Olivia Wilde thinks her ''career started'' when she got divorced.

The 30-year-old actress - who has 16-month-old son Otis with fiancé Jason Sudeikis, 39 - finally learned to accept herself after her eight-year marriage to Tao Ruspoli ended when she was 27.

Asked if she had a point where she realised she didn't care about other people's opinions, she said: ''I was 27.I got a divorce, and I felt like I finally started my career. I started making movies and projects that I just really believed in.

''I remember a good friend saying to me, now isn't it relaxing that you don't have to be perfect?

''And I thought, that is something that happens for everyone, not just for professionals. At the end of your twenties, you realize you are inherently flawed, and that's great, and that's what makes you dynamic.

''For me, personally, it was around 27 when that kind of return to self took place, of living for myself, not living to keep up expectations.''

The 'Tron: Legacy' star believes women are smarter than men and is thankful she had a son before a daughter as people warned her she would worry about a boy's development if she already had a girl.

She explained to the 30th anniversary edition of America's ELLE magazine: ''We're so much smarter. You know, it's interesting having a son.

''Someone told me that it's good when you have a son first because when you have a daughter first and then a son, you think your son's slow.

''A lot of parents freak out because they've seen a daughter progress so quickly and they think their male child is like damaged. But boys are just naturally slow.''