Robin Wright opened up about a difficult incident from her younger years involving a well-known director who she described as someone who “really doesn’t like women.” The actress recounted this experience during the September 10 episode of the How to Fail podcast, recalling how the encounter left her in tears.
Wright explained that she was very young and shy at the time, traveling by helicopter with this director to a remote film set located in the middle of a desert in California, where they were to meet a pair of famous actors he was directing. The isolated setting heightened her anxiety as she faced the situation alone.
A Lone Meeting That Turned Uncomfortable
Upon arriving, Wright was escorted into a trailer to meet the star but found herself unexpectedly met with silence instead of introduction or greeting. She described her nervousness vividly, saying her heart was racing and she was sweating, unsure how to proceed in what she thought would be a standard formal introduction.
She continued, explaining that when no introductions took place, she felt compelled to initiate the conversation herself despite her inexperience. Instead, the director sharply commanded her to “Speak,” which overwhelmed her so much that she left the trailer and ran into the desert to cry.
An Unexpected Gesture of Kindness in a Harsh Situation
Outside, the temperature was over 100 degrees, intensifying Wright’s distress. Thankfully, a very established older actor who had been present in the trailer noticed her struggling and showed concern. Wright remembered how he found her squatting in the shade, warning her about the risk of heat stroke and guiding her back to the air-conditioned trailer.
Feeling shaken, Wright asked if a driver could be arranged to take her to the airport, and she promptly left the location to escape the situation.
Reflecting on the Incident and Its Impact
Looking back, Wright acknowledged that while the story may not sound extraordinarily severe to some, the emotional weight was immense. She emphasized how such treatment at a young, impressionable age triggered a shyness that stayed with her for a long time.
Now an accomplished director herself, Wright firmly stated she would never subject anyone under her direction to similar treatment. She credited her experiences working on House of Cards for encouraging her to take on directing roles.
Addressing younger people in the industry, she said,
“What that does when you’re young and you’re very impressionable is it makes you trigger shy,”
and added,
“That’s why it’s so cool to be older and you feel for the youngins.”
