and a director for some time. She is known for the notable production "Don't Worry Darling." She cast her then-partner, Harry Styles, in one of the leading roles. The media speculated how strange it must have been to shoot intimate scenes between Styles and Florence Pugh while his partner was behind the camera. The hype surrounding the movie brought moderate financial success - the story about a housewife in an idealised community hiding a cruel truth earned a little over £65 million in cinemas.
