Homeward bound: Rebel Wilson ahead of her return to Aussie TV

Rebel Wilson appears to have led a relatively charmed life, getting her big break in Hollywood young. But beyond the comedy schtick and a “devastating dip” with her high-profile defamation case with Bauer Media, she owes her success to her instrumental Aussie roles.

In the past decade, a talented pool of Aussie showbiz performers have hotfooted it to Hollywood after cutting their teeth on local productions.

Australian entertainers are big business in Tinseltown and for the most part, their success is embraced by their homeland.

There’s a proviso, of course. They must return home from time to time to show support for the local industry and prove they still remember where they come from.

But much like in comedy, timing is everything, and after almost a decade abroad starring in smash hits Bridesmaids and the Pitch Perfect franchise, the moment seems right for Rebel Wilson to make a return to local television for the ABC’s colourful crime caper Les Norton.

Rebel Wilson as identical twins Doreen and Dolores in ABC TV series Les Norton

Rebel Wilson embraces her inner ‘80s for the new crime caper series

“I play Doreen and Dolores Bognor, twin sisters,” Wilson says.

“It was great playing both ladies. They really fit into the world of 1980s Kings Cross perfectly.

“Dolores is a bad ass who wants revenge for her sister, so she’s very motivated throughout the series. Doreen is a little more demure in comparison but she still works out of a brothel and comes from western Sydney, so she’s no angel either.”

Wilson says she was drawn to the project by series creator and writer Morgan O’Neill with whom she shared the same mentor, Zimbabwean theatre director John Haigh.

“I had always heard about Morgan in high school but I had never worked with him and I loved the cheeky tone of the pilot script that he had written. I thought it was really fresh and the characters just leapt off the page.”

Rebel Wilson said she loved being back on an Australian set while filming Les Norton

Co-directed by The Dressmaker’s Jocelyn Moorhouse, Les Norton’s roll call also includes David Wenham and Alexander Bertrand in the title role.

“David Wenham is one of my all-time favourite Australian actors. He’s exceptional in everything he does,” Wilson gushes.

“And Alex is such a gem. I’m sure he’s going to go on and do many more roles and hopefully get a leg up in Hollywood, too. He certainly fits the hunky-alpha-Aussie-actor stereotype.”

While Wilson admits that shooting was done quite quickly to accommodate her US commitments, she says it was nice to be back on set on home soil.

“Because we were shooting in Sydney, my family got to visit the set which was nice and someone on set would leave giant bags of Smith’s chicken chips in my trailer pretty much every day. I do miss Smith’s chicken chips,” she says.

Wilson says she has more plans to work back in Australia

From the outside, Wilson appears to have led a relatively charmed life, getting her big break young and seemingly unscathed by failure.

But beyond the punchlines and comedy schtick, she is a deceptively steely, hardworking careerist who is as smart, decisive and tough as she is funny.

“This is my ninth year being based in Hollywood. When I left Melbourne to come (to) America, I left with one suitcase full of clothes and a doona,” she says.

“I sold everything I owned to take the risk and move overseas. I lived on $60 a week for the first year before Bridesmaids came out.

“It was super tough. Not glamorous at all. There’s been points where I’ve worked at least 16 hours a day, seven days a week to keep things on track, and it’s been brutal at times.

“But I always had confidence in myself. I turned down a lucrative three-year contract with Channel 7 which would’ve been a great opportunity but I always knew I wanted to work in America.

Wilson still credits local shows like The Wedge as “great training grounds”.

“Bridesmaids came about after only being in America for three to four months, so compared to some Aussie actors, I took off in America pretty quickly.

“But I owe that to all the amazing experiences I had in Australia before leaving. Shows like Fat Pizza, The Wedge and Thank God You’re Here as well as Bogan Pride — which is what got me noticed in America and by my agents at WME — were all instrumental and great training grounds.

“If I could give advice to my younger self it would be, ‘You go, girl. You’ve got all the skills, now you’re ready to crush … but try and enjoy things along the way too’.”

Wilson says the scrutiny around her high-profile defamation case against Bauer Media and the personal toll it took has only made her stronger.

“Despite the devastating (career) dip … I was so proud of myself for working my ass off to recover from that,” she says.

“Now I’m trying to have more balance and concentrate more on my health and personal life which have been neglected in the past.

“I’d love to have optimal health for my body, which doesn’t mean getting skinny or losing a certain amount of weight. It’s about being healthy and leading a healthier lifestyle.”

Isn't it Romantic is currently Netflix’s third most-watched film globally

Wilson is also hopeful that harmonising her professional and personal lives could lead her to love.

“I know I have tons of adoring fans all around the world, but I’d love to find that one special person who I adore,” she admits.

Starring in films as well as now writing and producing, the first film Wilson has produced, Isn’t It Romantic, is currently Netflix’s third most-watched film.

The actor is also set to take a turn as a feline in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s film adaptation of hit musical Cats, as well as taking on a starring role opposite Scarlett Johansson in New Zealand director Taika Waititi’s dramedy JoJo Rabbit.

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“I think in the next 10 years, I’ll certainly branch out and play more dramatic roles,” she adds.

“I’d love to perform on Broadway, too, and I’d love to direct something.”

Thankfully, Wilson is also determined to not ignore the siren call of home.

“I’d love to shoot more stuff in Australia, too, and one of the films I’ve been developing is ripe for that,” she teases.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that I’d love to do something with the Crocodile Dundee intellectual property. Paul Hogan created such a classic character there that is beloved around the world still. It’s extremely iconic and I’d love to take a crack at it.”

LES NORTON STARTS ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 8.40PM, ABC AND IVIEW