Olivia Wilde Recalls Intense Backlash to ‘House’ Character’s Inter-Racial Romance

Apparently, some fans weren’t thrilled with Thirteen’s relationship with Dr. Eric Foreman on the hit television series, House. According to star Olivia Wilde, who portrayed MD Remy Hadley, a.k.a. Thirteen, alongside co-star Omar Epps (Dr. Foreman), the actress received “insane death threats” because of the interracial love affair. Wilde revealed extra security was even hired in an interview at the Red Sea International Film Festival. Wilde said (per Variety):

“[There were] insane death threats constantly coming into the studios. Seeing what’s on television now, if you watch ‘Euphoria,’ the fact that my character was shocking and groundbreaking, then, it’s like, no, it’s nothing.”

Wilde, who portrayed Thirteen from Season 4 through Season 8, was nominated for four Teen Choice Awards (2008-2011) and a Screen Actors Guild Awards nod (Ensemble nomination) during her time on House. Today, Wilde is not only a renowned performer, but an influential filmmaker. However, fame does come at a cost, according to the Don’t Worry Darling and Booksmart director. Wilde said in the same interview:

“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. [A] director mentor recently said to me that directors have to decide at a certain point: Do you want to be a celebrity or an artist? Because of social media, it’s become even more combined.”

Olivia Wilde Sets the Tone for Women in Hollywood

Thirteen will always be regarded as one of Olivia Wilde’s best performances, but the House actress has evolved far beyond simply working in front of the camera. Even with indelible portrayals to her credit like those given in Tron: Legacy, Richard Jewell, and The Lazarus Effect, Wilde realized that a woman’s worth in Hollywood was measured in a very peculiar manner. The filmmaker and performer said:

“Acting is the only job where the more experience you have, the less valuable you become… with actresses, the older you get, the less valuable you become. For me, it was such a boost in confidence to know that I can actually walk into a room and sell a movie, get a movie financed, because I know what I’m talking about.”

Wilde also encouraged women working in Hollywood to be “fearless” while attending the Red Sea International Film Festival. Wilde said:

“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. 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.”

Olivia Wilde’s Raciest Scenes and Why She Does Them

Olivia Wilde’s comments about sex positivity once caused a stir. Here’s a look back at how she’s explored her own empowerment in multiple scenes.

Wilde has clearly complained about equality where directors are concerned when it comes to men and women in Tinseltown being held to different standards. “Movies directed by women don’t make less money,” Wilde reiterated while attending the film fest in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “It’s not the audience’s problem. It’s the financiers, it’s the studios.”

Regardless, Wilde has risen above simply being a recognizable and bankable actress in Hollywood, and her ever-expanding career will soon continue both in front and behind the camera with the erotic thriller I Want Your Sex (acting), and Wilde will reportedly be directing the Margot Robbie-led Avengelyne adaptation, which Tony McNamara will pen.