Rebel Wilson High Court bid rejected

Rebel Wilson was optimistic after the High Court dismissed her appeal in her defamation case against Bauer Media.

Rebel Wilson arrives at the High Court in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

An optimistic Rebel Wilson says she’s moved on “personally and professionally” after the High Court dismissed her bid to have her appeal case heard, putting an end to her bitter legal battle with Bauer Media.

The Hollywood actor was in Canberra to hear her lawyers unsuccessfully argue the High Court should grant special leave to consider the case after the Court of Appeal in June ordered Wilson repay a significant chunk of her defamation payout.

She won a record $4.7 million in damages against the publisher after a jury found she missed out on lucrative movie roles due to the “sting” of the defamatory stories - which claimed she had lied about her age, real name and childhood - and the “grapevine effect” they had within Hollywood.

The payment was slashed to $600,000 after the Court of Appeal found Supreme Court judge John Dixon had awarded the payout in error.

Wilson’s legal team led by Matthew Collins QC today argued the Court of Appeal had “remade” or “refound” facts in the case rather than conducted a review and had relied on evidence that had never been put to a witness in trial.

Justice Virginia Bell said there was insufficient prospects that any appeal would succeed, refusing Wilson’s push to have the case heard in the High Court.

“This has been a long fight, a long journey in the courts but the great thing about today is it brings it to a definitive end,” Wilson said outside court.

“The whole reason for bringing this case is I really wanted to stand up to a bully, which was Bauer Media, and I’m so proud of myself I did that and saw it out right to the bitter end.

“Here at the High Court, I never dreamt I would be here, it’s such an amazing experience to go through and amazing that I won the case, the damages that I did receive are still so significant, so close to the Australian record and I’m so proud of myself for seeing it through because this was a company that behaved very, very badly, were proven guilty of malicious defamation.”

Wilson said the trial had been “very taxing personally” but she had great support from her legal team, family and friends.

“At the end of the day the jury obviously restored my reputation, I’ve moved on personally and professionally and it’s great now that it’s all at a definite end,” she said.

“Obviously Bauer Media was proven guilty of writing terrible lies which were obviously extremely hurtful to but receive over $600,000 from them for that experience, it’s great.”

Justice Bell and justice Patrick Keane questioned the claim that film executives thought worse of Wilson because of the articles in Bauer Media publications, saying there was not evidence from decision makers in Hollywood that the stories had impinged on their conscience.

The ­actress had sued over articles in 2015 that painted her as a serial liar in order to make it in Hollywood, and argued the “firestorm” created by the articles caused studio heads to shun her.

Bauer Media welcomed the High Court’s decision.

“Bauer Media is invested in its Australian business now more than ever,” Bauer chief executive Paul Dykzeul said. “Our audience trust our content and our writers and they love our iconic brands like Woman’s Day and Australian Women’s Weekly.”

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP