There aren’t many opportunities to get advice on Hollywood from someone with a legendary acting career. There are even less to learn about the malaria-induced hallucination that led to that career, but during an April 15th event with the University of Colorado Boulder Distinguished Speakers board, Rebel Wilson told all.
The speakers board is a student-led organization associated with the University that aims to connect students with individuals who have made an impact on their communities. The group highlights voices from around the world in a variety of fields. Past speakers include Trevor Noah and Chloe Kim.
Rebel Wilson is an Australian actress, comedian, and director who has appeared in various films, most notably Pitch Perfect and Bachelorette. Being the kind of person involved in the dog-handling/dog-showing industry, Wilson wasn’t exposed to the acting world. At CU, she discussed being popular amongst her peers in school and being mischievous. She became a legend after locking a teacher in a closet and sneaking into the school’s food storage facility.
At first, Wilson wanted to go into the corporate world. However, a study abroad opportunity in South Africa changed her course of action. After contracting Malaria, she experienced a hallucination where she won an Oscar. After that, she knew she had to be an actress.
Now, after achieving mainstream success, Wilson had one message for those looking to pursue a career in entertainment: do your own thing. She remarked that she got cast early in her career because she has a unique sense of humor and personality. Wilson believes that if you follow someone else’s path, there isn’t the same wow factor that will impress those around you. To her, authenticity is the name of the game.
Although having had a larger body type created difficulties for casting earlier in her career, she has said publicly that being bigger became part of what she was known for. As she spoke in Macky Auditorium, she joked about the moment when someone reached out to her to play a now-famous character, Fat Amy.
She also discussed the big weight loss journey she underwent recently, as part of a year dedicated to being healthy. She clarified that she believes people are beautiful at any size, but she felt that she wasn’t as healthy as she wanted to be, referencing a struggle with binge eating.
Wilson addressed complex dynamics in Hollywood like sexual assault and harassment. She noted that many women feel they are unable to walk away from bad situations on a film set because it could impact their career in a really negative way. Wilson mentioned that in a past job, she wanted to leave as a result of mistreatment, but ended up staying silent because of stories she had heard of other girls being blocked from other opportunities.
Rebel Wilson’s path to fame has been anything but linear. Her insight on authenticity, her trademark humor, and her candid discussion on the challenges of the entertainment industry made for an unforgettable event. By partnering with the Distinguished Speakers board, she not only shared her experiences but also inspired Boulder High students to pursue their own ambitions fearlessly. Her story serves as a call to embrace individuality and create new opportunities—for themselves and for others—showing that true impact comes from daring to be yourself.
