Olivia Wilde Says Turning 40 Influenced Her Role in I Want Your Sex

Sasha Wayman Wed, July 29, 2026 at 6:15 PM UTC

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Originally appeared on E! Online

Olivia Wilde isn’t worrying about aging out of Hollywood, darling.

The Don’t Worry Darling director, 42, revealed that entering a new decade was the catalyst that pushed her to tackle her steamy performance in her upcoming film I Want Your Sex.

“The spring right before this movie I turned 40 and I felt great and I was like, ‘Hell, yeah,’” Wilde exclusively told E! News’ Will Marfuggi at the July 28 premiere of I Want Your Sex. “‘Let’s go make this movie. This’ll be fun.’”

In the racy film, which hits theaters July 31, Wilde plays renowned artist Erika Tracy, who recruits a fresh-faced Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) to become her sexual muse.

“I love the idea of reclaiming empowered sexuality,” Wilde explained of her performance, “and the idea of like you get older and you get better. And it was such a fun way to express that. It was great.”

“Hopefully, this movie is suggesting you should try everything,” she added. “You should be exploring your whole life and if you do that then by the time you get to your 40s you’ve lived some cool lives.”

As she put it, “You gotta have a story.”

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And while the Tron: Legacy star—mom to kids Otis, 12, and Daisy, 9, with ex Jason Sudeikis—couldn’t be happier with her own performance in the movie, she’s even more proud of the project as a whole.

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“I just love the unpretentiousness of this film,” she said. “It’s just ballsy and fearless and irreverent and it’s designed to be a good time.”

Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation

But I Want Your Sex isn’t the only sexually liberated film Wilde has been a part of as of late. After all, she also directed and starred in The Invite—which follows two couples as they’re confronted with a NSFW decision during what’s supposed to be the perfect dinner party—alongside Seth Rogan, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.

Just one month after that film hit theaters, it has already garnered Oscar buzz, which Wilde noted “makes my brain short circuit.”

And the parallels between I Want Your Sex and The Invite aren’t lost on her.

“These movies feel like sisters, but they’re also the opposite sides of my personality,” she explained. “But I feel very lucky to be a part of two films, that are independent films, that are comedies, that are coming out in theaters. Like, that is major.”

Monica Schipper/WireImage

It’s also a huge honor.

“It is not something that I take for granted,” she said. “There have been years where people have made great comedies that no one gets to see and we’re just lucky.”

“We’re lucky that people are excited about comedy in the theaters again,” she added. “I think they always were, but I think distributors are recognizing that this is what people wanna go see.”

For more movies coming out this year, read on…

Toy Story 5 - June 19, 2026

Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the gang return as the toys take on tech in the form of a frog-shaped smart tablet voiced byGreta Lee.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Supergirl - June 26, 2026

When a ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl (Milly Alcock), reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an  interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Minions & Monsters - July 1, 2026

The little yellow guys return for a new animated adventure set in 1920s Hollywood. Featuring the voices ofAllison Janney,Christoph Waltz,Zoey Deutch, andJesse Eisenberg.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Moana - July 10, 2026

Disney adds to their live-action remake roster with this reimagining of the 2016 animated hit.Dwayne Johnsonreprises his role as demigod Maui andCatherine Laga'aiastars as Moana.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Invite - July 10, 2026

When a couple invites their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. StarringOlivia Wilde,Seth Rogen,Penelope CruzandEdward Norton.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Odyssey - July 17, 2026

A seriously all-star cast assembles for directorChristopher Nolan's epic take on the ancient Greek poem. StarringMatt Damon,Zendaya,Tom Holland,Robert Pattinson,Anne Hathawayand many more.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Spider-Man: Brand New Day - July 31, 2026

This new chapter of the superhero franchise finds Peter Parker (Tom Holland) living and crime-fighting alone in New York, having erased himself from the lives and memories of those he loves.Zendayareturns as MJ andSadie Sinkjoins the cast.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.One Night Only - August 7, 2026

Callum TurnerandMonica Barbaroco-headline as two strangers searching for love in New York City.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The End of Oak Street - August 14, 2026

After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together. StarringEwan McGregorandAnne Hathaway.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie - August 14, 2026

After their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs and are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Practical Magic 2 - September 11, 2026

The witchy Owens sisters return in this sequel to the 1998 classic. StarringNicole Kidman,Sandra Bullock,Lee Pace,Joey King, andMaisie Williams.Where to Watch:In theatersThe Love Hypothesis - September 23, 2026

Based on the New York Times best-seller,The Love Hypothesisfollows Olive (Lili Reinhart), a Ph.D. candidate who impulsively kisses her department's most intimidating professor, Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman). Their mutual need for a fake relationship turns into an experiment in chemistry that might actually solve for love.Where to Watch:Streaming onPrime VideoVerity - October 2, 2026

Adapted fromColleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) and Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Social Reckoning - October 9, 2026

A companion piece to 2010'sThe Social Network, writer/directorAaron Sorkin's new film is inspired by the true story of a young Facebook engineer (Mikey Madison) who enlists the help of aWall Street Journalreporter (Jeremy Allen White) to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle onMark Zuckerberg(Jeremy Strong) and the social network’s most guarded secrets.Where to watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Sense and Sensibility - October 16, 2026

Daisy Edgar-Jonesstars as Elinor Dashwood in this latest adaptation ofJane Austen's beloved novel. Also starringFiona Shaw,Caitríona Balfe,George MacKay, andEsmé Creed-Miles.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Cat in the Hat - November 6, 2026

Based on the belovedDr. Seuss book, this animated adaptation will feature the voices ofBill Hader,Quinta Brunson,Bowen Yang, andAmerica Ferrera.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - November 20, 2026

This highly anticipated prequel revisits the world of Panem and follows young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games. Also starringGlenn Close,Whitney Peak,Elle Fanning,Ralph Fiennes,Mckenna GraceandMaya Hawke.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Focker-In-Law - November 25, 2026

Ben StillerandRobert De Niroreunite alongsideAriana Grandefor this new chapter in theMeet the Parentsfranchise.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Hexed - November 25, 2026

This animated coming-of-age saga follows an impulsive teenage girl named Billie (Hailee Steinfeld) who discovers secret magical abilities which hurtle her into a spectacular journey out of suburbia and into a vast witch realm called Hexe.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Avengers: Doomsday - December 18, 2026

An insanelystar-studded castof MCU fan-favorites return to our screens in this fifth installment of theAvengersfilm series.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Dune: Part Three - December 18, 2026

ZendayaandTimothée Chalametreturn to deliver the epic conclusion to directorDenis Villeneuve’s trilogy. Also starringJason Momoa,Florence Pugh,Rebecca Ferguson,Anya Taylor-Joy,Robert Pattinson, andJavier Bardem.Where to Watch:In theaters and IMAXBuy a ticketHERE.Jumanji: Open World - December 25, 2026

The core cast (Dwayne Johnson,Karen Gillan,Jack BlackandKevin Hart) returns for this final installment of the reboot trilogy about a magical board game.Where to Watch:In theaters

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”