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Famous Actress Rebel Wilson Says She Was Paid Tiny Amount Of Money For Role In Hit Film

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Leena Nasir Entertainment Reporter
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Rebel Wilson said she “made no money” after starring in the cult-classic comedy, “Bridesmaids.”

The famous actress opened up about the matter in her new memoir, “Rebel Rising,” and spoke about it with Steven Barlett on the May 6 episode of “Diary of a CEO” podcast. Wilson said she was only paid $3,500 for her role in the film.

“It was my first job in America,” she told host Steven Bartlett. “I mean, it was very lucky to get it … But to be paid that little. Basically, that $3,500 I then had to pay to the union to join the union. So I basically made no money.”

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Wilson elaborated further on just how little there was for her in the way of remuneration for “Bridesmaids.”

“I lost money, because I had to pay to go to the premiere, like to buy my dress and everything,” Wilson said. “So, I lost money doing Bridesmaids.”

Rebel Wilson attends the Vanity Fair Oscar party in Beverly Hills during the 92nd Academy Awards, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 9, 2020. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Rebel Wilson arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar party after the 95th Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., March 12, 2023. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

The 76th Cannes Film Festival – The amfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS 2023 charity gala – Antibes, France, May 25, 2023. Rebel Wilson poses. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

 

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The famous actress said that she had to live on an extremely tight budget when the filming of “Bridesmaids” wrapped, and was barely able to hold on while she awaited the release of the film.

“That was a really skint year where I was living on $60 a week in L.A. once I’d paid my rent and my car hire, and that’s not a lot of money,” she said.

 

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“I wasn’t partying or living this [movie star] life. It was basically having that focus, trying to write for myself, like, going to auditions,” Wilson told Bartlett, as she described her struggle.

The famous actress admitted that although her role in “Bridesmaids” proved to be quite a sacrifice, it wound up leading her down a brighter path but putting her name on the map in Hollywood, and triggering other opportunities.

 

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“I booked six movies off the back of it, one of which was Pitch Perfect, which was kind of my real golden ticket,” she said on the podcast. (RELATED: ‘It’s For The Orgy’: Rebel Wilson Claims She Was Offered Molly At Royal Sex Party)

Bartlett noted that “Pitch Perfect” went on to become “the highest-grossing musical comedy franchise of all-time.”