Olivia Wilde’s career isn’t limited to acting; over time, the actress has proven her directorial skills. Throughout her career, she has delivered incredible work as both an actor and a director. In 2019, Wilde ventured into filmmaking and directed a teen comedy film, Booksmart. Although the film didn’t perform well at the box office, it holds a special place in Wilde’s heart as her first directorial project.
One reason it’s special is that it caught the attention of Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks, who wrote a letter to her after watching Booksmart. Wilde greatly admires Hanks and was understandably thrilled to have her work recognized by him.
Olivia Wilde received a letter from Tom Hanks after her directorial debut
Olivia Wilde‘s directorial debut, Booksmart, was critically acclaimed and earned her the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Despite this recognition, the film didn’t achieve blockbuster status at the box office. However, this setback didn’t deter Wilde from pursuing more directorial projects. In 2022, she released her second film, Don’t Worry Darling which was a box office hit.
Her 2019 release, holds a special place in Wilde’s heart, not because it was critical acclaim or received various accolades, but because it caught the attention of Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks. During an interview, the actress shared that she had her fangirl moment when she received a letter from Hanks after her first directorial work on Booksmart. Wilde said,
“Tom Hanks wrote me a letter after Booksmart. [It was composed on a typewriter.] I gather this is a Hanksian practice.”
So it can be said that Wilde’s directorial debut may not have been a box office success, but it left an indelible mark on her career and heart, with the added honor of receiving a letter from legendary actor Tom Hanks.
Tom Hanks is that old-school guy we all admire
Though what’s written in the letter Wilde received from Hanks was never revealed by Wilde, yes, Hanks is someone who often surprises people with letters. There are a thousand reasons to admire Tom Hanks, and one of them is his down-to-earth attitude.
Just like Wilde, many other people got the honor of receiving a letter from Hanks. Previously, the actor made Corona, who hails from Australia. The boy initially wrote a heartfelt note addressing Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. The boy wrote the letter after knowing that Hanks and his wife had been infected by the coronavirus. The boy wrote,
“I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus,” the boy wrote. “Are you OK?”
Further, the little boy mentioned that he does like his name, but since the pandemic has hit, kids at his school often bully him by calling him “coronavirus.” In response to the letter, Hanks wrote,
“Dear Friend Corona. Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful! Thank you for being such a good friend – friends make friends feel good when they are down.”
Along with the letter, Hanks also sent Corona a ‘Corona-brand typewriter’, which he used during the pandemic.
