Rebel Wilson

Rebel Wilson (born Melanie Elizabeth Bownds on March 2, 1980 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian actress, comedian, writer, and producer. Rebel has come a long way to becoming one of the top names in the world of comedy – and she’s come from all the way Down Under! From her humble beginnings on Australian television to her star-making performances in Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect, Rebel has found her place in the spotlight.

Career

The women who the world would come to know as Rebel Wilson was raised in the suburbs of Kenthurst, Parramatta, and Castle Hill in her native Australia. She earned the nickname “Rebel” as a youth and would adopt it as her stage name when her career took off. Though the exact details in her childhood have been up for debate, Rebel did attend the Australian Theatre for Young People in the early 2000s. In 2003, after winning the ATYP International Scholarship, she moved to New York to hone her craft. While in the States, Rebel studied with The Second City, working on the comedy chops that would make her a superstar.

After returning home to Australia, Rebel appeared with the Sydney Theatre Company and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Her stage musical, The Westie Monologues, gained some local notoriety. He follow-up stage productions – Spunks and Confessions of an Exchange Student – continued to build a buzz around her, and this would result in her first major television role. Rebel landed a spot on Pizza, playing the character Toula on the SBS comedy series. In 2006, she joined the cast of The Wedge, an Australian sketch show. She also showcased her talents on Thank God You’re Here, an Australian Improv series.

Rebel made the decision to pursue her career stateside. She relocated to Los Angeles in 2011. She landed a role in Judd Apatow’s Bridesmaids, a role that was specifically written for her. From there, she appeared in a handful of sitcoms and Variety named her one of the “Top Ten Comics to Watch for 2011.” Her next real big shot of fame – arguably, her breakthrough – came in 2012. Rebel was cast as Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect, a role that won her critical acclaim and various award nominations. She reprised the role in the sequels – Pitch Perfect 2 and Pitch Perfect 3.

In addition to those movies, Rebel had notable roles in 2013’s Pain & Gain, 2014’s Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, and in 2016’s Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. In 2019, she starred opposite Anne Hathaway in The Hustle, the gender-flipped remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. That year, she also appeared in Taika Watiti’s Jojo Rabbit, and the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway hit, Cats.

Personal Life

Rebel has been romantically connected to a number of men, though she has been mostly quiet about her private life. She’s been linked to Jeff Beacher, Aden Stay, and Mickey Gooch Jr. In 2020, she and billionaire Jacob Busch saw their friendship blossom into a romantic relationship.

Though she became famous for playing Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect, Rebel has worked hard to maintain control of her weight. In 2020, she revealed she has lost over 40 pounds thanks to diet and exercise.

The Most Popular Questions About Rebel Wilson

How Old is Rebel Wilson?

As of 2020, Rebel Wilson is 40 years old. Her age stirred up much (ridiculous) controversy over the years. In 2016, Rebel sued Bauer Media Group for defamation. A year prior, one of Bauer’s publications, Woman’s Day, published a story claiming Rebel had been dishonest in her age, her birth name, and her upbringing. The story was picked up by a number of publications. Rebel’s lawsuit claimed that articles in Women’s Day, the Australian Women’s Weekly, NW, and OK! made her out to be a serial liar, and that this ruined her credit and reputation. In 2017, a six-person jury ruled in favor of Rebel, awarding her A$4.5 million in damages. Bauer Media appealed the amount, and in 2018, it was reduced to $600k.

What is Rebel Wilson’s Weight Loss Goals?

In 2020, Rebel Wilson declared that she was embarking on a ‘year of health’, after putting in hard work to reach her own goal weight. In fact, she declared herself ‘Fit Amy’ when she realized she was just a few pounds away from her goal.  Rebel has been very upfront about her fitness journey, explaining that after years of ‘eating more‘ to gain weight for roles in Hollywood, she decided to examine her eating habits to live a new lifestyle. “I turned 40 as well in March and so I thought, this is gonna be it. This is going to be the year for me to just concentrate on the health benefits,” she told The Sun in 2020.