Rebel Wilson’s character in Bridesmaids didn’t exist until she auditioned for the film.
The Aussie actress, 41, revealed the story behind her American movie debut while appearing on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show to promote her new series Pooch Perfect.
It turns out Rebel made such a great impression while trying out for the Kristen Wiig comedy that the creators added an entire part for her.
‘…Weirdly, my character wasn’t supposed to exist in the movie,’ she explained. ‘I’d auditioned for Melissa McCarthy’s character [Megan] and was the second choice for that role.’
Making an impression: Rebel Wilson impressed the creators of Bridesmaids so much that the wrote a role for her into the film, giving the star her first American role
‘… I guess they liked my audition that they added me into the film essentially,’ Wilson, who played roommate Brynn along with onscreen brother Gil (Matt Lucas) in the movie, went on. ‘There was never supposed to be two roommates only one.’
‘So I just kind of added myself in, in a way to the scenes, but Paul [Feig, director], I just remember was so and Kristen, as well, whereas she was like the biggest comedy star in America at that point.
‘But she literally said “Whatever you want to do, just go for it. I don’t care. Like if you think it’s funny, want to try it, just go for it.”‘
‘I think that kind of nice collaborative energy, which she must’ve done to everybody on the set from her and from Paul as a director meant that they just got the most hilarious, spontaneous things. It was pretty much all improvised, all that stuff.’
First place: The Aussie actress auditioned for the role of Megan, which would go to Melissa McCarthy
![Funny thing! 'Weirdly, my character wasn't supposed to exist in the movie,' she explained. 'I'd auditioned for Melissa McCarthy's character [Megan] and was the second choice for that role'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/31/03/41154738-9421111-image-a-32_1617157383691.jpg)
Funny thing! ‘Weirdly, my character wasn’t supposed to exist in the movie,’ she explained. ‘I’d auditioned for Melissa McCarthy’s character [Megan] and was the second choice for that role’
Free range: Rebel said star Kristen Wiig encouraged her to have fun with the role, telling her ‘Whatever you want to do, just go for it. I don’t care. Like if you think it’s funny, want to try it, just go for it’
Earlier this month Rebel enjoyed a mini Bridesmaids reunion while meeting up with British comedian Matt Lucas in London.
The actors posted photos of themselves wandering the graffiti-covered streets of London together on Sunday.
In her caption, Rebel wrote: ‘Only gays in the village’ – a cheeky reference to Matt’s character Daffyd Thomas in Little Britain.
‘Love you Matt, you’re always there for helpful roommate/brotherly advice,’ she added.
Teamwork: ‘I think that kind of nice collaborative energy, which she must’ve done to everybody on the set from her and from Paul as a director meant that they just got the most hilarious, spontaneous things,’ Wilson told Cagle. ‘It was pretty much all improvised, all that stuff’
Catching up: Earlier this month Rebel enjoyed a mini Bridesmaids reunion while meeting up with British comedian Matt Lucas in London
Matt meanwhile shared a heartfelt caption that read: ‘Reunited after a year apart. A lovely weekend walk with an old friend who is here filming a movie. #roomies.’
The pair previously lived together in West Hollywood back in 2012, after becoming close friends on the set of Bridesmaids.
Rebel moved out of their share house in 2015 to further her international acting career.
‘We lived together for three years, had the best time and a great friendship has come out of it,’ Matt told BBC at the time.
Fast friends: The pair previously lived together in West Hollywood back in 2012, after becoming close friends on the set of Bridesmaids