Olivia Wilde has returned to TV for her first series since House in HBO’s recently-debuted Vinyl. Wilde plays Devon Finestra, who we first meet in the 1970s, alongside her record producer Richie husband, (Bobby Cannavale), in a music industry-centric series from the impressive trio of Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter and his fellow executive producers Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger.
I spoke to Wilde about Vinyl and Devon’s intriguing backstory and history — both with and without Bobby — and how there is much more to the role than it may seem at a glance.
IGN: When you’re first introduced in the pilot, it’s in a very domestic situation, and I’ll admit, my first thought was, “I hope she’s not just playing ‘the wife.’” But what stood out to me was the moment when he mentions being at this club and you casually go, ‘Oh are they still selling sex there?” She’s clearly knowledgeable about his world.
Wilde: It’s interesting that you picked that up because that was something Bobby and I really loved about that scene. It established that these two are best friends. She’s supportive. He’s honest with her about everything. The only line she has that he’s not allowed to cross is sobriety. That’s why that scene at the end [of the pilot] is so destructive, because there’s one thing she asks. And you find out later in the season why they both had to become sober and why it’s an important decision and why he’s clearly disturbed past the point of self-recognition. He is now in a dark place that has caused him to forget this agreement and decide, as she says, that they’re not worth it any more. But I love that scene and I love that specific line. It says so much about their relationship. And going forward, as Devon and Richie go through this intense change and everything falls apart, you see that connection is something that can’t be dismantled. The respect and love they have for each other, that connection, that friendship is something real and stable that can never go away.