2 days ago
9
Ahead of Olivia Wilde debuting her new film The Invite at Sundance Film Festival, she told E! News in an exclusive interview how her and ex Jason Sudeikis’ kids play a role in her creative process.
By Olivia Evans Jan 26, 2026 5:45 PM | Updated 16 minutes ago
Olivia Wilde Reveals the Role Her 2 Kids Play in Her Work
Olivia Wilde doesn’t need to please all the critics—just these two.
Ahead of the director debuting her new film The Invite, which she stars in alongside Seth Rogen, Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz, she admitted that her and ex Jason Sudeikis’ kids Otis, 11, and Daisy, 9, are her first test audience.
“They give me their opinions,” Olivia explained to E! News’ Will Marfuggi in an exclusive interview at the Jan. 23 premiere of I Want Your Sex, an official selection of the Premieres section of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. “They want to know what everything is about. They want to know who’s in everything and they’re tough critics.”
Indeed, the 41-year-old—who split from Jason in 2020—admitted they were part of her upcoming film, which received a standing ovation during its Jan. 24 premiere at Sundance.
“They’ve seen movies they never should have seen,” Olivia joked. “They’ve seen a lot of The Invite because I was editing it a lot with them in the room. They’ve seen far too much of The Invite.”
And while her brood wasn’t present to see the finished product at Sundance, she predicted it wouldn’t be long until she brought them as her plus ones.
“They would love it,” the House alum assured. “This is the best part of Hollywood right here.”
For Olivia, film festivals have been a pivotal point in her career since she premiered her debut Booksmart in SXSW Film Festival in 2019. And although Olivia’s sophomore film Don’t Worry Darling was the subject of plenty of press tour drama starting with its own Venice Film Festival premiere in 2022, she emphasized that she wouldn’t change a thing about how her career has panned out thus far.
2026 Sundance Institute/Breanna Downs
“It gets better and better,” she explained. “It’s just gotten more and more interesting. Every experience I’ve had, good and bad, it’s just taught me more and given me more tools and allowed me to really appreciate moments like this because this is as good as it gets.”
As Olivia put it, “I really think that festivals’ enthusiasm is the peak of releasing a film because there’s nothing else.”
For more stars who stepped out at Sundance, keep reading…
Bryan Steffy/GC Images
Gemma Chan
The Crazy Rich Asians actress arrived to Park City in an Acura car on Jan. 23.
Declan Manley/London Entertainment/GC Images
Charli XCX
Ready for Brat Winter? The "Apple" singer acessorized her white fur coat and matching lace dress with a Hammitt bag on Jan. 23.
Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic
Channing Tatum
The Magic Mike alum brought his charm to the Jan. 23 premiere of Josephine.
Mat Hayward/Getty Images for IMDb
Domhnall Gleeson
Extra, extra! The Paper star struck a pose inside the iMDb Portrait Studio at Acura House of Energy on Jan. 23.
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Acura
Cristin Milioti
The Penguin actress attended the pemiere of Buddy hosted by Acura on Jan. 22.
Tomasso Boddi/Getty Images
Patrick Schwarzenegger
The White Lotus alum checked in to a cocktail party hosted by Ketel One Vodka on Jan. 22.
Jack Dempsey for Chase
Leslie Mann, Judd Apatow & Maude Apatow
It was an Apatow family affair at the Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story cast party inside the Chase Sapphire Reserve Experience on Jan. 22.
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images
Jenny Slate & Chris Pine
The Carousel costars shared a hug at their movie's premiere hosted by Ketel One Vodka on Jan. 22.
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Acura
Topher Grace
Hello, Park City! The That '70s Show alum was hanging out, down the street at the Buddy premiere hosted by Acura on Jan. 22.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
English (US) ·