On the small screen, Olivia Wilde plays a beautiful doctor on the hit medical mystery series House. On the big screen, she’s quickly turning into the new “it girl” of geek. Take Tron: Legacy, for example. Wrapped in latex, she plays the oddly angelic badass Quorra. Wrapped in latex. Did I mention she’s wrapped in latex? Next up, she’ll be starring in Cowboys and Aliens. Probably not wrapped in latex, but hey, I’m sure that movie will be equally cool. I sat down with Wilde recently to talk about Tron and what it’s like being turned into a super-heroine.
Cole Haddon: What was your reaction, seeing Tron: Legacy for the first time?
Olivia Wilde: It surpassed all my expectations. What happens so often as an actor is, you retain the information about the scene that you yourself shot, and you obsess over certain scenes that you found the most challenging or interesting. But the rest of the film kind of falls away in your memory. It’s been so long since I actually kind of read the script in its entirety — a good year or more — so being able to watch everyone’s performance, watch all elements of the story come together, was just extraordinary. And I was blown away by everyone’s work, and that was my reaction — just, “Oh my God, everyone pulled it together!”
CH: Aside from the effects, I think I was more surprised by the political undertones. The filmmakers tried hard to give the story some gravity.
OW: Yes, absolutely, and I saw it more than ever [in the final cut]. I knew it was there in the script, but I was really excited to see, “Oh good we have a little bit of a political slant.” Maybe nobody will … notice but you and me, but I think that the message … is that imperfection is beautiful. And the idea of accepting flaws and … I mean, the story is one of a dictator who has ethnically cleansed this universe. And what’s left is this desperate and miserable world. And so the message, I think, of course, is that compassion, humanity, and humility are important in our own lives as well as in — in politics. But, gosh, again that makes me think of how incredible each performance was because [look at] a character like [Jeff Bridge's] Clu — [who's] this just merciless dictator, who really kind of sends chills up your spine as you think of who he resembles in actual history. [So yeah], I think it does have a message as well, I mean a political message as well as one just about humanity in general.
CH: One of the most astonishing aspects of Tron: Legacy is that the filmmakers pit Bridges against a version of himself that is 28 years younger. I’m speaking of Kevin Flynn, the character he played in the original, taking on a computer program created in his image called Clu. It’s an amazing affect. As an actress, do you think at all about things you’re doing now being repurposed in a similar fashion years later?
OW: I think it’s such an interesting concept. I think my dream movie is to take Clint Eastwood, Julie Christie, Vanessa Redgrave, and Meryl Streep, and take them all, and put them in like a teen comedy. Because now we can do that. It would be the most expensive teen comedy ever made, but totally worth it. I want to see that movie. But what I really realized while watching [Legacy and Jeff's] performance as Clu was that no matter what effect they come up with, to be able to make actors seem younger or older, it’s still driven by the actor. And the effects are extraordinary and Eric Barba’s team is incredible, but Jeff was driving that rig and [his] performance is what makes that character so compelling. And it was sort of a relief to know actors will still be needed no matter what they come up with. Even if we’re stuck in a booth somewhere hidden away, they’ll still need actors to drive these things and make them interesting.
CH: This is your first experience being turned into merchandise, right? How do you feel about that?
OW: This is my first experience with that. I don’t think there’s a little House 13 doll unless I’m missing something. It’s really quite odd. I like Carrie Fisher’s take on it. Carrie Fisher is such an incredible writer and actress, and person. I don’t know if any of you have read or seen her one-woman show Wishful Drinking, but she talks a lot about the merchandise that came from Star Wars, including the blow-up doll — which I haven’t heard of any of those being created for Quorra. It’s a funny out-of-body experience to see some miniature version of yourself on the shelf, but I feel so proud to have created this character, so whenever I see a little Quorra or I see a Quorra costume I just feel that this was something that we created together, and it’s just a very different experience when you feel like you designed the character. Every part of her look and being is something that has come from the research that went into creating her personality and her history. And so I’ve enjoyed the experience so far — but the second I see a Quorra blow-up doll, I won’t.
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Boy’s and girls, on this uncensored episode of Up Close with Carrie Keagan, Carrie sits down with TRON: Legacy’s Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, Beau Garrett, James Frain and Bruce Boxleitner to talk about why the sequel to TRON may be the ultimate fanboy boner that may force Disney to change it’s name to JIZZNEY!
Olivia Wilde has been circling the globe promoting Tron: Legacy before the film opens this Friday, and we chatted with her during a recent press junket in LA. She talked about catching up on the original Tron during filming, empowering women through her character, Quorra, and rocking that totally “Trontastic” haircut. Get the inside scoop in the interview below.
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Science fiction has seen its fair share of knockouts. Back in the 1970s and early ’80s, geeks launched pocket rockets for Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars, the same way they fantasized about threeways with sentient Battlestar Galactica robots Numbers Six (Tricia Helfer) and Eight (Grace Park) from 2004-2009. To that list you can now add Olivia Wilde, who makes her sexy sci-fi debut this Friday in TRON: Legacy, playing Quorra, a childlike computer program that’s proficient in fisticuffs. The stunning Megan Fox once told GQ that Wilde is “so sexy she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox with my bare hands.” Not exactly the visual we were hoping for, but we’ll take it.
For Wilde, TRON: Legacy represents the turning of the key as her career heads into overdrive. Known for her role on Fox’s hit show House, she’s heading into a 2011 packed with movie roles, including a prominent one in Iron Man director Jon Favreau’s summer tentpole Cowboys vs. Aliens. Right now, though, it’s all about TRON. Try to stop daydreaming about showing Quorra your lightsaber for a second and listen up as the actress discusses her nerd laugh, appealing to other women, and what tight outfit your girlfriend should wear next Halloween.
Complex: With a huge movie like TRON: Legacy, you’d think that the studio controls everything. Were you able to provide any input into how Quorra would look and act?
Olivia Wilde: Yes, absolutely. I credit Joe Kosinski with being so collaborative when it came to creating Quorra. Very early on, we discovered that Quorra was Joan of Arc—that was our big discovery. We were so excited to finally have a historical figure to reference, and the reason I came to Joan of Arc was because, like Quorra, Joan of Arc was this unlikely warrior. She was this fearless child who seemed to have this power that came from another world, from a higher power, who was guided only by passion and selflessness. So once I kind of made that connection, everything that followed in creating her character, including the physicality, all came from that.
Complex: What’s interesting about Quorra is that she’s not your typical sci-fi heroine, made out to be overly sexy. Was that your intention? She’s still really damn hot, though. Let’s be clear.
Olivia Wilde: I really wanted her to appeal to both men and women. I didn’t want her to be this slinky, sexy thing who looks hot in the suit, and [who] the boys like but the girls feel alienated from, and they don’t understand. I wanted her to inspire young women to feel tough and embrace both their intelligence and sexiness. I want all girls to be Quorra for Halloween. [Laughs.] This year, actually, before the movie even came out, I saw a girl dressed up as Quorra, and I was so happy! I took pictures of her and sent them to Joe, like, “We’ve done it!”
Complex: What’s up with her short haircut?
Olivia Wilde: In movies this big, decisions like that go all the way to the top—everyone has input on hair. [Laughs.] I was so excited that everyone involved agreed on her having this almost androgynous haircut. I so didn’t want to have the long, flowing mane that’d get in her way when she’s trying to fight. Initially, when Sam [Garrett Hedlund’s character] meets her, he doesn’t know if she’s a man or a woman. She arrives in this light-buggy, saves him, and is wearing this incredible helmet that warps her voice. So he keeps calling her “man” and “dude,” and suddenly the helmet recedes and she is this very childlike little girl. I was very interested in that depth of this character, who on the outside is very sexy and intense-looking, but on the inside is this very innocent child.
Complex: Do you think she’s naïve in some ways?
Olivia Wilde: I think she’s naïve in the best sense of the word. She’s naïve in the way that we should all try to stay naïve. She has what they call in Buddhism a “beginner’s mind,” where everything is experienced for the first time and seen with such optimism and appreciation. She’s not inexperienced because she’s really old. [Laughs.] She’s been around in the TRON world for hundreds of years. She behaves in a very un-self-conscious way, and I loved that about her! I was so excited that the entire creative team wanted me to go even further with that. I remember we were shooting this dinner scene, and by accident I just cracked up in the middle of the scene. I have a very nerdy, cackly laugh, which I usually like to change when I’m in movies. They said, “Oh my God! Quorra has to laugh like that at wrong moments.” That opened my mind to other characteristics, as well.
Complex: The fashion in TRON: Legacy, and especially the look of your character, is pretty wild. Do you think the film will inspire new fashion trends?
Olivia Wilde: Yes, it’s crazy, because two years ago, we were discussing the impact that TRON would have on the fashion world. I think it’s because the fashion, look, and feel of TRON is very timely. It’s responding to what’s happening in the world, this slick, futuristic, non-organic kind of aesthetic, and I think that’s why the look of TRON has resonated so much already with audiences that are excited to see it. But it is kind of amazing that this is so much more than a film. That’s what I realized when I first went to the [TRON: Legacy Pop-Up Shop, in Culver City, Calif.], where they have all the fashion inspired by TRON on sale. I even saw a snowboard inspired by TRON, which I promptly requested. [Laughs.] I just suddenly had this moment, where I said, “Wow, this is so much more than a movie, isn’t it?” And the people around me were like, “Umm, yeah. Yeah, Olivia—you’re the last one to realize that.” [Laughs.]
Complex: TRON: Legacy is kind of a big deal, of course, and then next summer you have Jon Favreau’s awesome-looking Cowboys vs. Aliens. You’re everywhere these days. How are you handling that?
Olivia Wilde: It’s a balance. I feel very, very lucky. I’m aware that this kind of momentum doesn’t exist forever in this business, so I’m happy to have it right now. The definition of success, for me, is “longevity,” so you don’t want to burn out. Luckily, over the past year, I’ve been able to play very different people in each movie. Right now, it’s a wild time because everything is bubbling at once—I have TRON coming out and the Cowboys vs. Aliens trailer playing.
Complex: How does it feel to drive down Sunset Boulevard and seeing yourself on the big TRON billboard?
Olivia Wilde: It’s so funny, I haven’t been in town. [Laughs.] I was in Haiti all last week [doing activism work], and someone was telling me that they saw a huge version of me while driving in Santa Monica, and it’s particularly weird being in a place as far away as Haiti to think about what all of this means. It sort of puts it all into perspective. But this film is something I’m really proud of. Publicity is not always fun, but it is when you feel you’re representing something you care about, like TRON: Legacy.
Complex: This movie has the potential to turn you into a sci-fi icon…
Olivia Wilde: You think? Well, the good thing about completely transforming physically for a movie is that I’m convinced that even if this movie does really well, I’ll still be able to walk through town unnoticed…
Complex: Don’t count on that.
Olivia Wilde: [Laughs.] You don’t think so? Damn!
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Man … Jeff Bridges is cool. Jeff and ‘TRON: Legacy’ co-star Olivia Wilde stopped by Moviefone to tell us what it was like working on the film and, as an extra bonus, Jeff graced us with a review of the movie by none other than ‘The Dude’!
Listen to Jeff Bridges talk long enough and it’s easy to see why he was cast as ‘The Dude’ in the iconic ‘Big Lebowski.’ His description of his perfect day off is a stream of consciousness trip that almost seems like he transports himself there in his mind. He also told us his plan to make the third movie in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ author Larry McMurtry’s ‘Last Picture Show’ series of novels.
It’s not all about Jeff. Olivia explains how ‘TRON’ has affected her personal style, “‘TRON’ sort of knocked a little bit of the hippie out of me.” She also tells how all those hours of getting in and out of her skin-tight costume (mmm … skin-tight) helped her get into character and ready for the digital world.
Watch this highly entertaining interview, and then see ‘TRON: Legacy’ when it opens Dec. 17.
It’s going to be a busy year ahead for Olivia Wilde. The former O.C. and House M.D. regular will soon be seen opposite Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig in Jon Favreau’s forthcoming sci-fi actioner Cowboys and Aliens, after which she’ll co-star with Ryan Reynolds in the comedy, The Change-Up. And this week, she’s appearing in a little motion picture called TRON: Legacy, Disney’s ambitious big-budget sequel to their 1982 cult classic. In it, Wilde plays Quorra, a digital warrior and prodigy of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) who teams up with new hero Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) inside the Grid. We caught up with the actress recently for a quick chat about her character in the film.
RT: How was the experience of making this?
Olivia Wilde: I had a great time. I think the movie is a celebration of what it is to be human — despite the advancement in technology, we can’t lose track of why it’s better to be a human than to be a program.
And the program never ages — it’s like the Hollywood program.
[laughs] Oh I would hate that, to never age. It think that it’s very sad, that — the idea of staying alive forever and never aging. I look forward to aging. Even in my short life so far I think that I’ve become a happier and better person.
So, given the chance, you wouldn’t upload yourself into a program the way Flynn does, if it meant your avatar could live forever?
Could I come out? No, because I think that even Kevin Flynn is trapped. The beautiful dream of Flynn is that he created the TRON program, or he created the Grid, I should say, so that he could experiment inside this controlled environment and solve the problems of the user world within this artificial world. That’s a beautiful ideal, and certainly if we could experiment and have expanded time frames maybe we could do that.
But I don’t think it’s something I’m attracted to, because my relationship to technology is not quite that enthusiastic. I have embraced it in as much as most people have, and I think that it’s made my life more interesting in terms of creativity and in terms of my connection to the world with people far away. — and certainly learning how to take control of the perception of you a s a celebrity. But my relationship with technology is that I’m appreciative of it, I respect it, but it’s not something that I would meddle with in the way that Flynn did. I hope that the message of the film is that it can be dangerous if you let it swallow you up.
Were there any other characters or films that you looked to as inspiration for Quorra?
I mostly based Quorra on Joan of Arc. The source material I used most was Mark Twain’s book about Joan, which is a beautiful novel. Once I’d made the connection that Joan, like Quorra, was the unlikely warrior — a child leading an army, working for a higher purpose, completely selfless — it clicked for me, and I suddenly understood who Quorra was. In terms of her relationship to Flynn I thought a lot about The Professional, because Quorra is his student and his protector and they’ve lived together in TRON years for hundreds of years. He is secluded and she keeps him safe, but she learns everything about the user world and spirituality from him; she’s almost his adopted daughter. So The Professional came to mind when creating that element of her.
But I haven’t seen anything like her in sci-fi, and I’m a big fan of sci-fi and heroines like Ripley; but she’s not Ripley — she’s pretty different. She’s a child, and I liked the juxtaposition of her sexiness, that comes from her warrior nature, with her childlike innocence and her compassion. I thought that made her interesting. But I think we were able to make her weirdly androgynous in a way. She’s not a sexualized character, which would have been really easy to do — but we didn’t go down that route, which I thought was great.
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“I was slammed back up against my chair, just overwhelmed by how awesome this movie turned out to be,” Olivia Wilde told us about watching “Tron Legacy” for the first time.
It’s hard to disagree agree with the 26-year-old actress, who plays the bob-haired Quorra in the film. “Tron” is easily the most visually arresting film of the year, almost an art film made on a $170 million budget and filled with a handful of kick-ass fight sequences. The high-tech fisticuffs come courtesy of 87eleven, the stunt team behind brawls in “300,” “Iron Man 2″ and the “Matrix” films.
Of all the throw-downs, though, Wilde counts one in particular as her favorite. It comes late in the film, takes place in a computer-generated hotspot called the End of the Line club and pits Wilde and co-star Garrett Hedlund against a slew of bad guys.
“It’s choreography we worked on for four months,” she said. “They showed us the choreography, and Garrett and I looked at each other and were like, ‘That’s not going to happen! We’re not going to be able to do that. That’s crazy stuff.’ And four months later, there we were doing it and enjoying it — really loving it.
“When I saw the finished product of that scene, it’s so intense and beautiful and heart-pounding,” she added. “I was so proud.”
Not only was Wilde proud, the entire production gave her the confidence to know that she could accomplish far more in front of the camera than she ever suspected. “It kind of proved to me I could really go outside my comfort zone,” she said. “This movie was the biggest physical transformation I’ve ever made. Also, a departure from my personality, more than any other character.”
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