Robin Wright Recounts Emotional Desert Meltdown After Director's Harsh Command
Robin Wright recounts an unforgettable and deeply emotional encounter with a "highly accomplished" director, which brought her to tears.
“I'll begin by saying this was a man who genuinely disliked women,” the 59-year-old Wright revealed on the September 10 Wednesday installment of the “How to Fail” podcast. She continued, “I was quite youthful and timid, journeying by helicopter with this director to an incredibly remote California desert location – truly, in the heart of nowhere, far from any set – to greet one or two exceptionally renowned actors under his direction.”
Wright described being “led into the trailer” for the introduction with the celebrity, remembering her extreme apprehension for the personal meeting.
“My heart was pounding, and I was perspiring profusely. I felt utterly lost for words,” the acclaimed actress recounted. “I anticipated the usual protocol, which, in my experience, involved being formally presented to the new individual upon entering.”
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She stated that there was “no introduction” whatsoever, only an uncomfortable “absolute quiet” filling the space.
“I began to believe it was my duty to initiate the conversation. I was so inexperienced then,” she elaborated. “He then sharply commanded, ‘Speak.’ I promptly exited the trailer, fleeing into the desert, where I broke down in tears.”
Wright mentioned the outdoor temperature exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit as she wept. The “highly esteemed veteran actor” present in the trailer showed immense compassion to Wright, extending his assistance.
“He emerged and found me crouched in the scant shade cast by a car, crying, and he warned, ‘You’re going to suffer from heat stroke,’” she recounted. “He then escorted me into the air-conditioned production trailer, where I requested, ‘Could someone arrange a driver for me to the airport?’ And I departed the location.”
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Wright admitted that looking back, the incident “might not seem particularly severe,” but acknowledged its “profound emotional impact.”
Having now become a director herself, Wright asserted she would “never” behave in such a manner. (During the same podcast, Wright commended her former House of Cards team for motivating her to pursue directing.)
“When you are young and highly susceptible, such experiences can make you hesitant to act,” she explained further. Later in the discussion, Wright commented, “That’s precisely why there’s such an advantage to being older, as you develop empathy for the younger generation.”
