Her first name is Rebel and her first screen role was in the movie Fat Pizza (2003) which, of course, has nothing to do with her girth. In the trailer of How To Be Single, which will be released on February 12, Rebel Wilson encapsulates everything about being overweight, single, and a rebel. So who is Rebel Wilson really? All of it and more.
Born in Sydney on March 2, 1980, as Melanie Bownds, and trained in theatre, Wilson appeared in the hit Australian television series Pizza (2000) and several other comedy shows. She also wrote the musical comedy series Bogan Pride in 2008 while accepting bit parts in big-budget films, including Ghost Rider (2007). But it was not until she moved to the United States of America that she found worldwide fame.
Wilson’s cameo in the alternative chick flick Bridesmaids (2011) prompted the American entertainment trade magazine Variety to call her one of the “ten best comics to watch” out for. “Rebel Wilson may not yet be a household name in the States, but thanks to her scene-stealing role as Kristen Wiig’s roommate in the smash hit Bridesmaids, her career has gone turbo-charged almost overnight,” Variety noted.
This led to the part of Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect (2012), which won her critical acclaim. Wilson reprised her role in the sequel Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and will also appear in the third installment slated for 2017.
Wilson’s charm offensive stems from her persona. She plays each part with an equal combination of sexiness and sass, and her unconventional looks only boost her talents.
“Being unique and different was a really good thing,” Wilson said about her experiences when she began her career. ” When I walked into my agents' office for the first time, they looked at me and said, ‘Wow, we have nobody on our books like you.’ And they signed me on my second day here.”
She believes in shaming those who look down upon her for not being the “perfect bod” and using her body to her advantage. “I wouldn’t ever want to compete with what I call ‘the glamours’—the really gorgeous people. I’m about the brain, the heart and what's on the inside. I feel really lucky to be the body type I am.”
Wilson’s comedic timing makes her look effortless. “In comedy, you have to use your physicality as well, and sometimes you get criticism,” Wilson points out. “But if I had a big nose, I’d always use that, because that’s what you have to do.”
Her ability to laugh at herself has become her calling card. In the comedy The Brothers Grimsby, Wilson is paired opposite Sacha Baron Cohen. Her agent thinks she is quite sexy in the movie.
“And that's weird because I’m deliberately trying to be grotesque—but apparently it comes off as kind-of hot,” Wilson said.
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