Rebel Wilson’s real age was revealed to be to be 35, not 29, through official ASIC documents earlier this year, and now the actress has explained that her decision to lie came down to “ageism” and “sexism” in her line of work.
Speaking to WHO Australia magazine in her cover girl role, Rebel said, “Being an actress it affects women more than men in terms of ageism and sexism so to be called out by the press on something most sensible business-minded people would have done in my position, it was a bit hurtful.” She continued, “When you’re an actor, you have what’s called a playing range; to me, it’s not really beneficial having your age written anyway.”
Photo: WHO Australia
The rumours surrounding Rebel’s real age and name started circling after a source told Woman’s Day, “I studied with Rebel at Tara Anglican School for Girls in North Parramatta, Sydney. But no-one knew of a Rebel Wilson. Her name is – or was – Melanie Elizabeth Bownds, and she’s 36 – she was born in 1979 and we left school in 1997.”
While Rebel explained in an interview with Herald Sun in 2011 that she went under her middle names during school to avoid being teased, she recently poked fun at the media’s response to her real age and name. “OMG I’m actually a 100 year old mermaid formerly known as “CC Chalice” ….thanks shady Australian press for your tall poppy syndrome x,” she tweeted.
OMG I’m actually a 100 year old mermaid formerly known as “CC Chalice” ….thanks shady Australian press for your tall poppy syndrome x
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) May 18, 2015
We don’t care how old she is, and it looks like the entertainment industry doesn’t either with Rebel signing on for the third instalment of Pitch Perfect recently. GOOD.
[Via WHO Australia, Woman’s Day, Herald Sun]
