Olivia Wilde Was 'Happy' Florence Pugh Said Don't Worry Darling Was 'Bigger' Than Its Sex Scenes

Presley Ann/Getty; Kevin Mazur/WireImage; David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Olivia Wilde, Harry Styles, Florence Pugh

Olivia Wilde is addressing the sex scenes in her latest film, Don't Worry Darling.

Wilde, who both directed and stars in the thriller, said she believes the sex scenes between Harry Styles and Florence Pugh — and the headlines they generated — overshadowed the actual film.

In an interview for ELLE's 2022 Women in Hollywood issue, the 38-year-old filmmaker shared her frustration. "It's interesting because Florence very wisely pointed out that a lot of attention has been given to the sex scenes," Wilde said.

"And I think she's so right," the actress told ELLE. "I completely agree with her that it's overshadowing everything else that the movie's about, which is so interestingly ironic because one of the uses of sex in Victory [the fictional location where the movie takes place] is as a tool of distraction."

Cass Bird/ELLE Olivia Wilde for ELLE

RELATED:  Olivia Wilde Says She and Florence Pugh 'Worked Very Well Together' on Don't Worry Darling

"When Florence pointed that out that this film is so much bigger and better than just the sex scenes, I was so happy that she said that because I feel the same way," the Booksmart director said.

The interview also appeared to address rumors of an ongoing feud between Wilde and the film's leading lady, Pugh.

RELATED VIDEO: A Complete Timeline of the Don't Worry Darling Drama

Wilde seconded comments that Pugh, 26, has made about the film's intense publicity run to ELLE.

"It is shocking to see so many untruths about yourself traded as fact," she said. "Florence had a really wise comment that we didn't sign up for a reality show."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"And I love that she put it that way, because it's as though the general public feels that if you are making something that you're selling to the public, you somehow have accepted that your life will be torn to shreds by a pack of wolves," Wilde added. "No, that's actually not part of the job description. Never was."

"[Florence is] so generous in her acting in every scene," Wilde told ELLE. "She makes everyone around her better."