This year, Olivia Wilde directed and co-starred in the movie “The Invite,” a domestic sex comedy that has become one of 2026’s sleeper hits. She followed that up by playing a sexually domineering and manipulative art-world star in the director Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex.” And she’s capping off the year with a small role in the upcoming “Behemoth!” starring Pedro Pascal and directed by Tony Gilroy. It’s quite a change from 2022, when Wilde had to deal with the mixed critical reaction to her movie “Don’t Worry Darling” and a harsh wave of tabloid attention. The film was plagued by reports of feuding between Wilde and her star, Florence Pugh. Wilde was also hounded online for her relationship, which has since ended, with the pop star Harry Styles, who played a supporting role in the movie. The news cycle for “Don’t Worry Darling” also brought with it continuing scrutiny over her 2020 breakup with her longtime partner, Jason Sudeikis, with whom she has two children. She talked with David Marchese on “The Interview” about what 2022 was like, how it changed her, and how she views her life today. Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/14/magazine/olivia-wilde-interview.html [00:07] Olivia Wilde's big year [01:35] Did the couple in “The Invite” stay together? [03:05] Directing versus acting [04:47] Turning 40 and gaining new confidence [07:00] Characters in “Booksmart” and “The Invite” [09:02] Moving into directing at age 35 and Nora Ephron on change [12:16] “The Invite” and relationship dynamics [14:47] Shame when a relationship fails [17:49] “I Want Your Sex” and finding body confidence after kids [21:30] “The Don't Worry Darling” tabloid storm [25:55] How she grew after being “broken” [31:51] Being valued for her brain, not her looks [34:43] Creating your own opportunities [37:47] Esther Perel’s advice and taking responsibility for happiness [41:05] Psychological thrillers and Alfred Hitchcock movies [45:21] Her new Christmas comedy “Naughty” [47:28] Coming back with “The Invite” and a person's capacity for change “The Interview” features conversations with the world’s most fascinating people. Each week, co-hosts David Marchese and Lulu Garcia-Navarro talk to compelling, influential figures in culture, politics, business, sports and beyond — illuminating who they are, why they do what they do and how they impact the rest of us. Subscribe to “The Interview”: https://www.youtube.com/@theinterviewpodcast Discover the journalism Times subscribers get daily, free for your first month in The New York Times app. Download here: https://nytimes.onelink.me/Xpht/a6wzplra #oliviawilde #theinterview