Olivia Wilde reflects on gender bias in Hollywood

Olivia Wilde has recently shared her thoughts on gender bias in Hollywood.

Speaking at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, the Don’t Worry Darling star said, “I think for many young women, when we love movies as little girls, we’re told, ‘Oh, you should be an actress.’”

“I think when little boys say they love movies, people say ‘You should be a director,’” remarked Olivia.

Reflecting on industry’s discrimination against women movie-makers, Olivia mentioned, “Movies directed by women don’t make less money. 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,” remarked the actress.

Olivia believed, “I think we need to raise women to believe that they are allowed to take up space, that they’re allowed to be leaders.”

“It’s difficult to run a production, and it’s difficult for men too. But as women, we’re sort of told that we should, in many ways, constantly apologize for our existence. And as a director, you can’t do that,” explained the Babylon director.

Olivia stated, “I think that it’s about shifting the way that we raise women to consider how they should behave and to encourage that kind of fearlessness.”

Meanwhile, the actress also addressed the impact of fame on creativity.

“The damage that does to an artist is profound, because you stop being as fearless. I think once you fear that you will be judged, you become self-conscious in a way that has never been good for any artist,” she added.