Olivia Wilde’s son enabled her to bring her interpretation of her ‘Meadowland’ character to "another level".
The 31-year-old actress gave birth to Otis shortly before she began filming the new movie, which tells the story of a woman who struggles to cope with the loss of a young son.
While the subject matter could have been difficult for Olivia to deal with so soon after becoming a mother herself, she insists that parenthood gave her the chance to bring a new aspect to her character.
She said: "It [having Otis] made it a lot more intense. I found myself going home at the end of the night and feeling incredibly grateful to be alive, and to have my son, and for him to be alive. People have asked me after every single screening how I could possibly work on this film while having a new child and did I go home depressed every day? But of course, it’s the opposite.
"I went home so elated because I had recognised my good fortune. Sometimes it takes the exploration of darkness to recognise light. I find that it’s important for people to engage in the more difficult stories to be able to recognise the positive parts of life."
Olivia stars alongside Luke Wilson in the film, which she also produced, and says having the chance to be behind the camera as well as in front of it is something every actor should do at some point in their career.
She added to Deadline: "Every actor should at some point in their lives produce and/or direct because it certainly fuels your resolve on set as an actor to do the best job you can. Because you’re suddenly very aware of what a miracle it is to get a movie done."
Olivia Wilde: Motherhood made Meadowland more intense
