Podbit · Call Her Daddy
Esther Perel wasn't just an inspiration for The Invite — she was Olivia Wilde's actual therapist years ago, then the film's official consultant. Penélope Cruz even based her character directly on Perel, letting audiences essentially spend the film hanging out with the world's most famous relationship therapist.
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At 3:10 · chapter starts 1:52
Alex Cooper sets the scene with characteristic intimacy — pregnancy snacks, heating pad, no phone — before praising The Invite for its psychological nuance and modern relationship dynamics. Wilde lights up at the mention of Esther Perel, revealing that Perel wasn't just an inspiration but her actual therapist. She explains reading Mating in Captivity 20 years ago without fully understanding it, then spending two decades in relationships before the film finally unlocked it. The script, written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormick from a Spanish play, felt Perelian from the start — so Wilde brought the therapist herself in as a full consultant. The result: Penélope Cruz built her entire character on Perel, giving audiences a chance to spend the film with a fictionalized version of the world's most famous relationship therapist [1] — Olivia Wilde "Esther Perel wasn't just an inspiration for The Invite — she was Olivia Wilde's actual therapist years ago, then the film's official consul…" 03:10 .
Olivia Wilde revealed that relationship therapist and author Esther Perel was her personal therapist for a period, and later became the official consultant on The Invite.
Wilde said she read Esther Perel's book Mating in Captivity 20 years ago and it blew her mind, but she didn't truly understand it until going through enough relationships herself.
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