Olivia Wilde became the subject of some very blunt online reactions after a viral close-up red carpet photo of her resurfaced online. The actress was attending the San Francisco International Film Festival in April to promote a film when a clip from an interview quickly caught social media users' attention.
It was not her outfit or the film that became the biggest talking point. Instead, viewers focused on how different Wilde appeared in the footage, with some making harsh comments about her face and comparing the image to Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. The comparison was so persistent that Wilde eventually addressed it herself—and her own brother even joined in on the joke.
Olivia Wilde from 2023 to 2026.
— Softy🦋🍁 (@Softyyy_tweets) August 30, 2026
Hey @grok How is this even possible ??? pic.twitter.com/IsacOyi7Rk
The Viral Photo Resurfaces
The viral footage came from Wilde's April appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival, where she was promoting The Invite. In the clip, the camera was positioned unusually close to her face, creating a distorted effect that quickly became the focus of online discussion.
The photo has now resurfaced, with some social media users appearing genuinely surprised by Wilde's look. One person wrote: 'She is looking completely different person.' Another joked: 'Pretty Wild if you ask me.'
Others were far less complimentary. A comment read: 'I've always thought she had a weird face, now everybody can see what I've been seeing all along.' Another user added: 'This was a jump scare... She looks scary asf.'
Amid the criticism, some users simply found the whole situation entertaining. 'This is actually so funny, I needed this laugh today,' one person wrote.
Olivia Wilde released a giggly response to mean-spirited comments about her 'Gollum'-like appearance at a recent film festival. The actress, 42, was lying in bed as her brother came to make fun of her, Olivia hiding in her hoodie. Classic sibling antics 😆
— HELLO! Canada (@HelloCanada) May 5, 2026
📽️ : #OliviaWilde pic.twitter.com/DfKWdq0IiB
Her Brother Joined the Jokes
At the time, the internet's Gollum comparison took an even more personal turn when Wilde's younger brother, Charlie Cockburn, brought it up himself.
In an Instagram Stories video shared in May, Cockburn jokingly asked Wilde if she wanted to respond to the rumours surrounding her appearance. He then showed the viral image alongside a picture of Gollum.
Rather than getting defensive, Wilde played along. She explained that the strange-looking image was down to the camera—not some dramatic change in her appearance.
'Listen, that's a fish-eye lens,' Wilde said. She added: 'Is that my best angle? Was that my best ever look? No. It's a startling image.'
Wilde even reassured viewers with a joke of her own, saying: 'I'm not dead.'
Wilde's Busy Year Continues
Away from the viral red carpet moment, Olivia Wilde has had a busy year on both sides of the camera.
Earlier this year, she directed and starred in The Invite, alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. The film marked her third feature as a director after Booksmart and Don't Worry Darling.
More recently, Wilde returned to acting in Gregg Araki's I Want Your Sex, playing contemporary artist Erika Tracey opposite Cooper Hoffman. The film premiered at Sundance in January and arrived in UK cinemas on 28 August.
So, while an unusual camera angle may have sparked plenty of online chatter, Wilde has had a lot more going on professionally in 2026, with new work both behind the camera and on screen.
