Olivia Wilde Received ‘Insane Death Threats’ During ‘House’

Olivia Wilde endured a wild reception to her “House” role.

Wilde, who played Doctor Remy “Thirteen” Hadley on the medical drama from 2007 to 2012, said during the Red Sea International Film Festival via Variety that she received “death threats” during her tenure when her character had an interracial relationship.

According to Wilde, the storyline was so shocking that she received “insane death threats constantly coming into the studios,” and extra security was hired. Wilde’s character Remy was also bisexual, which Wilde pointed to how representation has changed in the decade-plus since.

“Seeing what’s on television now, if you watch ‘Euphoria,’ the fact that that my character was shocking and groundbreaking then, it’s like, no, it’s nothing,” Wilde said.

Wilde had also previously played queer bartender Alex Kelly on The CW series “The O.C.” Wilde’s character dates both Adam Brody’s Seth Cohen and Mischa Barton’s Marissa Cooper in Season 2 of the show.

Wilde said that she “naturally gravitated towards roles that had a little bit of risk involved,” adding, “I think a huge problem with our business, around the world I imagine it’s the same, when you conflate filmmaking or acting with fame or with large scale acceptance, you immediately cut off every opportunity to do any risky work. And so I think that it was important to me to never become overly focused on being accepted or loved. I’d rather be controversial than boring.”

She previously told Variety that both queer roles in “House” and “The O.C.” had a surprising reception from audiences.

“I never thought it should have made headlines that we had a same-sex relationship on a network show,” Wilde said in 2022.

Wilde will next lead Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex” alongside Cooper Hoffman and Charli xcx. The feature reinvigorated Wilde’s love of cinema, as she told Variety, especially with working with Araki.

“He’s such a force,” Wilde said of Araki. “He’s so singular and authentic. I’ve never met someone less Hollywood. He is a filmmaker for all the right reasons. He is a freak in the best possible way. I’m so inspired by him.”

She continued, “I feel in many ways that movie reminded me of why I do this.”