Who is Olivia Wilde, what has she starred in and relationship timeline with Harry Styles

Olivia Wilde recently made the news after she won a custody battle against her ex-partner, actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis.

Sudeikis wanted their two children to live with him in New York, rather than with Wilde, but according to papers seen by Page Six, a judge has now declared that as their home state is California his claim is dismissed.

The former couple ended their relationship in November 2020, after a seven-year engagement, and they have two children, Otis (7), and Daisy (4).

It was also reported that Wilde claimed her ex intentionally tried to “threaten” and “embarrass” her when she was unexpectedly handed custody papers on stage live at CinemaCon earlier this year.

But what was Olivia Wilde’s claim to fame? Here’s everything you need to know.

Who is Olivia Wilde and what is her age?

38-year-old Olivia Wilde was born Olivia Jane Cockburn in New York City.

Her mother, Leslie Cockburn, is a journalist and American producer on 60 Minutes. Her father, Andrew Cockburn, is also a journalist and the son of British novelist and journalist Claud Cockburn. Wilde has two siblings, a sister five years older and a brother nine years younger.

While in high school, she changed her surname to honour the writers in her family. It is influenced by Irish author Oscar Wilde.

Wilde’s breakthrough was on the short-lived television series Skin (2003–2004), as "Jewel Goldman". Following this, she then became known for her recurring role as Alex Kelly on the teen drama television series The O.C. (2004–2005).

Films she starred in early in her career include The Girl Next Door (2004), Conversations with Other Women (2005), Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas (2006), Turistas (2006) and Alpha Dog (2006).

Wilde has also appeared in theatre, in Beauty on the Vine, a political thriller, playing three different characters (2007).

Her mainstream career began in 2013, when she did a mix of acting, producing and directing. She featured in and executive produced Drinking Buddies (2013) and had a starring role in the film Her (2013), which received praise from the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

Wilde has even delved into music, directing a music video for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, as well as directing American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers video for the song "Dark Necessities".

Her directing break began with teen comedy Booksmart (2019). The film won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature at the 35th Independent Spirit Awards.

Wilde also directed the short film Wake Up, and will direct and play a supporting role in the upcoming Don’t Worry Darling, an erotic psychological thriller about a 1950s housewife.

What is Olivia Wilde’s relationship history?

At 19 years old, Wilde secretly married Italian filmmaker and musician Tao Ruspoli, a member of the aristocratic Ruspoli family. The marriage took place in Washington, Virginia, on a school bus with only a pair of witnesses. They later divorced in 2011.

Wilde began dating American actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis in November 2011. They became engaged in January 2013 and, as mentioned, have two children. Their relationship ended in November 2020.

What is Olivia Wilde’s relationship timeline with Harry Styles?

How did it all begin? In September 2020, Harry Styles joined the cast of Wilde's film Don't Worry Darling (he replaced Shia LaBeouf).

Fast forward a couple of months to December 2020, and Wilde praises Styles, telling Vogue “[Costume designer Arianne Phillips] and I did a little victory dance when we heard that we officially had Harry in the film because we knew that he has a real appreciation for fashion and style.”

“This movie is incredibly stylistic. It's very heightened and opulent, and I'm really grateful that he is so enthusiastic about that element of the process — some actors just don't care,” she added.

They were photographed holding hands in January 2021, with whispers that they could be dating. The next month, they even travelled to England together. In July of that year, the couple vacationed in Monte Argentario, Italy and were photographed kissing on a yacht.

And in April 2022, Styles told the world how happy he was to be with Wilde. "I feel the most comfortable I've been with myself and happiest with what I'm making and the best I felt about something that I'm making," he said, speaking to SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up.

“I also feel really happy at the moment and I feel like it's the first time I feel like I'm making music and putting music out from a real place of personal freedom," he shared. "And that is a really liberating place to [be] creating from and now putting it out.”

“What started out as a close friendship, quickly turned romantic,” a source exclusively revealed to PEOPLE at the time. “Everyone saw it coming. During breaks, he hasn’t been able to stay away and visited her trailer.”

A source also told PEOPLE in February 2021 that the couple seemed “very serious” and spent “all their time together” on the Don’t Worry Darling set.

Just recently, in May 2022, Styles reflected on being directed by Wilde in Don't Worry Darling. In an interview with Howard Stern for the latter’s SiriusXM show, he was asked “You fell in love on a movie set?”.

“I had a wonderful experience being directed by Olivia. I think there is something that obviously … acting is very uncomfortable at times. I think you have to trust a lot,” he responded.

He also noted, “Being able to trust your director is a gift. That was very helpful, and it really meant for a really nice experience working on that movie,” Styles said.