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Rebel Wilson: The Truth About Sacha Baron Cohen! Trauma Was The Reason I Couldn't Lose Weight!
49 segments available
Rebel Wilson is an Australian actress and producer best known for her roles in films such as, ‘Bridesmaids’, ‘Pitch Perfect’ and ‘Jojo Rabbit’. 00:00 Intro 02:14 Being A Very Shy Kid 04:06 My Family And Their Struggles 05:19 My Dad's Angry Issues 08:41 Doing Weird Things As A Child 10:29 Emotional Abuse 11:40 My Parents Divorce 14:06 How Your Dad's Trauma Impacted You 17:08 Where Does Your Darkness Come From? 20:36 Feeling Like Not Being Good Enough 23:56 The Steps I Took To Become A New Person 26:21 How I Became More Extroverted 28:29 I Had To Carry A Weapon With Me To Protect Myself 31:38 The Hallucination That Changed My Life 36:45 Becoming A Lawyer To Then Pursue Acting Career 38:39 How Many Years Until You Made It In Hollywood? 39:54 My Weight Defined The Roles I Got 42:44 I Used My Weight To My Advantage 45:26 Did Your Roles Impact Your Self Esteem? 47:34 Wanting To Become Successful Despite Hurting Myself 50:07 I Lost Money Playing In Bridesmaids! 51:49 Having No Money To Doing 6 Hollywood Films 52:13 Ads 53:10 I Wasn’t Healthy Enough To Have A Child 57:12 The Comment From One Stranger That Changed My Entire Health Trajectory 59:24 “People Didn't Want Me To Lose Weight” 01:01:25 Your Film Contract Wouldn’t Let You Lose Weight 01:02:13 Your Journey Of Losing Weight 01:04:37 Letting Go Of My Emotional Baggage 01:06:37 I Started Dating People At 30 Years Old 01:10:34 Losing My Virginity 01:11:58 Experimenting With Ozempic 01:13:35 Backslash From Fans For Your Weight Loss 01:15:40 How Have Your Acting Roles Changed Since You Lost Weight? 01:17:58 What Are You After Now? 01:20:28 Why Did You Remove Sections From The Book? 01:25:15 Advice To Your Younger Self 01:26:59 I Hope My Stories Help Other People 01:28:57 Last Guest Question You purchase Rebel’s memoir, ‘Rebel Rising’, here: https://amzn.to/3WrOMZ8 Follow Rebel: Instagram - https://bit.ly/3JIZ1R6 TikTok - https://bit.ly/4dzvl6O Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGq-a57w-aPwyi3pW7XLiHw/join Follow me: https://beacons.ai/diaryofaceo Shop the Conversation Cards: https://thediary.com/products/the-cards Sponsors: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/doac
Segments Timeline
The Worst Professional Experience
Rebel Wilson opens up about a humiliating experience in her career before the Me Too movement, revealing how it impacted her self-worth and relationship with food. She discusses her journey from feeling degraded to finding motivation through self-help tapes, leading her to embrace her body and use it to her advantage in Hollywood.
"it was the worst professional experience of my career and this was before the me too movement I felt humiliated and degraded what can you say about that experience Rebel Wilson an awardwinning Hollywo..."
Growing Up Shy in Australia
Rebel reflects on her childhood, describing herself as extremely shy and how her upbringing in a humble Australian family shaped her. She shares anecdotes about selling pet products at dog shows and how her allergies to dogs made her childhood uncomfortable, providing insight into her early life and personality development.
"person that I'd seen on a screen made sense in a bunch of different ways so let me throw that question to you as the first question which is if I if I was to Endeavor to understand you what do I need ..."
Family Struggles and Emotional Impact
Rebel discusses her family's struggles, particularly focusing on her father's emotional issues stemming from the sudden death of his father. She explains how this trauma affected her father's ability to achieve his potential and how it manifested in anger and financial instability within the household.
"about your parents so my mom was a school teacher in in state schools um so had a lot of like Refugee students and students that came in not knowing English and and she mainly taught kindergarten so l..."
The Anger and Its Roots
Delving deeper into her father's anger issues, Rebel describes how his emotional struggles led to violent outbursts and a toxic home environment. She reflects on the impact of witnessing this behavior on her own views of relationships and her decision to avoid romantic partnerships.
"you know that your father didn't quite achieve his potential what were like the symptoms of that CU you seem to be quite sure that that that was um in something I think cuz he was so angry all the tim..."
Childhood Trauma and Its Manifestations
Rebel recounts a specific incident from her childhood where she attempted to cool down by wetting the bed, leading to a severe reaction from her father. This moment exemplifies the physical and emotional abuse she experienced, shaping her understanding of love and relationships.
"this into into light I guess the the example you given in the book is when you I think you were 12 or something years old and you decide you were young it was the summer it was hot and you decided to ..."
Emotional Abuse and Its Effects
In this segment, Rebel discusses the emotional abuse her mother faced from her father, highlighting the derogatory comments and financial control that characterized their relationship. She contrasts this with her own experiences of physical aggression, illustrating the pervasive nature of abuse in her family.
"and this sort of physical aggression and emotional abuse would continue to your mother as well it would extend to your mother as well yeah more with my mom it was more emotional abuse like um come hom..."
Lessons on Love from Parents
Rebel reflects on how her parents' tumultuous relationship influenced her own views on love and partnership. She shares her determination to avoid similar patterns, revealing how her mother's struggle to escape an abusive marriage shaped her own decisions regarding dating and relationships.
"those particular questions because it I often think that we learn our first model of what love is and what a relationship is by what we observe with our parents and for me I know for sure that watchin..."
The Darkness Within
Rebel discusses the darker aspects of her personality, attributing some of it to her father's influence and family history. She explores how these experiences have shaped her as a performer, suggesting that her struggles contribute to her unique comedic voice and perspective.
"because I guess I I didn't want to be like my mother and and have this like awful thing happen that you know obviously now the story is great for my mom she's now um engaged to a great man and who's a..."
The Dark Side and Its Influence
Rebel Wilson discusses how her dark side, shaped by early experiences and family dynamics, influences her personality and career. She reflects on the contrast between her light and dark sides, attributing her comedic edge to the complexities of her upbringing, particularly her father's struggles with addiction and a dodgy mentality.
"with Tim Grover who I reference a lot and Tim Grover was the guy who coached Michael Jordan and um Kobe Bryant for pretty much you know the most significant parts of their career yeah I think I've lis..."
The Impact of Childhood on Personality
In this segment, Rebel explores how her childhood experiences, particularly the lack of emotional expression in her conservative family, contributed to her feelings of inadequacy. She connects her self-worth to achievements and reflects on the societal pressures she faced as a girl, which shaped her self-esteem.
"probably came from your father what are you referring to so I kind of feel like um that I have friends in the industry right who have had like quite awesome childhoods and you know and and to me somet..."
The Quest for Validation
Rebel shares her journey of seeking validation through academic success and external achievements. She discusses how her feelings of not being good enough stemmed from societal expectations and personal experiences, leading to a complicated relationship with food and self-image.
"just like dodginess everywhere and like like I don't you know alcoholism and like addictions and um and and just also a mentality of just I don't know how to explain it best apart from saying it's a b..."
The Role of Gender in Self-Worth
Rebel reflects on the challenges of growing up as a girl in a male-dominated environment. She discusses how societal biases affected her self-perception and the importance of recognition and praise in building her self-esteem during her formative years.
"Dark Side um but if I didn't have that I don't think I'd be as interesting as a as a person or as a performer um and I definitely like have sometimes have an edginess to jokes and stuff which I guess ..."
The Struggle with Shyness
In this candid moment, Rebel opens up about her painful shyness during her teenage years. She describes how her insecurities and lack of confidence led to feelings of isolation, making it difficult for her to connect with peers and express herself.
"interesting yeah when someone can present us both at the same time a little bit sadistic as well but in the in the in the cover of your book it says um that you're always questioning am I good enough ..."
Transforming Through Motivation
Rebel discusses her turning point at age 15, realizing the need to change her shy demeanor. She shares how motivational tapes inspired her to break out of her shell, leading her to actively seek friendships and engage with others.
"enough in the context I was you only black kid poorest family in the area so you're there's a deep sort of sense of Shame and insecurity that you're trying to fill prove to others and yourself that yo..."
Strategies for Overcoming Shyness
Rebel outlines the strategies she employed to combat her shyness, including talking to new people and joining clubs. She emphasizes the importance of taking initiative to foster connections and build a supportive social network.
"like I was not good enough I was like trash and that's why I would trash my body cuz I just felt like well I don't deserve anything different and then that's a really complicated question to work out ..."
Attention-Seeking Behavior
Rebel reflects on her early attention-seeking behavior, comparing it to the controversial tactics of famous personalities like Eminem. She explains how this behavior helped her gain popularity and ultimately led to a more confident self.
"I went to an all girls high school but the boys school next door was seen as more prestigious and better um and um and they had the multi-million dollar theater at their school and you know it was jus..."
The Role of Creative Arts in Building Confidence
Rebel shares how her mother encouraged her to participate in drama classes to boost her self-esteem. She discusses how acting provided an escape from her shyness and helped her develop confidence that translated into her real life.
"conservative family we didn't really talk about emotions and feelings and so it wasn't expressed in the way that I probably needed it to so I I didn't feel good enough unless I was getting first in my..."
The Unexpected Path to Acting
In this segment, Rebel recounts how her initial involvement in drama was not aimed at becoming an actress but rather to improve her self-confidence. She reflects on how this unexpected journey shaped her future career.
"somebody it's not like I did anything bad or you know should have felt ashamed about something I just always felt like that I guess it proves that kids they don't they're not born with perfect self-es..."
The Drive for Validation
Rebel Wilson reflects on her childhood and the dual drives for external validation and academic success stemming from her family's financial struggles. She discusses how these drives influenced her early life choices, including attending boarding school to escape her family dynamics and her eventual journey to South Africa as part of a youth ambassador program.
"the real you um uh from from doing that but obviously at the time nobody thought I would become a professional actress or they would have laughed about that scenario it's it's interesting because you ..."
A Life-Changing Vision in Africa
Rebel shares a pivotal moment during her time in South Africa when she contracted malaria, leading to vivid hallucinations that inspired her to pursue acting. She recounts the experience of seeing a 'shadow man' during her illness and how this vision solidified her desire to become an actress, despite skepticism from those around her.
"speaker and and I got recommended into this program and got selected and you don't get to choose what country you go to they they just select for you so and they sent one boy and one girl from our dis..."
From Malaria to Acting Dreams
After recovering from malaria, Rebel discusses the challenges she faced in convincing others of her newfound ambition to act. Despite being accepted into a prestigious law school, she felt compelled to follow her vision of becoming an actress, leading her to leave South Africa early to audition for drama school.
"common we both were in Africa and got bitten by mosquito you have a vision I had a vision what was your vision so I my dad was holding so we're in our house and they didn't know that I had malaria thi..."
The Pursuit of Law and Acting
Rebel explains her decision to pursue law, influenced by her father's regrets about education. She details the difficulties of balancing her law studies with her acting career, highlighting the exhausting schedule that came with trying to succeed in both fields.
"malaria hallucination or was it divine intervention I don't know I think is was that some subconscious desire that I was never brave enough to say to anybody um because I was in the high school musica..."
The Weight of Expectations
Rebel reflects on her early acting career and the impact of her weight on casting decisions. She discusses her diagnosis of PCOS and how it led to rapid weight gain, which she initially perceived as a setback but later embraced as an opportunity to lean into comedy, recognizing the unique advantages it provided in her career.
"pursue law I guess for the money you just thought that was a good well because my father had dropped out okay I definitely wanted to have a college degree and he always said that was his biggest regre..."
Embracing Comedy as a Bigger Woman
Rebel shares her realization that being a bigger woman could be an asset in comedy. She discusses how her experiences in university and her observations of audience reactions led her to embrace her body and use it to her advantage in her comedic career, ultimately leading to greater success.
"show at 23 at what point in this journey towards being an act do you realize that your weight is influencing how people see you and the way that they're casting you so when I was like uh about 21 into..."
The Dichotomy of Success and Health
In this segment, Rebel Wilson reflects on the conflicting feelings she experienced regarding her weight and career. While she recognized that being a larger woman could help her succeed in comedy, she also struggled with unhealthy eating habits and the impact on her self-esteem. She shares her experiences on a popular Australian show and how it affected her perception of herself.
"just gotten on a television show when I was 23 playing kind of the I guess the whale character is what they sometimes refer to me as and they refer to you as the whale character yeah well like I was t..."
The Cost of Success
Rebel Wilson opens up about the challenges of achieving success in Hollywood while grappling with personal issues. She discusses her early career, including her role in 'Bridesmaids' and the financial struggles that came with it. Despite the fame and opportunities that followed, she acknowledges the sacrifices made in her personal life and health.
"bit what did you say to him that day that post post office I didn't say anything I just kind of walked out and thought Oh that guy's an idiot he doesn't understand the distinction between a comedy sho..."
A Wake-Up Call from a Doctor
Rebel shares a pivotal moment when a doctor's blunt assessment of her health prompted her to reconsider her lifestyle choices. Despite her success, she realized that her health was at risk and felt the pressure of her biological clock. This moment marked the beginning of her journey towards prioritizing her health and well-being.
"and the other area was apart from love life and kind of social life was also um Health you have you move to America um you get um you work very hard for the next couple of years you get this you know ..."
Struggles with Change
In this segment, Rebel Wilson discusses the difficulty of changing her eating habits and lifestyle despite knowing she was medically obese. She reflects on past attempts at dieting and the challenges of maintaining weight loss. This candid conversation highlights the complexities of personal health and the journey to self-improvement.
"late and I would see babies on the street with their moms and be like a and I just like keep staring at all the babies and and just like like I just really felt this urge in inside me to be a mother a..."
Career vs. Health Dilemma
Rebel reveals the tension between her career and her health journey. She describes how her team reacted to her desire to lose weight, fearing it would jeopardize her successful persona in Hollywood. This internal conflict illustrates the pressures of the entertainment industry and the personal sacrifices she faced in pursuit of health.
"stranger yeah it was something in the way he said it I was like sugar I'm not like I'm not healthy like and that must be what a lot of people thought they just never said it to my face um and then it ..."
The Blessing of the Pandemic
Rebel reflects on how the pandemic provided her with an unexpected opportunity to focus on her health. With work on hold, she dedicated time to emotional processing and physical wellness, marking a significant turning point in her life. This segment highlights the silver linings that can emerge from challenging circumstances.
"it away so I was then literally like okay what do I do with my life am I get healthy but I lose my career or do I just stay the way I am and maybe never have a child and like that was literally kind o..."
Emotional Healing and Weight Loss
In this segment, Rebel discusses the connection between emotional health and weight loss. She shares her experiences with a doctor who helped her process past traumas, revealing how emotional baggage can manifest physically. This insight underscores the importance of addressing mental health in the journey towards physical well-being.
"blessing um to me and when I really focused and did the emotional work because there's things like that I write about in the book that I just never thought about until I started emotionally processing..."
Setting Goals for Health
Rebel outlines her goal-oriented approach to health in 2020, emphasizing accountability through social media. She describes her rigorous workout routine and dietary changes, showcasing her commitment to a healthier lifestyle. This segment serves as an inspiring example of how setting clear intentions can lead to significant personal transformation.
"of losing weight tell me about this process what helped you so I was like as you can probably tell like I'm quite goal orientated and uh and so I was like okay 2020 is be my year of health I'm themed ..."
Processing Past Trauma
Rebel delves into her past traumas and their impact on her weight and self-image. She reflects on her relationship with her father and the emotional challenges she faced, revealing how these experiences shaped her identity. This segment highlights the importance of emotional healing in the context of personal growth and self-acceptance.
"with the doctor like we did a phone call every two weeks and and at first it's awful you're like oh my God what do I talk you know and talk about my personal things and it felt awful to do it at first..."
Weight as a Barrier
In this segment, Rebel discusses the psychological aspects of weight and how it served as a barrier to intimacy and relationships. She shares insights from psychological studies linking weight to defense mechanisms against emotional vulnerability, illustrating the complex relationship between body image and personal connections.
"for like intimacy for example you know I never wanted a relationship or wanted to be attractive or whatever and the weight was kind of a barrier because that kept all the people is do you believe that..."
Navigating Attention and Relationships
Rebel recounts her experiences with romantic attention after gaining fame, reflecting on her past shyness and reluctance to engage. She shares a humorous anecdote about a waiter’s advance, highlighting her journey from invisibility to recognition in the dating world. This segment captures the challenges of navigating relationships in the spotlight.
"some people like um but didn't anybody come up to you whatever I was like no like I honestly don't remember one person um apart from the little boyfriend I had when I was 16 which was the most innocen..."
The Year of Love Experiment
Rebel discusses her 'Year of Love Experiment,' where she actively sought to date and connect with others. She shares her motivations and the challenges of dating after a long period of being single, emphasizing the importance of stepping out of her comfort zone. This segment illustrates her growth in both personal and romantic aspects of life.
"blocked off to that I didn't notice anything you know I when a woman in particular gets over 30 what I've heard and especially considering some of my friends who are women over 30 is people around the..."
Losing My Virginity at 35
Rebel recounts the experience of losing her virginity at 35 to a man she was genuinely attracted to. She reflects on the significance of this moment, emphasizing the importance of being with someone she truly liked and how her previous experiences shaped her expectations.
"going on those dates is there is there anxiety in your brain because you know if this date goes well there might be an expectation that I go to the bedroom with this individual yeah well that was all ..."
Experimenting with Ozempic
Rebel discusses her experience with the weight management drug Ozempic, explaining how it helped her manage cravings after losing weight. She shares her thoughts on the effectiveness of the drug and her concerns about maintaining her health amidst her busy lifestyle.
"you experimented with a zmek oh I did but I wish I'd known about it in 2020 it wasn't big then no I didn't even if I had known about it I would have tried it 100% um but more for uh once I'd lost like..."
The Backlash of Weight Loss
Rebel reflects on the societal reactions to her weight loss, noting that some fans expressed disappointment. She draws parallels to other celebrities like Adele, discussing how changes in appearance can lead to backlash and how she navigated the complexities of public perception.
"it when you lose weight your resonance with your audience changes as well because to I I think Adele spoke to it as well and when she lost a lot of weight she there was a backlash yeah I mean I think ..."
Navigating Career Changes Post-Weight Loss
Rebel talks about how her weight loss has impacted her acting career, leading to more dramatic roles and a shift in how she is perceived professionally. She shares her experiences of being both invisible and visible in society, highlighting the changes in attention she received.
"those people want but I think as a comedian you have so many different things in your toolkit uh and mainly your personality and so even though it's easy to go oh you have that physical irregularity a..."
Balancing Work and Family Life
Rebel discusses her workaholic tendencies and the impact of motherhood on her priorities. She reflects on her drive to succeed and the joy her daughter brings, contemplating how to balance her career ambitions with family time.
"it was bizarre it was like the attention and I was like oh is this what hot people feel get all the time um and they get this kind of positive bias in society all the time um and I got such positive r..."
Reflections on Life Choices
Rebel shares her concerns about looking back on her life and questioning her priorities. She emphasizes the importance of family and how her daughter's presence has shifted her perspective on work and success.
"movie and then you'll want to do it um so I think I'm always that little girl who at the dog shows was like reaching into bins to collect the aluminum cans to earn money because I felt like I didn't h..."
The Controversial Chapter in My Memoir
Rebel addresses the controversy surrounding a chapter in her memoir about her experience with Sacha Baron Cohen. She explains the reasons behind the chapter's attention and reflects on the humiliation she felt during that professional encounter.
"and I have to be a bit more selective you one of the things that I found I have to say awesome I'm just going to be honest with you in your book was um well there's so many things I love the pictures ..."
Empowerment Through Storytelling
Rebel discusses the importance of sharing her story and the lessons learned from her experiences in Hollywood. She reflects on how writing about her past has helped her release emotions and advocate for self-worth.
"feeling humiliated and degraded as a person and and so that chapter I guess because he's come out and uh denied it it became a a big story what can you say about that experience I can say why I wrote ..."
Facing Dark Moments in Life
Rebel opens up about the darkest period of her life during her teenage years, describing feelings of isolation and unworthiness. She reflects on how these experiences shaped her and the importance of overcoming such challenges.
"that's and now the 44y old version of me would uh handle things much much differently and it's just it was 10 years ago and it was hard to know what to do even though I'm a lawyer and I made the compl..."
A New Chapter: Directing and Family
Rebel discusses her current endeavors, including directing a joyful musical and her aspirations for an Oscar. She expresses a desire to balance her career ambitions with family life, reflecting on the challenges of being a workaholic while wanting to prioritize quality time with loved ones.
"one of the hardest things what's what's next for Rebel what's well I'm still directing the movie because I've got all the technical elements to do now so that's a big new challenge and I've directed t..."
Advice to My Younger Self
Rebel offers heartfelt advice to her 13-year-old self, encouraging young people to pursue creative outlets as a means of self-expression. She emphasizes that it's never too late to change one's life and that determination can lead to a better future, sharing her own journey from shyness to success.
"go back now to that 13-year-old Rebel that was going through all of those sort of challenges in her mind and you could tell something say something to her that would better equipped her to um for the ..."
Embracing Late Bloomer Status
Rebel reflects on her late-blooming experiences, including losing her virginity at 35. She reassures others that it's okay to achieve milestones later in life and discusses the importance of self-acceptance and the realization that personal growth can happen at any age.
"really really useful and you're the prime example of that in many respects you went from being that extremely shy individual to the point as you say that people thought it was some kind of social diso..."
The Vulnerability of Sharing My Story
In closing, Rebel expresses her hopes that her memoir resonates with others, sharing her most intimate thoughts and experiences. She acknowledges the nerve-wracking nature of releasing her book but finds fulfillment in the possibility of helping even a few people through her story.
"me um now why am I saying the word come so much talkity I don't know um but I yeah I just I'm glad that my life turned out you know I didn't get all these awesome things in my 20s it it happened later..."