According to Deadline, the director and actress recently revealed on the Call Her Daddy podcast that Pamela Anderson shared advice which stayed with her as she weathered one of the most publicized controversies of her career.
Pamela Anderson’s Advice Stayed With Olivia Wilde During a Difficult Period
Wilde explained that her connection with Anderson began after watching “Pamela, a Love Story,” the 2023 Netflix documentary that revisits Anderson’s rise to fame, her experiences with public judgment, and her efforts to reclaim her own story. “After I saw the documentary I reached out to her, and I was like, ‘Yo, respect. Just want to say big fan,'” she recalled.
Their exchange came at a time when Wilde was facing relentless attention tied to “Don’t Worry Darling,” the psychological thriller she directed and appeared in alongside Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, and Nick Kroll. Long before audiences saw the film, headlines had become dominated by reports of alleged on-set tensions, questions surrounding casting changes, speculation about Wilde’s personal life, and a string of viral moments that often overshadowed discussion of the movie itself.
According to Wilde, Anderson was aware of the pressure she was under and offered a piece of guidance that left a lasting impression. Recalling the conversation, Wilde shared Anderson’s message: “The most rebellious thing you can do is stay soft. Don’t let it harden you.”
The filmmaker also acknowledged how difficult it was to remain silent while stories about her circulated online and across entertainment media. “It was so hard,” Wilde said, remembering her desire to publicly challenge claims she believed were inaccurate.
Released in 2022 following Wilde’s acclaimed directorial debut “Booksmart,” “Don’t Worry Darling” arrived in theaters after months of intense public fascination with its production. Looking back, Wilde described the criticism she endured as “so insanely disproportionate,” while emphasizing that her priority throughout the storm was ensuring the film reached audiences despite the distractions surrounding it.