Rebel Wilson's Memoir Hits Bookshelves Today, and It's Full of Some Shockers
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There’s so much more than meets the eye when it comes to actress Rebel Wilson. The dynamic force behind films “Pitch Perfect” and “Bridesmaids,” the comedian, writer, and producer from Sydney, Australia, reveals her deepest secrets in “Rebel Rising: A Memoir” (out today and published by Simon & Schuster). She’s sharp, charismatic, utterly hilarious, and often willing to embrace unconventional characters—which many would say is part of her charm. But like other leading ladies, her acting career is only part of her journey.
Rebel Rising: A Memoir
amazon.com
$21.00
In her memoir, she unveils the raw, unfiltered truth behind her path to stardom, fertility challenges, and adventures. And like other memoirs (think Britney Spears, Leah Remini, and Caitlin Jenner), the telling of said experiences does not avoid controversy.
She has hallucinated while on malaria, served as a dog show handler, and ignited a feud with an allegation about a co-star.
Wilson’s exploration of self-doubt, love, and the pursuit of acceptance aside, here are the biggest revelations from her highly anticipated book.
1. Wilson said Sacha Baron Cohen is a “massive a—hole.”
Wilson alleges in her new memoir that comedian Sacha Baron Cohen humiliated her on set and asked her to commit a lewd act while shooting a movie.
The initially unidentified star (Cohen) hired a crisis PR team to deal with the matter, according to Wilson herself. She went to Instagram Story to say, “I will not be bullied or silenced by high-priced lawyers or PR crisis managers.” Then she continued on the social media platform, “The ‘a—hole’ that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sacha Baron Cohen.”
Cohen and Wilson starred together in the 2016 action-comedy, “The Brothers Grimsby.” A People exclusive details parts of Wilson’s memoir, where she wrote, “It felt like every time I’d speak to SBC, he’d mention that he wanted me to go naked in a future scene. I was like, ‘Ha, I don’t do nudity, Sacha.’”
She continues in her account, “SBC summons me via a production assistant saying that I’m needed to film an additional scene. ‘Okay, well, we’re gonna film this extra scene,’ SBC says. Then he pulls his pants down... SBC says very matter-of-factly: ‘Okay, now I want you to stick your finger up my ass.’ And I’m like, ‘What??... No!!’...”
In her memoir, which is reported to have a whole chapter on Cohen, Wilson asserts that she was scared but compromised. “I slapped him on the ass and improvised a few lines as the character.”
Cohen has since released a statement. A rep told Us Weekly, “While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during, and after the production of ‘The Brothers Grimsby.’”
2. Wilson lost her virginity at 35.
Now 44, Wilson reveals when she first had sexual intercourse in hopes to let other young people know that it’s OK to wait. She said in an interview with People: “Not everybody has to lose their virginity as a teenager.”
Wilson calls herself a "late bloomer" and says she used to avoid the topic out of embarrassment. In the past, she would sometimes lie and say she lost her virginity at 23, which some would tell her was "late."
3. Wilson experienced fertility struggles.
Wilson is currently engaged to designer Ramona Agruma, whom she shares child, Royce Lillian with. But before the pair welcomed their daughter in 2022 (now 9 months old) via surrogate, Wilson experienced fertility issues, which is said to be detailed in her memoir.
In 2021, Wilson posted on Instagram: "I got some bad news today and didn’t have anyone to share it with...but I guess I gotta tell someone. To all the women out there struggling with fertility, I feel ya. The universe works in mysterious ways and sometimes it all doesn’t make sense...but I hope there’s light about to shine through all the dark clouds."
Shortly after, Wilson went back to the same post and added an update: "Just wanted to say I woke up this morning and read through everyone’s kind messages and stories about their journeys, and I can’t tell you how much that meant to me and has made me feel a lot better today. Social media for the win here in terms of creating connection, when I was in a very lonely place. So thank you, everyone."
Per Yahoo, Wilson has polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which can impact fertility. According to World Health Organization, PCOS is a leading cause of infertility because it can cause hormonal imbalances, irregular periods, and excess androgen levels that can make it difficult to get pregnant. A doctor told Wilson that she would have to become healthier to increase her chances of retrieving and freezing her eggs. “I was taken aback. I thought, 'Oh God, this guy's so rude.' He was right. I was carrying around a lot of excess weight,” Wilson told told People in 2022. “It's almost like I didn't think of my own needs. I thought of a future child's needs that really inspired me to get healthier."
4. Wilson has had to overcome shyness.
After seeing Wilson play super-confident characters like Fat Amy in "Pitch Perfect" and Penny Rust in "The Hustle," it's hard to believe that Wilson has a shy side. Wilson opens up about overcoming her shyness in her new memoir.
“When I first started in the business and coming up in Australia, and then in Hollywood, you play a little bit of the persona of yourself, which is you but it's just sometimes a bit exaggerated for comic effect or a bit heightened,” Wilson told People.
Wilson admits she is extremely shy, which most people don’t quite understand.“That was my first hurdle that I had to overcome,” Wilson also said in the article. “I know a lot of people think I'm exactly like my characters like Fat Amy … but then there are just other sides.”
5. Wilson found the writing process to be gut-wrenching.
In a recent Instagram Story video, Wilson talked to fans about what it was like to write her memoir: “You guys, I mean, I can’t wait for you to read this. You’re going to see a whole new side of me. Lots of funny stuff, and serious stuff … And hopefully you guys will love the book as much as I’ve loved writing it — although sometimes it's been gut-wrenching and emotional.”
In an interview with People, Wilson detailed how the book reveals her “deepest secrets,” which took her 18 months to write. She said, “It's just been this secret thing I've been doing by myself for 18 months. It's so exciting now that it's done.”
During the writing process, Wilson discovered her writing style, which she describes as telling a friend all of her life’s deepest secrets, “which is a bit scary” and “very embarrassing.”
6. Wilson used her old diaries for inspiration for the memoir.
She told People, “It was crazy to see my mindset and to see where I was at those different ages, like 16 or 23, or getting rejected from all these drama schools and just being completely rejected, being an actor, and then thinking, ‘Oh, is this really what I should be doing with my life?’ To have those original letters and diary entries — interesting to go back and remember.”
It’s been reported that the "Pitch Perfect" actress’ memoir will also touch on her weight (both gains and losses), rejection, the fact that she has a law degree, and how she is a Brad Pitt fan girl. Did you know she also lived a year in Africa? You can order "Rebel Rising: A Memoir" now on Amazon.
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