Rebel Wilson breaks down on-air during interview to promote her memoir

The Aussie actress was promoting her new memoir Rebel Rising when a comment from a staff member made her tear up.

Actress Melissa McCarthy in a scene from film Bridesmaids. Rebel Wilson has revealed that she wanted McCarthy’s role. Picture: Supplied

Aussie actress Rebel Wilson has broken down during a radio interview to promote her new memoir.

Wilson, 44, appeared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show and became teary when she was praised for helping people battling body dysmorphia.

The Bridesmaids star became emotional when co-host Vassos Alexander explained one of his friend’s was helped by Wilson opening up about her body in her new book, Rebel Rising.

He said: “Yesterday I just reached the section where you write a letter to your body.

“I literally within a minute of me reading that page, I get a phone call from a really good friend of mine and I’m one of her confidants, and she’s having issues.

Rebel Wilson became emotional during a Virgin Radio interview with Chris Evans. Picture: Virgin Radio

“She’s always had issues with body dysmorphia, and she’s on that first hot day of the year and she’s panicking and I said, look, it will … things will. You know, you will find the bridge off this.

“And I said, can I just read you something that I’ve literally just wrote. Oh. And I read it to her. I read what you wrote. You said, ‘okay, like I love my body, but it’s time. It’s time for a change. I should shut up’.”

At that point Rebel teared up and replied: “Vassos thank you for saying that because, like, that really is why I … And I know I’m getting emotional, but, that’s why I wrote it, because I know there’s so many people that relate to that kind of stuff.”

The actress has previously opened up about losing more than 30kg following a “year of health” in 2020.

It comes as the memoir became a Sunday Times best seller just a few days into the UK release.

“A massive thank you to everyone who has been enjoying it and relating to my story! It seriously means so so much to me!,” Wilson said on Instagram.

Melissa McCarthy (front right) in 2011 film Bridesmaids. Picture: Supplied

On Monday, Wilson made extraordinary claims about her discontent while working on cult favourite movie Bridesmaids.

The comedian, 44, made the comments during her highly anticipated event, An Evening With Rebel Wilson at the London Palladium.

The author of upcoming memoir Rebel Rising, to be released in Australia on May 8, said she in fact had her eye on McCarthy’s role of Megan but was snubbed.

“So I actually auditioned for the Melissa McCarthy role and they were always going to give it to Melissa because she was their friend,” Wilson told the audience.

“So I come in and start improvising and it went on for an hour.

“You know an audition is good when it goes on for an hour.”

Audiences adored the 2011 hit.

But despite her high hopes, Wilson was disappointed.

“So I got the call and they said ‘You got the part!’ And I went, ‘What, the role?!’ And they went, ‘Not that role. You really look like Matt Lucas. He’s this British comedian and he’s already been cast in the film so we’re just going to add you in as his sister,’ Wilson recalled.

“So I’m like, ‘Alright!’ I was like, I guess it’s OK but I really wanted the Melissa McCarthy role … they were like ‘You’ve been cast in a Hollywood film’ and I was like ‘Yeah, but I don’t really have a role’,:.

While Wilson was relegated to the minor role of the strange roommate of Annie (portrayed by Kristen Wiig), McCarthy’s role lead to her being nominated for an Oscar, SAG, BAFTA and Critics’ Choice awards.

Wilson as Brynn in Bridesmaids. Picture: Supplied

Melissa McCarthy in a scene from film Bridesmaids.

It was not the only bombshell of the evening with Wilson also revealing another Pitch Perfect sequel could be in the works seven years after the third instalment was released.

It’s unclear how the now svelte Wilson, who stunned on stage in a glamorous black gown, will reprise her iconic role as Fat Amy if the new iteration of Pitch Perfect comes to fruition.

“I would love to do a Pitch Perfect 4 and I believe there is a script in development for it,” Wilson said.

“I think someone should get married, maybe me and Bumper.”

The character of Bumper was portrayed by actor Adam DeVine who has also played Wilson’s love interest in TV series Workaholics and Liam Hemsworth rom-com Isn’t It Romantic.

Wilson again took the opportunity at the Palladium to repeat her claims of a negative experience while working with comedian Sacha Baron Cohen on 2016 film Grimsby.

Rebel Wilson and Adam DeVine in a scene from Pitch Perfect 2. Picture: Universal Pictures.

Cohen’s legal team have successfully had sections of the book mentioning him redacted in various countries with the entire chapter on him to be removed from the editions released in Australia and New Zealand.

“I mean it was over 10 years ago so I have moved on from it,” Wilson said on Cohen.

“But it was a bad experience and I felt humiliated and I had a bit of shame surrounding it because I should have left.

“I would have left I was the person I am today. But he was a bigger star and we had the same agent so there was a conflict of interest.

“I felt like I had to finish the job and that was what was professional, but if I was the person I am today I would have left.”

Originally published as Rebel Wilson breaks down on-air during interview to promote her memoir