© (C) 2009 Fox Olivia Wilde in HOUSE - Season 5

Television:

Exclusive Interview: OLIVIA WILDE PLAYS 'HOUSE' AND SUITS UP FOR 'TRON 2.0'

Wilde talks about what makes television intersting and gives iF the scoop on her role in the long-awaited Walt Disney sequel

By CARLOS DELGADO, Contributing Writer
Published 2/19/2009

Olivia Wilde’s perspective on television fits in perfectly with her current project, HOUSE. “It should always be complicated or else it’s not worth watching.” It’s that very attitude that has helped her play the role of “Thirteen”, a member of Dr. House’s (Hugh Laurie) crack medical staff, so convincingly. As fans of HOUSE know, Thirteen, as she is known on the show, has been battling Huntington’s disease. Her condition has led her to engage in some risky behavior such as drug use and some extremely casual sex.

But that’s not all on her plate. TRON 2.0 is set to release in 2011 (that's the long-awaited sequel to Walt Disney's groundbreaking 1980's classic), and Olivia Wilde is right in the thick of it. iF Magazine had a chance to talk with Wilde about her role on HOUSE, her take on acting, and even a little bit about TRON 2.0. 

iFMAGAZINE: You play “thirteen” on HOUSE. For fans out there who don’t know, what’s her real name?

OLIVIA WILDE: Her real name is Remy Hadley.

iF: And she suffers from Huntington’s disease. What it like playing a terminally ill character? 

WILDE: Well none of her symptoms have kicked in yet, so at this point she just had the diagnosis. She knows she carries the gene, and what that means is eventually she will develop the disease. At this point, she suffers from slight nerve degeneration but she seems perfectly normal. She probably has eight to nine years to live.

iF: Were you personally saddened to hear that your character carries a fatal disease? 

WILDE: I think actors are really sadistic and we love the idea of playing someone very tragic, so I was really honored when I knew they trusted me with this storyline that complex and heavy. So no, it’s so sick that I wasn’t bummed out. I was really excited because it’s an honor to be able to play someone going through something so intense, and it’s interesting for an actor. I just feel terrible for everyone who actually has to live it.

iF: Thirteen is developing a relationship with Omar Epps’ character, Dr. Foreman. How do you see that evolving? 

WILDE: I don’t know. I can’t read minds, but so far it’s an interesting collision of two very different characters. It brings out a side of both of them that we’ve never seen before.

iF: How would you like to see it pan out? 

WILDE: I like it. I think it’s an interesting relationship. But I don’t think anything in TV is interesting if it’s easy. It should always be complicated or else it’s not worth watching. As long as they keep it complex and realistic I think it’ll be interesting.

iF: Switching gears here, you are starring in TRON 2.0. Is that a remake? A sequel? 

WILDE: It’s not a remake. It’s a sequel. It’s the longest time that’s ever elapsed between an original movie and a sequel. It does star some of the original cast, Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner.

iF: What’s it like working with them? 

WILDE: We haven’t started working yet. We’ve all met and gotten excited together, but we haven’t started shooting it.

Reader Comments

Daniel from Los Angeles sez....
Actually there are around 14 million US House viewers, a few of that 14 million are online. Those few have a majority of 13-haters mostly due to the heavy 'shipping' and the fact that 13 is threatening. Outside of the insane online House fandom are average viewers who decide to tune into the show. I have a job that requires me to travel a lot and meet SO many people, House is a typical subject to bring up in conversation for me. I've had about 3 or 4 negative comments about 13 out of the hundreds+ people I've had to speak to. The new team, especially 13, are actually liked by the real majority of viewers. So thank you for this interview. It's good to have an insight on what she's working on!
2/21/2009 5:16:36 AM

Kyle from Brazil sez....
Great interview! I love Olivia!!!!
2/20/2009 5:33:33 AM

Zeen from melbourne sez....
The anti-Thirteen House fans are simply the vocal majority. Having met Olivia Wilde before, i can tell you she is as lovely as they come - warm, intelligent, passionate and active in her beliefs and very dedicated to her work. Can't wait to see more of her!
2/19/2009 6:35:27 PM

Amanda from Tn. sez....
HOUSE fans can't stand 13. She is SO boring! Can you do an interview with Robert Sean Leonard??
2/19/2009 6:13:06 PM

Alex from sez....
She's the most boring character in the House, couldn't you have interviewed another actor?
2/19/2009 9:22:45 AM

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