Highlights:
- Olivia Wilde addresses rumours of “falling out” with fellow co-star Florence Pugh
- Olivia Wilde attended the Venice International Film Festival alongside stars Harry Styles, Gemma Chan, and Chris Pine
- Florence Pugh did not attend the event
38 year old American actress Olivia Wilde has addressed whether there is a rift between herself and Don’t Worry Darling co-actor Florence Pugh.
Olivia Wilde who directed Don’t Worry Child answered the question put across by a journalist during the press conference for the movie at the Venice International Film Festival.
Wilde attended the event alongside stars Harry Styles, Gemma Chan, and Chris Pine. However, the movie’s lead actor, Florence Pugh who plays Alice, was absent.
News of Pugh not attending the panel came amidst the reports of a feud between the movie’s lead actor and the director which has been ongoing since early 2022.
A reporter asked Wilde, “Can you just clear the air and address whether there has been a falling out there and if so why, because it’s something that people are discussing?” during the conference.
The 38 year old responded by saying, “Florence is a force and we are so grateful that she is able to make it tonight despite being in production on Dune.
“I know as a director how disruptive it is to lose an actor even for a day so I’m very grateful to her and Denis Villeneuve for helping us – we’re really thrilled we’ll get to celebrate her work tonight.
“I can’t say enough how honoured I am to have her as our lead.
“She’s amazing in the film and as for all the endless tabloid gossip and all the noise out there, I mean, the internet feeds itself.
“I don’t feel the need to contribute, I think it’s sufficiently well nourished.”
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Variety confirmed that Pigh’s absence from the event was a result of her flight landing in Venice after the press conference were to take place at the Venice International Film Festival. Variety also confirmed that Hugh will walk the red carpet for the event later on Monday (5 September).
Having said this, the reports took wind of a fallout between the director and its lead actor in August when Wilde claimed that LaBeouf was indeed fired by her back in 2020 so that a “safe, trusting environment” could be created on set for Pugh.
However, things turned sour when the Transformers fame actor denied being fired at all and rather shared a video with Variety he said he had received from Wilde, showing the Don’t Worry Darling director asking him not to quit the project.
Referring to the tension between Pugh and 36 year old LaBeouf in the video, Wilde said that LaBeouf leaving “might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo”.
Wilde said that the feud between herself and Pugh is nothing but “invented clickbait”, however, the movie’s lead has kept herself distant by commenting on or refuting the rumours.
Last week, Wilde heaped praise on the “ferociously talented” actor in a new interview.
Early reviews from critics for Don’t Worry Darling aren’t looking well for the project with only Pugh’s performance being singled out for praise.
The Independent gave the movie 3 stars, and Geoffrey Macnab wrote, “This isn’t the disaster that some predicted – but it is a messy, convoluted affair with some very contrived plotting.
“Styles gives a surprisingly dull and low-wattage performance as Jack. To be fair, he is playing a very dull character, a kind of Stepford husband.”
Other critics have also heaped criticism on Styles’s performance.
On the red carpet for the movie’s Venice premiere, Pugh made a cryptic remark about it being “inspiring” to see women “pushing back and saying ‘no’, on and off camera”.
Don’t Worry Darling will be released in cinemas on 23rd of September, Friday.
