Olivia Wilde returns to the screen and the director’s chair with 'The Invite,' a comedy about secrets, desire and the cracks that emerge when a couple believes they know each other a little too well. The film, in which she stars alongside Penélope Cruz and which is already generating Oscar buzz, marks the return of one of the most controversial figures in recent Hollywood history.
An actress turned director, outspoken feminist and central character in one of the entertainment industry's most talked-about sagas, the 42-year-old filmmaker has gone from being the young doctor on 'House' to embodying the contradictions of an industry that applauds women for breaking the rules, but does not always forgive them for doing so on their own terms.
If there is one thing Wilde has made clear during the promotional tour for 'The Invite,' it is her fascination with Penélope Cruz. The director and actress has even joked that she has not washed her hands since touching those of the Madrid-born star, who plays a free-spirited woman capable of turning her neighbors’ relationship upside down. The couple next door are played by Wilde herself and Seth Rogen.
The two have displayed their easy rapport throughout recent promotional appearances, with Wilde at one point describing her co-star as “the sexiest woman alive.” In one scene, Cruz unexpectedly kisses Wilde. The filmmaker has admitted that she completely lost her composure, her mind went blank and she fell hopelessly in love with her co-star.
Wilde is one of the filmmakers who has openly spoken about the difficulties she encounters when casting her films and trying to find actresses who have not undergone cosmetic procedures.
“As a director, I now am constantly searching for actresses who can still move their faces. And it’s not easy!” she said. “I don’t blame them. I’m a product of the same machine, I’m under the same pressures; I get it.”
“I just pray for technology to allow treatments that just aren’t so aggressive. Like, there’s something so medieval about all these things. Can’t someone come up with something better than Botox?” she continued.
For Wilde, the issue is also personal. In recent years, her own public appearances have been met with cruel remarks about her looks, her age and speculation about possible cosmetic procedures.
In 2026, photos of the actress became fodder for mockery on social media, particularly because of her extreme thinness. Wilde herself responded with humor, acknowledging that in those viral images she really did look “like a little dead sarcophagus man.”
On Jan. 6, 2021, the world woke up to an image that would dominate headlines for months: Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles walking hand in hand. Wilde was directing her second film, 'Don't Worry Darling,' and Styles, the former One Direction member, was one of its stars.
The couple’s 10-year age gap, the singer’s global fame and Wilde’s recent separation turned the relationship into a media phenomenon. The spiral soon became impossible to stop: Shia LaBeouf’s departure from the project, rumors that the film’s lead actress, Florence Pugh, had a strained relationship with Wilde and was unhappy with the displays of affection between the director and Styles during filming, and the supposedly viral incident in which Styles appeared to spit on Chris Pine at the Venice Film Festival.
Wilde has since acknowledged that she perhaps should have pushed back against some of the allegations. At the same time, she has recalled that she was experiencing moments of great happiness in her private life.
“ It was like a tornado was right outside the door, and if you were inside you were like, ‘It’s so nice,’” she said. “And you open the door and be like, ‘Ah,’ like a fucking like cow and a tractor would fly by.”
Wilde grew up in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., in a household where current affairs were effectively a member of the family. Her parents, journalists Andrew and Leslie Cockburn, hosted dinner parties attended by guests as prominent as Mick Jagger, Steven Spielberg and writer Salman Rushdie.
Her mother worked as a war correspondent and went on to become a renowned investigative journalist before taking her career in a different direction. In 2018, at the age of 66, she ran as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, with her daughter’s public support. She lost to the Republican candidate, but her trajectory left Wilde with a powerful example of political engagement and reinvention.
The role that changed everything for Olivia Wilde, who was born Olivia Cockburn and later adopted the surname Wilde in homage to Oscar Wilde, was that of internist Remy Hadley, better known as Thirteen to both Dr. House and the millions of viewers of the medical drama.
Joining the show's fourth season turned her into an international star and one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. After starring in big-budget films such as 'Tron: Legacy' and 'Cowboys & Aliens,' both of which met with limited critical and commercial success, Wilde later said she felt exploited and objectified by the film industry.
“I had become numb to the fact that every meeting I went on — with men and women, by the way — I was going to be judged on my physical appearance,” she said.
Wilde’s feminist commitment predates the controversies that would later put her at the center of the headlines. In 2017, when the #MeToo movement brought the industry’s abuses of power into the spotlight, she joined the growing chorus of voices calling for change. She also became one of the public faces of Time’s Up, the initiative launched by women in Hollywood to combat sexual harassment and promote safer workplaces, and spoke at the 2018 Women’s March in Los Angeles.
“This business belongs to all of us,” she said that year, advocating for an industry in which her peers could work without fear and without having to compete for opportunities that had historically been denied to them.
Wilde’s debut as a feature-film director came in 2019 with a low-budget comedy that quickly achieved cult status among a generation of moviegoers: 'Booksmart.' The film, which follows two high school students on one final night of partying before graduation, was a hit with both critics and audiences.
Wilde had long wanted to stop being just another cog in the industry and take a more active role in the creative process.
“I always assumed acting was the way in, because for many young women … they’re told, ‘You love movies — you should be a movie star,’" she told 'Variety.' "No one tells a little girl, ‘Why don’t you become a director?’ It’s just not a part of the conversation. But if a little boy says he loves movies, it’s like, ‘Maybe one day you’ll direct. Maybe you’ll be the next Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese.’”
“Romantic and insane.” That is how Olivia Wilde describes her first great love story, which began in 2003 when she was just 19 years old.
At Burning Man, the unconventional arts and music festival held in Nevada’s desert, the young Wilde said “I do” to her boyfriend of only a few months, filmmaker Tao Ruspoli, the son of an Italian prince. By her own account, it took only seconds for her to realize that the ceremony might have been a little too impulsive.
“Immediately, I was like, 'Wait, what the fuck did I just do?'” she remembers thinking.
The marriage ended in divorce in 2011, although the two have remained on good terms.
The same year she finalized her first divorce, in 2011, Wilde met the man who would become the father of her two children: actor Jason Sudeikis (from 'Ted Lasso'). The two met at a 'Saturday Night Live' party, where Sudeikis was working at the time, and went on to build a family with their children, Otis and Daisy.
In November 2020, after several years together and a long engagement, they ended their relationship, setting off a custody dispute that would later make international headlines. In April 2022, during a film industry convention in Las Vegas, Wilde was interrupted onstage when a person approached to hand her legal documents related to the custody case.
Although Sudeikis maintained that he had no knowledge of how or when the papers would be served, Wilde described the incident as “incredibly traumatizing.”
In her day-to-day life, Wilde is often spotted on the streets of New York wearing far simpler outfits, the kind that are easy for ordinary women to take inspiration from. The look pictured here is a perfect example: a blazer, a basic T-shirt, an oversized bag, trousers and sneakers.
It is the sort of outfit anyone might wear to the office or while running errands.
On the red carpet, Wilde has also earned international attention for her distinctive sense of style. Her looks strike a balance between understated elegance, as seen in this high-necked black Saint Laurent gown with structured shoulders, and a more daring sensibility, whether through sheer fabrics or outfits that showcase her sculpted midriff.
Tailored suits are another staple of her wardrobe, further proving her flair for sharp suiting. The architect behind a style that has grown increasingly sophisticated and eye-catching over the years is Karla Welch, who also styles Tracee Ellis Ross and Sarah Paulson.
The actress is also a favorite of fashion houses with markedly different aesthetics, including Chloé (pictured here in one of the brand’s designs), Saint Laurent, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton and Valentino.
Her regular appearances at international fashion weeks, particularly in Paris and New York, have made her one of the celebrity names every brand wants seated in its front row.
Earlier this October, Wilde answered the call of fashion’s designer and label of the moment, stepping out in an updated tweed suit by Matthieu Blazy for Chanel. Elegant yet contemporary, the look demonstrated how her trademark bohemian, '70s-inflected style can also take a decidedly classic turn.
It seems that for Wilde, neither in fashion nor in life, much is beyond reach.
Olivia Wilde vuelve a ponerse delante y detrás de la cámara con 'La invitación', una comedia sobre los secretos, el deseo y las grietas que aparecen cuando una pareja cree conocerse demasiado bien. La película, en la que comparte reparto con Penélope Cruz y que ya suena para los Oscar, supone el regreso de una de las figuras más polémicas del Hollywood reciente. Actriz convertida en directora, feminista declarada y protagonista de uno de los culebrones más sonados de la meca del cine, la cineasta de 42 años ha pasado de ser la joven doctora de 'House' a encarnar las contradicciones de una industria que aplaude a las mujeres cuando rompen las reglas, pero no siempre les perdona que lo hagan a su manera.
Si algo ha dejado claro Wilde durante la campaña de promoción de 'La invitación' es su fascinación por Penélope Cruz. La directora y actriz ha bromeado incluso con que no se ha vuelto a lavar las manos desde que tocó las de la madrileña, que da vida a una mujer desinhibida capaz de poner patas arriba la relación de sus vecinos, interpretados por la propia Wilde y Seth Rogen. Ambas han exhibido su complicidad durante las últimas semanas en los actos promocionales compartidos, y Wilde ha llegado a calificar a su compañera como “la mujer viva más sexy”. En una escena del filme, Cruz le da un beso improvisado a Wilde. La cineasta ha reconocido que perdió el control, se quedó con la mente en blanco y se enamoró por completo de su compañera de reparto.
Wilde es una de las cineastas que se han atrevido a hablar abiertamente de las dificultades con las que se topa durante el proceso de selección de sus películas para encontrar actrices que no se hayan sometido a tratamientos estéticos. “Como directora, estoy en una búsqueda constante de actrices que todavía puedan mover la cara. Y no es fácil”, afirmó. “No las culpo. Soy producto de la misma maquinaria, estoy sometida a las mismas presiones; lo entiendo”, continuó. “Solo le pido a Dios que la tecnología permita tratamientos que no sean tan agresivos. Hay algo muy medieval en todas estas cosas. ¿Nadie puede inventar algo mejor que el bótox?”.
La reflexión de Wilde tiene una dimensión personal. En los últimos años, sus propias apariciones públicas han sido objeto de comentarios crueles sobre su aspecto, su edad y el supuesto recurso a tratamientos estéticos. En 2026, algunas imágenes de la actriz se convirtieron en material para las burlas en redes sociales, especialmente por su extrema delgadez. Ella misma se tomó la polémica con humor y aceptó que, en aquellas fotografías virales, realmente parecía “un cadáver del antiguo Egipto”.
El día de Reyes de 2021, el mundo se despertó con una imagen que iba a copar titulares durante meses: Olivia Wilde y Harry Styles caminando juntos de la mano. Ella dirigía su segunda película, No te preocupes, querida, y él, el exintegrante de One Direction, la protagonizaba. La diferencia de edad de diez años, la fama global del cantante y la reciente separación de Wilde convirtieron la relación en un fenómeno mediático. La espiral fue imposible de detener: la salida de Shia LaBeouf del proyecto, los rumores de que Florence Pugh, protagonista de la cinta, no mantenía una buena relación con Wilde y de que le habían molestado las muestras de afecto entre la directora y Styles durante el rodaje, y el supuesto escupitajo viral del cantante a Chris Pine en el Festival de Venecia. Wilde ha reconocido que quizá debería haber desmentido algunas de las acusaciones, aunque también ha recordado que vivió momentos de gran felicidad en su intimidad. “Era como si hubiera un tornado justo al otro lado de la puerta: si estabas dentro, pensabas que todo estaba muy a gusto; pero abrías la puerta y pasaban volando una vaca y un tractor”.
Wilde creció en Georgetown, Washington, en un hogar en el que la actualidad era un miembro más de la familia. Sus padres, los periodistas Andrew y Leslie Cockburn, organizaban cenas por las que pasaban invitados tan ilustres como Mick Jagger, Steven Spielberg o el escritor Salman Rushdie. Su madre trabajó como reportera de guerra y se convirtió en una reconocida periodista de investigación antes de dar un giro a su carrera: en 2018, a los 66 años, se presentó como candidata demócrata a la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos, con el apoyo público de su hija. Perdió frente al candidato republicano, pero su trayectoria dejó en Wilde un ejemplo de compromiso político y de capacidad para reinventarse.
El papel que cambió el rumbo de Olivia Cockburn –el apellido Wilde lo eligió en homenaje al escritor irlandés Oscar Wilde– fue el de la internista Remy Hadley, conocida como Trece por el doctor House y por los millones de seguidores de la serie médica. Su incorporación a la cuarta temporada de la ficción la convirtió en una estrella internacional y en una de las actrices más sexis de Hollywood. Tras protagonizar películas de gran presupuesto, como 'Tron: Legacy' y 'Cowboys & Aliens', sin demasiado éxito crítico o comercial, Wilde reconoció haberse sentido explotada y cosificada por la industria cinematográfica: “Llegué a insensibilizarme ante el hecho de que cada reunión a la que acudía –con hombres y con mujeres– fuera a ser juzgada según mi apariencia”.
Su compromiso feminista no nació con las polémicas que la convertirían en protagonista de los titulares. En 2017, cuando el movimiento #MeToo puso sobre la mesa los abusos de poder de la industria, Wilde se sumó a las voces que reclamaban un cambio. También fue uno de los rostros visibles de 'Time’s Up', la iniciativa impulsada por mujeres de Hollywood para combatir el acoso sexual y promover entornos laborales más seguros, y participó como oradora en la Marcha de las Mujeres de Los Ángeles de 2018. “Este negocio nos pertenece a todas”, afirmó aquel año, reivindicando una industria en la que sus compañeras pudieran trabajar sin miedo y sin tener que competir por las oportunidades que históricamente se les habían negado.)
El nacimiento de Wilde como directora de largometrajes tuvo lugar en 2019, con una comedia de bajo presupuesto que no tardaría en convertirse en una película de culto generacional: 'Booksmart' ('Súper empollonas'). La historia, que narra la última noche de fiesta de dos estudiantes de instituto antes de la graduación, conquistó a la crítica y al público. Wilde llevaba tiempo queriendo dejar de ser una pieza más de la industria para participar activamente en el proceso creativo. “Siempre asumí que la actuación era la vía de entrada, porque a muchas mujeres jóvenes les dicen: ‘Si te gustan las películas, deberías ser una estrella de cine’. Nadie le dice a una niña: “¿Por qué no te haces directora?”. No forma parte de la conversación. Pero si un niño dice que le gustan las películas, es como: “Quizá algún día dirijas. Quizá seas el próximo Steven Spielberg o Martin Scorsese”.
“Tan romántica como loca”. Así define Olivia Wilde su primera gran historia de amor, que comenzó en 2003, cuando tenía tan solo 19 años. En pleno festival Burning Man, el controvertido encuentro artístico y musical celebrado en el desierto de Nevada, la joven le dio el “sí, quiero” a su novio de hacía apenas unos meses, el cineasta Tao Ruspoli, hijo de un príncipe italiano. Según ha contado, solo necesitó unos segundos para darse cuenta de que quizá la ceremonia había sido demasiado improvisada. “Espera, ¿qué coño acabo de hacer?”, pensó. El matrimonio terminó en divorcio en 2011, aunque ambos han mantenido una buena relación.
El mismo año en que formalizó su primer divorcio, en 2011, Wilde conoció al que sería el padre de sus dos hijos, el actor Jason Sudeikis ('Ted Lasso'). Se conocieron en una fiesta de 'Saturday Night Live', el programa de sketches en el que él trabajaba, y formaron una familia con sus hijos, Otis y Daisy. En noviembre de 2020 pusieron fin a su relación tras varios años de compromiso, dando comienzo a una disputa legal por la custodia de los pequeños que acabaría ocupando titulares internacionales. En abril de 2022, durante una convención cinematográfica en Las Vegas, una persona interrumpió a Wilde en el escenario para entregarle documentos legales relacionados con la custodia. Aunque Sudeikis sostuvo que desconocía cómo y cuándo se entregarían, la actriz calificó el episodio de “increíblemente traumático”.
Durante su día a día, Wilde suele dejarse ver por las calles de Nueva York apostando por looks mucho más sencillos e idóneos para inspirar al común de las mortales. El de la imagen es el ejemplo perfecto: americana, camiseta básica, bolso XL, pantalones y zapatillas. El estilismo con el que cualquiera iría al trabajo o saldría a hacer recados.
En la alfombra roja, Wilde hace gala de un estilo por el que también recibe atención internacional. Sus looks son una mezcla perfecta entre sobriedad y elegancia (como este vestido negro de cuello alto y hombros estructurados de Saint Laurent) y una actitud mucho más sensual en la que no le teme a enseñar sus trabajados abdominales o tirar de transparencias. Los trajes tampoco faltan en sus elecciones confirmando que también sabe defender con acierto la sastrería. La responsable de un estilo que ha ido evolucionando y haciéndose mucho más espectacular con el paso de los años es Karla Welch, al frente también de las apariciones de Tracee Ellis Ross o Sarah Paulson.
La actriz es también la favorita de firmas con códigos tan distintos y variados como Chloé (con vestido de la marca en la imagen), Saint Laurent, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton o Valentino. Su presencia en las semanas de la moda internacionales, París y Nueva York, sobre todo, la convierten en uno de los nombres que toda marca quiere sentar en su 'front row'.
Precisamente este mes de octubre acudió a la llamada del diseñador y la firma del momento, luciendo un precioso traje de tweed actualizado de Matthieu Blazy para Chanel. Tan lady como moderna, Wilde confirma que su estilo setentero con un punto 'boho' también puede virar hacia un lado más clásico y formal. Parece que a ella, ni en la moda ni en la vida, nada se le resiste.
Success may have taken its time, but Monica Barbaro has firmly established herself as one of Hollywood’s most promising talents. After years of searching for her breakthrough, the 36-year-old Californian first drew widespread attention as a fighter pilot in 'Top Gun: Maverick' before winning over the industry with her portrayal of Joan Baez in 'A Complete Unknown,' a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination. Now, with high-profile projects on the horizon such as the much-anticipated 'Artificial,' a romance with fellow actor Andrew Garfield, and a personal style that balances sophistication with effortless ease, Barbaro has become one of the names worth watching, both on and off the screen.
Acting was not part of Monica Barbaro’s earliest ambitions. Her mother, a professional dancer, enrolled all three of her children in ballet classes. Although she discovered through small school theater productions that acting was her true passion, her family’s encouragement led her to focus exclusively on ballet. She enrolled in the dance program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the United States, and initially approached acting only through elective courses.
Today, with the dream she first nurtured as a teenager finally fulfilled, Monica Barbaro is grateful for what dance brought to her craft as an actress. “Dance gave me a completely different way into character. People reveal themselves through their body language,” she said. In the photograph, taken in 2018, the actress wears a floral dress by Brock Collection.
Monica Barbaro logged more than 40 hours of flight time to portray a military pilot in 'Top Gun: Maverick,' her first major role in a big-budget Hollywood production. During filming, she even shot some scenes aboard a two-seat F/A-18, enduring forces of up to eight Gs, and went so far as to earn her pilot’s license. All in pursuit of meeting the exacting standards set by Tom Cruise, who, she says, has become one of her most important mentors in Hollywood. "He'll see a person, see their potential and just bring out the best in them," she said of Cruise.
The role that definitively established Monica Barbaro as one of Hollywood’s most exciting breakthrough talents was her portrayal of Joan Baez in 'A Complete Unknown,' the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet. Barbaro sings and plays guitar herself in the film, despite not knowing a single chord when she landed the part. After months of intensive preparation, her portrayal of Baez emerged as one of the film’s standout performances, earning her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Chalamet later explained that the filmmakers were looking for an actress with gravity and quiet power, someone capable of holding her own opposite his Dylan and even intimidating him slightly. Although the Oscar ultimately went to Zoe Saldaña for 'Emilia Pérez,' the nomination confirmed that Barbaro had moved beyond the status of rising star to become one of the defining talents of a new generation of actors.
Parallel to her professional breakthrough, which unfolded amid the awards ceremonies and industry parties surrounding the Oscars, the California-born actress embarked on her first high-profile public relationship. In January 2025, entertainment media began reporting rumors of a romance with actor Andrew Garfield, best known for films such as 'The Social Network.' Those rumors have gradually been borne out by the couple’s repeated public appearances together. Although both have been notably protective of their privacy, Garfield has spoken warmly about Barbaro, calling her a “supremely talented” actress. “I think she is truly incredible,” he said. “I could wax lyrical more, but I'll leave it there.”
In July 2025, the couple made their first official public appearance together at the Wimbledon Championships in London. They embraced the tournament’s traditional aesthetic with coordinated all-white looks, and Barbaro opted for an outfit by Ralph Lauren.
Fate would have it that their romance also blossomed on a film set, as both are part of the cast of 'Artificial,' the highly anticipated new film from Luca Guadagnino, the director of 'Call Me by Your Name.' Widely seen as a potential awards-season contender, the film is based on the story of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and the turbulent days surrounding the brief dismissal and subsequent reinstatement of its controversial chief executive, Sam Altman, who is played by Andrew Garfield. Monica Barbaro, meanwhile, portrays Mira Murati, the company’s former chief technology officer and one of the most influential figures in the artificial intelligence industry, widely regarded as a pioneering leader in the field.
“[Andrew Garfield] is one of the best actors of his generation, our generation,” the actress has said of her co-star. “I just learned a lot from his approach to the material and to developing character, and I felt very fortunate to get to witness that in real time.” Barbaro has also said that working alongside him pushed her to raise her own game. She said she thought: “Oh shit, I really have to step up my game and make sure I'm a proper, legitimate scene partner.”
For years, Monica Barbaro struggled to find her place in an industry that seemed unsure how to categorize her. The daughter of an Italian American father and a mother of Mexican, English and German descent, she has spoken about being repeatedly encouraged to lean into her Latina heritage in ways that felt inauthentic to her. At the same time, she feared the opposite risk: “neutralizing of myself to not offend anybody.” As a child, she endured racist taunts; as an actress, she sometimes lost out on roles because she was deemed not “ethnic enough.” Rather than choosing between labels, Barbaro has embraced the space in between. "I don't belong in either" — as in either side of her parentage — "but I do belong in this mixed territory."
The actress describes herself as “a romantic and a workaholic.” “I’ve never given my life over to it, which, as a woman, I’m quite proud of. But there’s also the other side of that coin, which is: You can get to a point in your life where you wake up and you look around and you’re sort of like, Oh, have I been self-protecting by [adopting] so much autonomy and independence? I’m definitely shifting some of that perspective now,” she told 'InStyle.'
After graduating from university, with neither steady work nor savings to fall back on, Monica Barbaro moved back across the country to her hometown of San Francisco. There, she spent nearly a decade juggling minor television roles and commercial work, far from the sudden, youthful breakthroughs enjoyed by some rising stars. She had to wait until 2022, when Tom Cruise came calling and changed the course of her career. That same year, her rising profile earned her an invitation to Vanity Fair’s Oscars after-party, where she attended wearing a design by Elie Saab.
Monica Barbaro has spoken openly about why she is uncomfortable using her appearance as a selling point on screen or showing more skin than a story genuinely requires. “One of the very first things I did was a project that I lost the job because I wouldn’t be topless in it,” she told the U.S. edition of InStyle. At the time, she was a background performer with a small, non-speaking role and could not see any narrative reason for the nudity. In the end, she was rehired on her own terms, with her shirt buttoned up. “I’ve not gotten naked in anything I’ve done because I haven’t worked on something where that would be a necessity to the story,” she added.
Her style evolution over the past few years has been striking. Her fashion résumé now includes a series of looks that feel both contemporary and effortless, among them the oversized white suit she paired with a Jacquemus handbag when she was photographed strolling through New York last winter.
Last year, Monica Barbaro attended the Met Gala for the first time, further cementing her rising status within the industry. For the occasion, the actress once again turned to Dior, embracing the glamour of the 1950s and the New Look silhouette with the maison’s iconic Bar jacket, leather gloves and a boater hat. She seemed to belong to another era, while proving herself perfectly in tune with the event’s dress code.
Although she says her everyday uniform tends to be simple and classic, built around Levi’s jeans, loafers and T-shirts, Monica Barbaro knows how to command the attention of the fashion press when promotional duties call. One of her most recent and most daring looks was this ensemble by designer Sandy Liang, which she wore in New York while promoting 'One Night Only.'
“I love to play dress up. I take red carpets as an opportunity to play, in whatever way feels fitting for the project I'm promoting,” she told the U.S. edition of 'Vogue.' In the image, Monica Barbaro wears a striking white gown from Jonathan Anderson’s new era at Dior.
Precisamente en el rodaje de la cinta fue fotografiada luciendo un atrevido minivestido de lentejuelas color esmeralda de Alex Perry con muchas papeletas para convertirse en uno de los más icónicos de su trabajo en pantalla.
The actress has developed a close relationship with Dior, one of her preferred labels for red carpets and high-profile events. Naturally, she is also a regular guest at the fashion house’s runway shows. For the brand’s Autumn/Winter 2024-25 presentation, she chose this striking white dress, a look that neatly encapsulates her style duality: sensual and romantic in equal measure.
Fifty years later, Carrie White is returning to American high schools. Prime Video’s new series revisits the bullied teenager who became one of horror’s defining figures, first in Stephen King’s novel and later in Brian De Palma’s 1976 adaptation. But there is one image that remains impossible to escape: Sissy Spacek, drenched in blood, staring directly into the camera after unleashing her telekinetic powers. For several generations, the role has been synonymous with Spacek. Now, as a new actress takes on Carrie, we look back at what became of the 76-year-old performer who brought to life some of the most memorable characters of 1970s and 1980s cinema.
Spacek was 26 when Brian De Palma cast her as a high school student in 'Carrie.' The film changed her career forever, earned her first Oscar nomination and secured her a place in the cultural imagination that remains remarkably intact 50 years after its release. The actress says that teenagers still approach her today to show off tattoos of the outcast heroine. Incidentally, unlike Carrie, Spacek was her high school’s prom queen.
Born Mary Elizabeth in a small rural town in Texas, Spacek acquired the nickname “Sissy” from her two older brothers, a name by which she would eventually become known around the world. Following the death of one of them, she left home one summer for New York with an actor cousin in an attempt to escape the family tragedy. She abandoned plans to attend college and, under the stage name Rainbo, tried to make it as a folk singer in late-1960s Manhattan. It didn’t work out. Her record label dropped her, and Spacek decided to enroll in acting school instead.
Terrence Malick’s cult classic 'Badlands' marked Spacek’s first leading role in a feature film and became her breakthrough. She played a teenage girl who runs away with a rebellious young man she has just met, played by Martin Sheen, and becomes a fugitive after her father rejects the relationship. The film won the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and Spacek, who had been studying acting for only a matter of months, emerged as an unlikely Hollywood star: an anti-diva whose red hair, freckles, diminutive stature and youthful appearance set her apart from the era’s conventional screen icons.
The film also changed her life in another way: it was on the set that she met the love of her life, production designer Jack Fisk. After first crossing paths in 1972, the two married a couple of years later and have now been together for half a century, making them one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting couples. They have two daughters, Schuyler and Madison, and both remain active in the industry. Fisk's recent production design credits include 'Marty Supreme,' 'The Revenant' and 'Killers of the Flower Moon.'
Spacek became one of the defining stars of the New Hollywood era, a movement heavily influenced by the French New Wave and Italian neorealism. Beginning in 1977, the Texas-born actress received five Oscar nominations in less than a decade. Among her most memorable performances from that era are 'Missing,' directed by Costa-Gavras; 'The River,' opposite Mel Gibson; and 'Crimes of the Heart,' alongside Jessica Lange and Diane Keaton.
Spacek won her first and only Oscar in 1981 for 'Coal Miner’s Daughter,' the biopic of country singer Loretta Lynn. Lynn had risen from humble beginnings in rural Kentucky, marrying at 13 and becoming a mother of four before the age of 20. In a twist of fate, when Spacek was trying to launch a music career years earlier, a record label turned her down because her voice sounded too much like that of another artist on its roster: Loretta Lynn. That very similarity would later help earn her an Academy Award. Spacek performed all of the songs in the film herself and even received a Grammy nomination for her work.
The greatest tragedy of Spacek’s life came when she was just 17. Her brother Robert, only a few months older than she was, died of leukemia. Spacek was just beginning to work at the time and, despite the devastation, managed to turn that trauma into a source of strength throughout her career.
Spacek and Fisk married in Santa Monica in a ceremony so private that their dog was their only witness, and so informal that both wore jeans. The actress credits the longevity of their relationship to the constant collaboration between them.
At the height of their fame, Spacek and Fisk left Hollywood behind and moved to a farm in rural Virginia, determined to raise their daughters away from red carpets and the glare of the spotlight. There, they raised horses and grew their own vegetables, while Spacek returned to acting only for roles that truly resonated with her. In 2001, she earned a sixth Oscar nomination for her performance in 'In the Bedroom.'
Their daughters have followed their parents into the film industry as well. Schuyler Fisk became an actress and, while she never came close to matching her mother’s level of fame, she has enjoyed a steady career in American television and film. Madison, meanwhile, learned the ropes from her father and has worked in the art department on a number of feature films, following in his footsteps as a production designer.
One of the best-known stories from 1970s Hollywood is how Spacek landed the role of Carrie. As close friends, George Lucas and Brian De Palma held joint auditions for their next projects, 'Star Wars' and 'Carrie,' respectively. Spacek auditioned for Lucas’s film, while Carrie Fisher also took part in casting sessions connected to the horror movie. In the end, the roles found their way to the actresses who would make them iconic: Fisher as Princess Leia and Spacek as Carrie White.
Spacek’s performance left such a deep mark on popular culture that screenwriter and producer Mike Flanagan, who is once again adapting 'Carrie' for Prime Video, has said it was the biggest hurdle in casting the role anew. According to Flanagan, most of the 1,400 actresses who auditioned for the series arrived trying to imitate Spacek’s iconic performance. The part ultimately went to Summer H. Howell, whose reinterpretation of Carrie has drawn widespread praise from critics.
Although she was never associated with method acting in the way her contemporary Robert De Niro was, Spacek’s approach to her craft also relied on total immersion in her characters. For '’night, Mother,' in which she played a daughter struggling with suicidal thoughts, she would spend weeks inhabiting a deeply depressed emotional state until filming wrapped. It was none other than Jack Lemmon who warned her that if she remained so committed to despair, she might end up being consumed by it herself.
Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain and Emma Stone — whom Spacek once advised never to hide her freckles on screen again — are among the younger generation of stars who have publicly expressed their admiration for the 76-year-old actress. Stone, who also worked with Spacek on 'The Help,' has reunited with the veteran actress for 'The Catch,' the new film directed by Stone’s husband, Dave McCary.
At 76, Spacek appears to have settled on a definition of happiness far less ambitious than the one Hollywood usually sells. In a 2022 interview with 'Esquire,' when asked how she managed to remain so upbeat, she said happiness is overrated and that we need to be content and simply be.
When motherhood came calling, Spacek had little doubt about what should take priority. She even turned down the role that would eventually go to Debra Winger in 'Terms of Endearment' because she did not want to be separated from her daughter Schuyler, who was only a few months old.
What film brought them together? 'Jamón, jamón' (1992), directed by Bigas Luna. But their romance did not truly begin until 15 years later, during the filming of 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' with Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson as unlikely witnesses.
What happened next? The second chance worked. They married in 2010 and are now parents of two children.
And now? They are sharing the screen once again in 'Bunker,' which has just premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
What film brought them together? 'Vanilla Sky' (2001), the Hollywood remake of Alejandro Amenábar's 'Abre los ojos.' (Open Your Eyes).
What happened next? The two embarked on a relationship that lasted about three years before ending in 2004.
Why did they split? A combination of intense media scrutiny, conflicting schedules and religious differences. Cruise is a devoted member of the Church of Scientology, while Cruz did not share his commitment to the faith.
Who are they? Penélope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey.
What film brought them together? The adventure movie 'Sahara' (2005), where they met shortly after Cruz's relationship with Tom Cruise had ended.
What happened next? Their on-screen chemistry quickly turned into a real-life romance.
How long did it last? Just over a year. They split in 2006, citing the distance between them and the demands of their respective careers as the main reasons for the breakup.
What film brought them together? 'Days of Thunder' (1990), in which they played a race-car driver and a doctor who fall in love.
What happened next? They married later that year, adopted two children and became one of Hollywood's most famous couples. Their marriage lasted a decade before they separated in 2001 and finalized their divorce later that year.
Why did they split? Kidman later spoke about living in the shadow of her husband's fame. Media reports and subsequent accounts also pointed to several factors behind the breakup, including the couple's demanding careers and Cruise's deep involvement with the Church of Scientology.
What film brought them together? 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (2017), in which they played Peter Parker and MJ.
What happened next? The chemistry between their characters eventually carried over into real life, though they did not publicly confirm their relationship until 2021.
And then? They got engaged in 2025 and married in a secret ceremony this year, with no wedding photos or details of the bride's dress leaked so far. They have also reunited on screen in the latest Spider-Man film, which has become another major box-office success.
What film brought them together? 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' (2005), in which they played a married pair of assassins unaware of each other's true identity.
What happened next? Pitt separated from Jennifer Aniston and began a relationship with Jolie. Together they built one of Hollywood's most famous families, raising six children, three biological and three adopted.
And then? They married in 2014 but split two years later, setting off a long and bitter legal battle that was finally resolved years later. Many of their children have since distanced themselves from their father, with several choosing to drop the Pitt surname.
What film brought them together? 'Se7en' (1995), David Fincher's thriller in which Paltrow played the wife of the detective portrayed by Pitt.
What happened next? Paltrow has said it was close to love at first sight. The couple became one of Hollywood's most glamorous pairings and even got engaged.
Why did they split? Their careers were just taking off and, by their own account, they were too young for such a serious commitment. They ended their relationship in 1997. Nearly three decades later, Paltrow still speaks warmly of Pitt and considers him a good friend.
Who are they? Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
What film brought them together? 'Cleopatra' (1963), in which Taylor played the Egyptian queen and Burton portrayed Mark Antony.
What happened next? Their off-screen romance proved every bit as dramatic as the film itself. Both were married when the relationship began, sparking one of Hollywood's most notorious scandals. They divorced their respective spouses and married in 1964.
And then? After a decade together, they divorced in 1974, remarried the following year and divorced again in 1976. Their relationship was defined by passion, volatility and an enduring professional bond. Over the years, they appeared together in more than a 11 films.
What film brought them together? 'The Notebook' (2004), in which they played Noah and Allie, lovers separated by circumstance who eventually reunite in one of the most beloved screen romances of the 21st century.
What happened next? Despite reportedly clashing during filming, complete with arguments and tensions on set, the two eventually grew close. As the saying goes, there's a fine line between love and hate, and they crossed it in the opposite direction.
And then? They began dating in 2005, became one of Hollywood's most popular young couples and ultimately ended their relationship in 2007.
What film brought them together? 'The Place Beyond the Pines' (2012), in which they played former lovers who reconnect after he discovers he is the father of her child.
What happened next? They began dating during filming and, more than a decade later, are still together. They married in secret, have two daughters and have built one of Hollywood's most enduring and private relationships, rarely appearing together in public.
Who are they? Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
What film brought them together? 'Twilight' (2008), the defining young-adult phenomenon of its generation, in which they played star-crossed teenage lovers Edward Cullen and Bella Swan.
What happened next? They were together for more than four years before photographs emerged of Stewart kissing director Rupert Sanders, triggering a crisis that ultimately ended the relationship. The couple briefly reconciled, but split for good in 2013.
What film brought them together? 'Green Lantern' (2011), a superhero blockbuster that may have disappointed at the box office but proved far more successful as a matchmaker.
What happened next? They began dating shortly after filming, married in 2012 and have since become one of Hollywood's most enduring couples. They have four children and are famous for turning social media into a friendly battleground of marital teasing and one-upmanship.
Who are they? Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.
What film brought them together? 'The Light Between Oceans,' which began filming in 2014. They played a married couple living in a lighthouse whose lives are transformed after they find a baby.
What happened next? They married in a small, private ceremony in Ibiza in 2017 and have two children. More than a decade after meeting, they are still together and continue to keep their family life largely out of the spotlight.
What film brought them together? 'To Have and Have Not' (1944), which marked Bacall's film debut at the age of 19.
What happened next? Neither their age gap, he was 44, nor Bogart's marriage prevented them from falling in love during filming. Bogart eventually divorced his wife, and the two married in 1945. They remained together until his death in 1957 and had two children.
What series brought them together? 'The Americans,' in which they played Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, a married couple of Soviet spies living undercover in the United States.
What happened next? The chemistry between Philip and Elizabeth did not stay on screen. Rhys and Russell began a relationship in 2013 and have a son together, though they have never married.
What's the twist? Rhys had actually tried to ask Russell out years earlier, but she turned him down the first time around.
What film brought them together? 'Dream House' (2011), in which they played a married couple.
What happened next? The two had known each other for years, but their relationship began during filming. They married later that year in a private ceremony in New York attended by just four guests. They are still together and have a daughter
What series brought them together? 'Game of Thrones,' in which they played Jon Snow and Ygritte, lovers destined for one of the show's most tragic romances.
What happened next? Their on-screen relationship blossomed into a real-life one. They married in Scotland in 2018 at Leslie's family castle and have two children together.
What series brought them together? 'Fargo,' whose second season cast them as a married couple caught up in a criminal conspiracy.
What happened next? They got engaged a year after they started dating and have two children together. They eventually married in 2022 and later reunited on screen in 'The Power of the Dog,' earning Oscar nominations for their performances.
What film brought them together? 'Volunteers' (1985), in which they starred together after first meeting a few years earlier on the television series 'Bosom Buddies.'
What happened next? That second collaboration cemented a relationship that has endured ever since. They married in 1988, have two children and are considered one of Hollywood's longest-lasting and most stable couples.
Who are they? Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
What series brought them together? 'Fargo.' In the third season, filmed in 2016, McGregor played twin brothers, while Winstead portrayed the fiancée of one of them.
What happened next? Both were in relationships when they fell in love. Winstead was married to director Riley Stearns, while McGregor had been married to Eve Mavrakis for 22 years and had four daughters with her. They ended their respective marriages, welcomed a son in 2021 and married in 2022.
What film brought them together? 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005). Their co-star Jake Gyllenhaal has said that there were already “sparks” between them during the very first table read.
What happened next? They shared a brief but intense romance. Within months of meeting, they were engaged and expecting their only child together, a daughter named Matilda. After three years, they announced their separation in September 2007, just a few months before the death of Ledger, who would go on to earn acclaim for his portrayal of the Joker in 'The Dark Knight.'
What film brought them together? 'The Oranges' (2011), a largely forgettable comedy that paired two of the biggest stars of 2000s television.
What happened next? Brody was in a relationship at the time, so their connection did not develop immediately. Two years later, they got together, married in 2014 and are now parents of two children.
What film brought them together? 'Gigli,' a film widely regarded as one of Hollywood's most notorious flops and a major box-office failure.
What happened next? Perhaps the better question is: what didn't happen? Lopez divorced her second husband, dancer Cris Judd, to be with Affleck. The media frenzy surrounding the couple was so intense that they became known simply as “Bennifer.” They got engaged, called off their wedding just days before it was due to take place and eventually went their separate ways, moving on with Marc Anthony and Jennifer Garner, respectively.
And then? Nearly two decades later, in 2021, they reunited and finally made it down the aisle. But their second chance lasted less than three years. The question now is whether there will ever be a third.
What film brought them together? 'Daredevil' (2003), although they had first met a couple of years earlier while filming 'Pearl Harbor.'
What happened next? Both were in relationships during the making of 'Daredevil.' Garner was married to actor Scott Foley, while Affleck was engaged to Jennifer Lopez. Their romance began later, and they married in 2005.
And then? They had three children and remained together for a decade before announcing their separation in 2015. Despite the breakup, they have maintained a close friendship, and Garner has publicly supported Affleck through his struggles with alcoholism.
What film brought them together? 'Gattaca' (1997), now considered a classic of 1990s science fiction.
What happened next? They became one of Hollywood's coolest couples and had two children, Maya, now a successful actress in her own right, and Levon.
And then? They announced their separation in 2003 amid persistent rumors that Hawke had been unfaithful with the family's nanny. The actor denied those claims and later described the episode as “humiliating.”
What series brought them together? The psychological thriller 'Gypsy,' which failed to earn a second season renewal from Netflix.
What happened next? The marriage they portrayed on screen eventually became a reality off screen. In 2023, they made their relationship official with an intimate civil wedding in New York, and a year later they said “I do” again in Mexico.
And then? Together they have raised the two children from Watts's previous relationship with actor Liev Schreiber. Their younger child, Kai, 17, took her first steps as a model this autumn, appearing alongside her mother in a campaign for the fashion label Simkhai.
What film brought them together? 'Sweet Girl' (2021), in which they played a married couple.
What happened next? Their relationship appears to have begun during or after filming, although at the time Momoa was coming to the end of his relationship with Lisa Bonet, with whom he had spent nearly 17 years and shares two children.
And then? The split was not made public until 2022, and their divorce was finalized in 2024. That same year, Momoa confirmed his relationship with Arjona.
What film brought them together? 'Changeland,' a low-budget comedy.
What happened next? The former child star and the Disney Channel actress traveled to Thailand to do the film's director a favor, only to stay for weeks as their romance began to blossom.
And then? They are now parents of two sons and have become one of Hollywood's most unexpectedly enduring, beloved and closely watched couples.
What film brought them together? 'The Amazing Spider-Man' (2012). Like the characters they played on screen, Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, they fell in love.
What happened next? They were together for four years and went on to star in a second Spider-Man film before eventually going their separate ways. Today, Stone has a daughter with director Dave McCary, while Garfield is in a relationship with actress Monica Barbaro.
What film brought them together? 'The Last Song' (2010), a teen romance that marked Cyrus's bid to move beyond her Hannah Montana image.
What happened next? What followed was a decade-long on-again, off-again relationship, marked by breakups and reconciliations. They eventually married, just days after losing their home in a wildfire.
And then? The marriage did not last. Amid speculation about infidelity and other strains on the relationship, the couple divorced. Cyrus later released the global hit 'Flowers,' a song widely interpreted as containing references to Hemsworth, and one that earned her the first Grammy Award of her career.
What series brought them together? 'Stranger Things,' in which they play Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, two teenagers who fall in love while trying to protect their younger siblings from the forces of evil.
What happened next? They met while filming the first season, when their characters were not yet a couple, and rumors of a romance began circulating the following year.
And then? They made their relationship red-carpet official in 2017. Nearly a decade later, reports of a possible split have surfaced in several media outlets, though neither actor has confirmed them.
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