Rebel Wilson

Rebel Wilson

Wilson at the Sydney premiere of A Few Best Men, in January 2012.
Born Rebel Melanie Elizabeth Wilson
3 February 1986[1][2]
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alma mater University of New South Wales
Occupation Comedian, actress, writer, entrepreneur
Years active 2003–present

Rebel Melanie Elizabeth Wilson[3] (born 3 February 1986[4]) is an Australian stand-up comedian actress, writer, and entrepreneur. She began appearing as Toula in the SBS comedy series Pizza and the sketch comedy series The Wedge. In 2008, Wilson wrote, produced and starred in the musical comedy series Bogan Pride. The following year, she won the Tropfest Best Actress award for her role in Bargain and made a guest appearance in City Homicide. Shortly after moving to the United States, she was cast in her breakthrough role in the feature film Bridesmaids.

She also appeared in A Few Best Men, What to Expect When You're Expecting and Struck by Lightning,Bachelorette and starred in the musical comedy Pitch Perfect as Fat Amy and will reprise her role in the sequel. Wilson then created and starred in Super Fun Night, a television comedy that began airing on the ABC network on 2 October 2013 and was cancelled on 9 May 2014 after only one season.

Early life and education

Wilson was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.[5] Her parents were professional dog handlers, and they named Wilson after a girl who sang at their wedding.[6][7][8]

She grew up in the suburbs of Kenthurst, Parramatta and Castle Hill.[9][10] While attending Tara Anglican School for Girls she went by her middle names to avoid being teased.[3][11][12] Wilson has three siblings; sisters Liberty and Annachi, and brother, Ryot.[6][8][13] Liberty and Ryot appeared on the first season of The Amazing Race Australia in 2011.[14] Wilson's great-aunt was Lillian Bounds, who was married to Walt Disney.[15]

Her first career choice was mathematics. Wilson told The Sydney Morning Herald, "I was very academic at high school and was always good with numbers."[16] Wilson attended the University of New South Wales, where she studied Law and Arts (Theatre and Performance Studies).[16] A former Rotary International Youth Ambassador for Australia, she was based in South Africa for one year, where she contracted malaria.[7][16] In the throes of the disease, Wilson had hallucinations in which she saw herself as an actress who had won an Oscar. This then convinced her to pursue an acting career.[7]

Career

Wilson studied at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP).[17] In 2003 she moved to New York after winning the ATYP International scholarship, which was funded by Nicole Kidman. While she was in New York, Wilson trained with The Second City.[18][19] She appeared with the Sydney Theatre Company and performed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.[17] She first came to the public's attention with her stage musical The Westie Monologues, which she wrote, starred in and produced in Sydney.[20] Her follow-up stage productions, which she wrote, produced and starred in include Spunks and Confessions of an Exchange Student.[16][21]

In Australia, Wilson is most known for her roles as Toula on Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) comedy series Pizza and as various characters including Lucy, Fat Mandi and Karla Bangs on the sketch comedy series The Wedge.[7] Wilson played an Australian Idol mad schoolgirl in a series of Telstra advertisements shown during Australian Idol from 2004 to 2005.[22] She also had roles in the feature films Fat Pizza and Ghost Rider.[23] In 2008 Wilson created, wrote, produced and starred in the musical comedy series Bogan Pride on SBS One and also starred in the improvisational Nine Network series Monster House.[7][23] In 2009 Wilson won the Tropfest Best Actress award for her role in the film Bargain.[24] She has made appearances on the improvisational comedy show Thank God You're Here and the comedy game show Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation.[17][25] She performed stand-up on the television special The Breast Darn Show In Town.[26] Wilson guest starred in the Seven Network drama City Homicide and performed improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles.[27][28]

After moving to the United States, Wilson signed to talent and literary agents William Morris Endeavor.[29] Her next film role came in the Judd Apatow film Bridesmaids, where she played Brynn, the sister of Matt Lucas' character.[29] Wilson then appeared in the CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement and on the Comedy Central series, Workaholics.[30] She co-hosted the 2010 ARIA Music Awards and performed at the inaugural Variety’s Power of Comedy event in Los Angeles with Lucas and Russell Brand.[30][31] In early 2011, Wilson filmed A Few Best Men at Fox Studios Australia.[32] She also filmed a role in Small Apartments.[33] On 11 July 2011, it was announced Wilson had joined the ensemble comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting as Janice.[33] She has also joined the upcoming Indie film, Struck By Lightning.[34] Wilson was named one of Variety magazine's "Top Ten Comics to Watch for 2011".[7]

On 19 August 2011, Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter reported Wilson had replaced Casey Wilson in Bachelorette.[35] In 2012, Wilson voiced a character in Ice Age: Continental Drift[35] and played Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect. For the latter role, Wilson received various award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress from the San Diego Film Critics Society and Best Actress in a Comedy from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.[36][37] She won the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and shared the Best Musical Moment award with her Pitch Perfect co-stars. Wilson was also nominated for Best Female Performance.[38] Wilson later won the Choice Movie Actress: Comedy award for Pitch Perfect at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards.[39] She was also nominated for Choice Comedian.[40]

In January 2012, Michael Ausiello of TVLine announced Wilson would be writing and starring in Super Fun Night, a comedy that follows three friends on a quest to have fun every Friday night.[41] The pilot was picked up by CBS and Conan O'Brien became one of the executive producers.[41] The pilot was later turned down by CBS, but the ABC network picked up the project.[42] A series was ordered and the show began broadcasting on 2 October 2013.[43] The series was cancelled after only one season.[44] Wilson played Robin Peck in Michael Bay's Pain & Gain (2013).[45][46] She also hosted the 2013 MTV Movie Awards on 14 April 2013.[47] In March 2014, the American satellite television network DISH launched a marketing campaign for its Hopper DVR featuring Wilson as the voice of the eponymous computer animated kangaroo.[48]

Wilson has joined the voice cast for Kung Fu Panda 3, scheduled for release 26 January 2016.[49] She will also appear in Pitch Perfect 2, the action comedy Grimsby, and a remake of Private Benjamin.[50][51] Wilson has been cast in The Social Life alongside Amanda Seyfried, and the ensemble comedy How to Be Single.[52][53]

Personal life

In July 2011, Wilson became a spokesperson for weight loss and nutrition company Jenny Craig in Australia.[5][54] In January 2012, Wilson revealed to James Wigney and Elle Halliwell of The Daily Telegraph that she had lost 10 kilograms (22 lb) since signing up to the program.[55]

She revealed that the producers of Pitch Perfect had refused to let her lose any more weight during filming, as her contract stated she must stay the same size.[55] Wilson said once her film commitments were over, she would start her diet again to reach her target weight of 80 kilograms (180 lb).[55] In February 2013, Wilson confirmed that she had ended her agreement with Jenny Craig the previous year.[56]

As of September 2012, Wilson lives with her Bridesmaids co-star Matt Lucas in West Hollywood.[57]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Fat Pizza Toula
2007 Ghost Rider Girl in Alley
2009 Bargain! Linda Tropfest Award for Best Actress
2011 Bridesmaids Brynn
2011 A Few Best Men Daphne Ramme
2012 Bachelorette Becky
2012 Small Apartments Rocky
2012 This Means War Cameo
2012 Struck by Lightning Malerie Baggs
2012 What to Expect When You're Expecting Janice
2012 Ice Age: Continental Drift Raz Voice
2012 Pitch Perfect Fat Amy Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie Actress: Comedy
MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Moment
Online Film & Television Association Award for Breakthrough Performance
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress in a Comedy
Nominated – Detroit Film Critics Society for Breakthrough Performance
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance
Nominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
2013 Pain & Gain Robin Peck
2014 Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Tilly
2015 Pitch Perfect 2[58] Fat Amy
2016 Grimsby Filming
2016 Kung Fu Panda 3 Mei Mei Post-production
2016 How to Be Single Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003–07 Pizza Toula Recurring cast; Seasons 3-5, Pizza World and Pizza World Record
2006–07 The Wedge Various characters Series regular; 48 episodes
2007–09 Thank God You're Here Herself/Various characters Episodes: "3.04", "3.09", "4.03" & "4.09"
2008 Bogan Pride Jennie Cragg Series regular; 6 episodes
2008 Monster House Penelope Webb Series regular; 10 episodes
2009 Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation Generation Y Guest Episode: "Series 1, Episode 3"
2009 City Homicide Sarah Gilbert Episode: "Dead Weight"
2009 The Breast Darn Show in Town Herself Comedy gala
2010 Rules of Engagement Sara Episode: "Les-bros"
2011 Workaholics Big Money Hustla Episode: "Straight Up Juggahos"
2013 Can of Worms Herself Episode: "Season 3, Episode 2"
2013 2013 MTV Movie Awards Host
2013–14 Super Fun Night Kimmie Boubier Lead role

References

  1. ↑ "Rebel off to New York to hone comic craft". smh.com.au. 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Pride of place in bogan-ville". theage.com.au. 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Miller, Megan (19 November 2011). "The Q&A with actor Rebel Wilson". Herald Sun (The Herald and Weekly Times). Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  4. ↑ http://rebel-wilson.org/may-2015-elle-uk-magazine-scans/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Rebel Wilson". Jenny Craig, Australia & New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Rebel Wilson on Her Family". The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 11 November 2013. NBCUniversal. I've got two sisters, Liberty and Annachi and my brother Ryot...and what's her [mother's] name? Sue.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Blair, Iain (26 July 2011). "Rebel Wilson: Oz Star Gets Bridesmaids Boost". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Field, Melissa (6 November 2011). "Winning Laughs and Losing Weight". The Daily Telegraph (News Limited). Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Rebel Wilson's road to tinsel town". OK! Australia. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Don't be mocking the moccasins.". The Age. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "Elle interview: Rebel Wilson". Elle Australia. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  12. ↑ Yamato, Jen (7 September 2012). "From Bridesmaids To Bachelorette: Why Rebel Wilson Is The Most Interesting Woman In Hollywood". Movieline.com. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Rebel Wilson, Craig Ferguson (3 June 2011). The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (Worldwide Pants Incorporated).
  14. ↑ Shearer, Geoff (17 May 2011). "Rebel sets pace for siblings". The Courier-Mail (Queensland Newspapers). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  15. ↑ Mills, Nancy (11 October 2013). "Funny girl Rebel Wilson's 'Super Fun Night' inspiration". USA Today. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Wilson, Vanessa (29 May 2002). "A push over on stage". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 15 August 2011. That lead to the 22-year-old's first play, The Westie Monologues, and her springboard to life as a playwright. And actor. And producer. And theatre company director.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Meet the cast - Rebel Wilson". Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  18. ↑ Pryor, Lisa (25 September 2002). "Rebel off to New York to hone comic craft". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  19. ↑ "Rebel Wilson Credits Nicole Kidman With Movie Career". Contactmusic.com. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  20. ↑ Verity, William (25 November 2002). "Rebel with a cause to liberate westies by poking fun". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  21. ↑ Bragge, Lily (9 April 2005). "Comedy". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  22. ↑ Knox, David (2 October 2008). "Bogan Pride". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 McManus, Bridget (25 September 2008). "Pride of place in bogan-ville". WAtoday (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  24. ↑ Kent, Melissa (1 March 2009). "About Town". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  25. ↑ Beaumont, Anita (19 May 2009). "Highlights". Newcastle Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  26. ↑ "The Breast Darn Show In Town". Comedy Central. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  27. ↑ "City Homicide: Dead Weight - S03E19". Throng. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  28. ↑ "Congratulations UCBT Performers Named in Variety’s 10 Comics To Watch". Upright Citizens Brigade. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Our Rebel Wilson is Matt Lucas' secret sister in next movie Bridesmaids". The Daily Telegraph (News Limited). 24 May 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Knox, David (21 October 2010). "When Rebel met Joan". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  31. ↑ "Variety’s Power Of Comedy Presented By Sims 3 In Partnership With Bing". Life. Time Warner. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  32. ↑ "Aussie Rebel without a pause in America". The Advertiser (News Limited). 26 May 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Murphy, Shaunna (11 July 2011). "'Bridesmaids' scene-stealer Rebel Wilson joins 'What To Expect When You're Expecting'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Warner. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  34. ↑ McNary, Dave (25 July 2011). "Wilson rides Colfer's 'Lightning'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Borys, Kit (19 August 2011). "'Bridesmaids' Co-Star Ramps Up Movie Roles (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  36. ↑ "San Diego Film Critics Nominate Top Films for 2012". San Diego Film Critics Society. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  37. ↑ "'Lincoln' leads the 18th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards nominations with a record 13 noms". Broadcast Film Critics Association. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  38. ↑ Goodacre, Kate (15 April 2013). "MTV Movie Awards 2013 - The winners in full". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  39. ↑ "Teen Choice Awards 2013: Live Blog". The Wall Street Journal (News Corp). 11 August 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  40. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (22 May 2013). "Teen Choice Awards 2013: First wave nominees in full". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Ausiello, Michael (26 January 2012). "Pilot Scoop: CBS Greenlights Super Fun Comedy Starring Bridesmaids Breakout Rebel Wilson". TVLine. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  42. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (5 June 2012). "Rebel Wilson's CBS Comedy Pilot 'Super Fun Night' Close To New Order At ABC". Deadline.com. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  43. ↑ Bricker, Tierney (10 May 2013). "News/ ABC Scoop: Rebel Wilson's Super Fun Night, Bridesmaids Star's Conan O'Brien-Produced Comedy Ordered to Series". E! Online. NBCUniversal. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  44. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda. "'Suburgatory', 'Super Fun Night' Canceled by ABC". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  45. ↑ Vary, Adam B. (27 March 2012). "Rebel Wilson to Join Michael Bay's True Crime Drama 'Pain and Gain'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Warner. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  46. ↑ "Cast – Rebel Wilson". Paramount Pictures. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  47. ↑ "Rebel Wilson named as host of MTV Movie Awards". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). 21 December 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  48. ↑ "DISH Launches New Marketing Campaign Featuring Voice of Award-Winning Actress Rebel Wilson as Hopper the Kangaroo". DISH Network. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  49. ↑ Luoma, Sarah (10 April 2013). "Bryan Cranston, Mads Mikkelsen, Rebel Wilson join Kung Fu Panda 3". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  50. ↑ Billups, Andrea (9 May 2014). "Rebel Wilson to Star in Private Benjamin Remake". People. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  51. ↑ Kroll, Justin. "Rebel Wilson Joins Sacha Baron Cohen in Sony's 'Grimsby' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  52. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (17 April 2014). "Sony Buys Lauryn Kahn Spec 'I'm In Love With The DJ' For Gary Sanchez". Deadline.com. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  53. ↑ Ford, Rebecca; Kit, Borys (29 January 2015). "Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Dan Stevens Joining 'How to Be Single' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  54. ↑ "Rebel Wilson seeks to slim down for career". Herald Sun (The Herald and Weekly Times). 19 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 Wigney, James; Halliwell, Elle (22 January 2012). "Why Rebel Wilson will be staying big in Hollywood". The Daily Telegraph (News Limited). Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  56. ↑ Christie, Joel (19 February 2013). "Rebel Wilson talks on split with Jenny Craig". The Daily Telegraph (News Limited). Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  57. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (3 September 2012). "'Bridesmaids' Rebel Wilson, Matt Lucas live together, annoy neighbours". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  58. ↑ Jagernauth, Kevin (16 April 2013). "Universal Planning 'Pitch Perfect 2' For 2015 Release". Deadline.com. Retrieved 19 May 2013.

External links

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