Is Olivia Wilde Related to Oscar Wilde? Are They Related?
by Alaguvelan M
Updated May 03, 2023
Is Olivia Wilde Related to Oscar Wilde?
Olivia Wilde is not related to Oscar Wilde. Although she derived her surname from the Irish author, she was born Olivia Jane Cockburn and decided to start using the name Wilde while in high school to honor the writers in her family who used pen names. There is no familial relationship between Olivia Wilde and Oscar Wilde. Olivia's birth name is Olivia Jane Cockburn, and she adopted her stage name while in high school as a tribute to the famous Irish writer, Oscar Wilde, due to his influence on her family's literary background.
Although Olivia Wilde derived her surname from Oscar Wilde, the famous Irish playwright, and author, she is not related to him. In a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair, Wilde revealed that she was in fact born "Cockburn", but chose to change her name to Wilde while in high school as a tribute to her family's long line of writers, one of whom included Oscar Wilde.
Oscar Wilde was an influential figure in English literature, known for his wit, and for his flamboyant personality. He was famous for writing plays like "The Importance of Being Earnest" and novels including "The Picture of Dorian Gray". He was also well known for his homosexuality, which eventually led to his imprisonment and death.
In contrast, Olivia Wilde is a modern-day actress and filmmaker, known for films like "Tron: Legacy" and "Cowboys & Aliens," as well as her role as "Thirteen" in the popular medical drama, "House." She has also made a name for herself as a fierce advocate for women's rights and equal pay in Hollywood. While there may not be a direct relationship between Olivia Wilde and Oscar Wilde, she has certainly made her own mark in the entertainment industry and is widely respected for her talent, creativity, and outspoken activism.
How is Olivia Wilde Related to Oscar Wilde?
Olivia Wilde, a well-known actress, and filmmaker, is not related to the famous Irish playwright and author Oscar Wilde despite sharing the same surname. In fact, Olivia was born with the name Olivia Jane Cockburn, but she changed her name to Wilde during her high school years to pay homage to her family's long line of writers, including Oscar Wilde.
Although there is no direct connection between the two, both Olivia and Oscar have contributed significantly to the world of art and entertainment. Oscar Wilde was a celebrated figure in English literature and is famous for works such as "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and numerous acclaimed plays. Similarly, Olivia Wilde has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry as a talented actress, filmmaker, and advocate for women's rights.
It is interesting to note that Olivia's choice to adopt the name of a renowned writer reflects her own passion for storytelling and creative expression. Even though she is not biologically related to Oscar Wilde, she has established herself as a respected artist in her own right and has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry.
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Jane Cockburn was the original name of Olivia Wilde and she was born on March 10, 1984, in New York City, U.S. Olivia Wilde is a talented American actress and filmmaker known for her dynamic performances in film and television. She is best known for her role as Remy "Thirteen" Hadley in the popular medical drama House, which aired from 2007 to 2012.
Wilde has appeared in numerous blockbuster films such as Tron: Legacy, Cowboys & Aliens, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and The Lazarus Effect. In 2017, Wilde made her Broadway debut in the play 1984, playing the role of Julia. She also directed her first feature film, the critically acclaimed teen comedy Booksmart, in 2019. For her outstanding directorial debut, Wilde was awarded the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Wilde's second feature film as a director, Don't Worry Darling, was released in 2022. With her impressive range of talents and accomplishments, Olivia Wilde continues to be a powerful force in the entertainment industry, both in front of and behind the camera. She grew up in Georgetown, Washington D.C., and attended Georgetown Day School and Phillips Academy. Wilde chose her surname after Irish author Oscar Wilde to honor the writers in her family.
Olivia Wilde Family
Olivia married Tao Ruspoli and they were separated in 2011. Her family has a rich history in journalism and literature, with her grandfather and several other relatives working as journalists and writers. Wilde's paternal ancestors were upper-class and lived in various locations during the British Empire. Her ancestry includes Scottish, English, German, Irish, and Manx.
Olivia Wilde's family background is rich with prominent figures in journalism, literature, and politics. Despite not pursuing a career in those fields, Wilde has carved out her own successful path in the entertainment industry as a respected actress and filmmaker.
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was the original name of Oscar Wilde. He was born on October 16, 1854, and was a renowned Irish poet and playwright who gained popularity in London during the early 1890s. He was known for his witty epigrams, plays such as "The Importance of Being Earnest," and his novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Wilde's parents were intellectuals in Dublin, and he excelled academically, studying Greats at Trinity College Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford.
Wilde embraced the philosophy of aestheticism, which was influenced by his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. He later became part of London's fashionable cultural and social circles. Wilde died at the age of 46 from meningitis on November 30, 1900, after being convicted of gross indecency for consensual homosexual acts.
Oscar Wilde, the famous Irish poet, and playwright, tried his hand at various literary activities throughout his career. He published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on the new "English Renaissance in Art" and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he worked prolifically as a journalist.
Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress, and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, Wilde refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890).
The opportunity to construct aesthetic details precisely, and combine them with larger social themes, drew Wilde to write drama. He wrote Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but he was refused a license for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, Wilde was brought down by a scandalous trial and conviction. While his play The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) was still being performed in London, Wilde prosecuted the Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel.
The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel trial unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and trial for gross indecency with men. After two more trials, he was convicted and sentenced to two years of hard labor, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897.
During his last year in prison, Wilde wrote De Profundis, a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials, forming a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On his release, he left immediately for France and never returned to Ireland or Britain. There he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life. Although Oscar Wilde's life was marred by scandal and controversy, his contribution to English literature continues to be celebrated to this day.
Olivia Wilde Bio
Name
Olivia Wilde
Birth Name
Olivia Jane Cockburn
Date of Birth
March 10, 1984
Birth Place
New York City, U.S
Nationality
United States
Profession
American actress and Filmmaker
Details
Specifications
Oscar Wilde Bio
Name
Oscar Wilde
Birth Name
Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde
Date of Birth
16 October 1854
Birth Place
Dublin, Ireland
Nationality
Ireland
Profession
Irish poet and playwright
Death Date
30 November 1900
Details
Specifications
Is Olivia Wilde Related to Oscar Wilde - FAQs
No, Olivia Wilde is not directly related to Oscar Wilde.
Olivia Wilde's birth name is Olivia Jane Cockburn.
Olivia Wilde took the surname Wilde as her stage name out of admiration and respect for Oscar Wilde's work.
Olivia Wilde is an American actress and filmmaker known for her roles in House, Tron: Legacy, and her directorial debut, Booksmart.
While there is no direct familial connection between Olivia Wilde and Oscar Wilde, she has taken his surname as her stage name as a tribute to his literary contributions and influence.