Rising Star: Rebel Wilson
by Melissa Haggar
It is now common practice that actors regularly change or adjust their birth names slightly when they make the transition to the world of acting, either due to their birth name being taken, or to simply want to reinvent themselves as something different. It’s certainly not a rare occurrence in the showbiz (think Lady Gaga, Whoopi Goldberg, Emma Stone – the list could go on), so what do you call yourself when your original name is Melanie Bownds? Rebel Wilson, of course. Staying true to her name, Rebel has caused quite a shake-up in Hollywood, as the comedic actress who has plenty of one liners tucked up her sleeve, and she certainly doesn’t have trouble securing roles when she needs them.
Starting from more humble acting beginnings, Rebel Wilson started her film acting career in Fat Pizza, based upon the television series that she also starred in, as Toula. But her big break came when she was cast in an ensemble role in Bridesmaids, alongside Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Melissa McCarthy. Wilson portrayed Brynn, the sister of Matt Lucas’ character, and her delivery was effortlessly funny, and attracted plenty of attention, as mainstream audiences started to get a glimpse into what sort of actress she was and her talents for comedy as well as entertainment. After a string of roles in several smaller films like Struck by Lightning, alongside Chris Colfer, and What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Wilson well and truly hit the big time after gaining a role in Pitch Perfect. As ‘Fat Amy’, Wilson showed audiences what she was capable of when given a centre stage role, and she was every bit as confident, exaggerated, and hilarious as her character should be. Her performance was heralded as a ‘break-through’, winning her several awards including two MTV Movie Awards and a Teen Choice Award, and firmly securing her a place in the mainstream acting world. Of course, Rebel got a chance to revive this role in the sequel, Pitch Perfect 2, and looks set to portray the character again in rumoured sequel Pitch Perfect 3. Wilson also took on a smaller role in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb as Tilly, who has a bit of a love affair with a caveman, and her attempt at a funny British accent was one of the more hilarious moments of the film, and she managed to make her character one of the more underrated in the entire piece.
Her comedic performances rely on her innate ability to be funny, and while some actors manage to garner a few laughs through sheer determination, Wilson is able to fully immerse herself and use her own personality to achieve the exact desired effect she is aiming for, whether it be utilizing her acting skills for a more subtle delivery, or adopting a more slapstick approach. This alone makes her worthy of being our ‘Rising Star’, and no doubt Wilson will get the chance to use her skills in her upcoming roles as Robin in How to Be Single and Lindsey in Grimsby, which should reaffirm her as one to watch in the future.
It is now common practice that actors regularly change or adjust their birth names slightly when they make the transition to the world of acting, either due to their birth name being taken, or to simply want to reinvent themselves as something different. It’s certainly not a rare occurrence in the showbiz (think Lady Gaga, Whoopi Goldberg, Emma Stone – the list could go on), so what do you call yourself when your original name is Melanie Bownds? Rebel Wilson, of course. Staying true to her name, Rebel has caused quite a shake-up in Hollywood, as the comedic actress who has plenty of one liners tucked up her sleeve, and she certainly doesn’t have trouble securing roles when she needs them.
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tarting from more humble acting beginnings, Rebel Wilson started her film acting career in Fat Pizza, based upon the television series that she also starred in, as Toula. But her big break came when she was cast in an ensemble role in Bridesmaids, alongside Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Melissa McCarthy. Wilson portrayed Brynn, the sister of Matt Lucas’ character, and her delivery was effortlessly funny, and attracted plenty of attention, as mainstream audiences started to get a glimpse into what sort of actress she was and her talents for comedy as well as entertainment. After a string of roles in several smaller films like Struck by Lightning, alongside Chris Colfer, and What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Wilson well and truly hit the big time after gaining a role in Pitch Perfect. As ‘Fat Amy’, Wilson showed audiences what she was capable of when given a centre stage role, and she was every bit as confident, exaggerated, and hilarious as her character should be. Her performance was heralded as a ‘break-through’, winning her several awards including two MTV Movie Awards and a Teen Choice Award, and firmly securing her a place in the mainstream acting world. Of course, Rebel got a chance to revive this role in the sequel, Pitch Perfect 2, and looks set to portray the character again in rumoured sequel Pitch Perfect 3. Wilson also took on a smaller role in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb as Tilly, who has a bit of a love affair with a caveman, and her attempt at a funny British accent was one of the more hilarious moments of the film, and she managed to make her character one of the more underrated in the entire piece.
Her comedic performances rely on her innate ability to be funny, and while some actors manage to garner a few laughs through sheer determination, Wilson is able to fully immerse herself and use her own personality to achieve the exact desired effect she is aiming for, whether it be utilizing her acting skills for a more subtle delivery, or adopting a more slapstick approach. This alone makes her worthy of being our ‘Rising Star’, and no doubt Wilson will get the chance to use her skills in her upcoming roles as Robin in How to Be Single and Lindsey in Grimsby, which should reaffirm her as one to watch in the future.
How To Be Single is out nw!
