Earlier this year, I covered an interview Rebel Wilson had done with an Australian outlet – go here to read. The interview was enjoyable and I really do like Rebel and I’m happy that she’s carved out such a great career for herself. But in that Aussie piece, the journalist had done some cursory research into Rebel’s background and they discovered a pretty big discrepancy with her age. At the time, IMDB had her age at 28, but Australian records showed that she was actually 34 then (and 35 years old now). Since then, her IMDB has been changed, reflecting the fact that she was actually born in 1980.
Some Aussie sources have come out to claim Rebel was actually born in 1979 and she’s actually 36 years old right now. A former classmate went to the media and provided some old yearbook photos and documentation of a classmate – a classmate who looks nearly the same as Rebel Wilson – named Melanie Bownds. Bownds graduated high school in 1997. You can see the photos here.
So Rebel finally reacted to the speculation/Rebel-Proofing of her age. She wrote on Twitter:
OMG I'm actually a 100 year old mermaid formerly known as "CC Chalice" ….thanks shady Australian press for your tall poppy syndrome x
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) May 18, 2015
Okay but all jokes aside now…my real name is Fat Patricia x
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) May 18, 2015
I think it’s perfectly possible that there’s some “tall poppy syndrome” (where certain media outlets will attack a star on the rise because everyone must be “brought down” to a certain level) to this. I also think it’s more than possible that Rebel Wilson is actually a 36 year old woman who shaved seven or eight years off of her age so she could get more work. Shaving off a few years here and there is practically industry-standard at this point, but I am a little bit startled at just how many years Rebel shaved off. Jessica Chastain did something similar – back in 2012, press pieces kept describing her as a “30 years old” when she had actually shaved off five years (she was 35 years old, and now she’s 38).
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Hum. It’s all I got.
Yep. “Hum”. Who cares? My grandmother lied about her age so often that it’s incorrect on her gravestone. We still don’t know what year she was born. Having that in my family history, this seems so not newsworthy .
I do a lot of genealogy research and lying about one’s age is nothing new.
It’s now been confirmed she’s in fact 6 years older (born in 1980) – they dug up her business records.
I am not surprised. Many of them do it.
She looks like a baby!!!!
She does look young.
Mmhm. Just goes to show ya, women age gracefully and shouldn’t be shut out of work after 30. Especially when everyone knows they all do it.
I wonder if they outed her cuz she’s a big girl, deeming her unworthy of her success? Never heard of media outlets going that far to “get the truth”.
Her former classmate went to the media, no one’s after her.
Extra 60-70 lbs will do that to you. Then again, I always took a double take when reading she was born in ’86…
Actually no, I always felt she looked like someone my own age. If this date is correct, we’re one day apart. I love how at this age some of my former classmates look a gazillion years older than they did in school and others haven’t changed a bit. And she definitely “crushed it” in the changing not so much department. There are some advantages about having a little extra fat in your face 🙂 I know.
But mostly, who cares; it says more about the industry than it says about her. She just wanted in, got a late start and did the smart thing. I just love her.
The vast majority of celebrities/actors lie about their age. I remember when certain actors were my age or older, and now I am much older than them.
I hear this all the time, but no one ever cites examples. Do you have any?
(I’m not discounting or discrediting you; I’m genuinely curious. If there are stars that claimed different birthdates earlier in their careers, it would be really easy to trace… maybe no one bothers to do that. I’d be fascinated to find out about people who were getting away with that in the age of digital media.)
I have no proof, but it certainly seemed like Mariah Carey was 38/39/40 for a really long time. I’ve heard that Catherine Zeta Jones lied about her age, as well, but again, it’s really hard to prove. It actually seems easier to get away with in a digital age, in a sense. I can hardly ever find old online articles…but once something is in print, someone always has a copy in an attic somewhere.
I remember when destiny child came out they were suppose to be in there 20s I was 16 now bey is my age. It is possible they were aging them because of the style of music but I always remember that in 1999 she was 25.
As for rebel who cares she is talented and really her age shouldn’t matter. She isn’t actively going after high school character roles so I don’t see the big deal.
Cindy Crawford and I used to be the same age, but now she’s several years younger. Sharon Stone used to be 9 years older, but now she’s only six years older. I notice it when it’s people I’ve seen most of my adult life and then suddenly they’re a few years younger, although I imagine it starts in their twenties or thirties.
Some that have already been outed (or outed themselves in several cases): Geri Halliwell, Nicole Scherzinger, Agyness Deyn, Anastacia, Jennifer Lopez (of course), Eminem, Nelly, Nicki Minaj, James Blunt.
Oh yes, Destiny’s child. Pretty much all of their ages have been widely speculated for years but I don’t think anything’s been proven…Beyonce would never let that get out. I think just by looking at their pics together you can figure out that Michelle’s age was “adjusted” (officially, KR and Bey were born in 1981 and Michelle is 1 year older)
I’m fairly certain Tom Cruise has not aged at the same rate I have. And I’m almost positive Chelsea Clinton was a year or two older than I am, but now we’re the same age. I wrote her a letter when I was in middle school (when Clinton was first elected) as part of a school project, and I distinctly remember the age difference.
I’ve always suspected ScarJo. She played an 18 year old in Ghost World in 2000. When her IMDB age would have been 15/16. People don’t usually get young teenagers to portray old teenagers. They get 20 + year olds to do it.
Demi Moore and I were the same age during St. Elmo’s fire – now I am 5 years older then her…the magic of Hollywood
Who cares? If you lie about something and you become famous, a lot of the time you get found out. Someone out there knows the truth.
I think they lie because Hollywood and a huge segment of society is pretty ageist. Women get it much worse then men. Men in their 40s and 50s are still being cast with 20 something love interests. Women that age have a much harder time getting work unless they are super stars. I understand trying to add more years to your career.
Once you get your foot in and prove yourself it’s much easier but to get it in when you’re past, say, 25…. good luck. Paloma Faith said she claimed to be 24 (instead of 27) to get singned and is 100% sure it wouldn’t happen if she admitted to her real age.
(a) considering how Hollywood treats women who are over age 18
(b) considering how many 35 year olds get paychecks for playing perky teens for Glee and similar programs/ movies
(b) considering that Hollywood is in general not the chalice of truth and true love, but the land of smoke and mirrors and closets and etc…
….I say, so what?
And hey, If you liked the movie Tootsie, this doesn’t even merit an eye blink.
But 7 years though??
That’s a lot I would have been less ambitious, and shaved off 4 maximum
Even if true, so what? Don’t most of Hollywood lie about their age?
BLUE MARIE! This is the best year evah!
I’m really only twelve, but I look mature for my age.
Haha, does it count that I have the maturity level of a 12 yr old? Like Big in reverse, I’m still hoping Santa will bring me the floor keyboard.
Bad news Blue Marie:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/16/usa-fao-schwarz-closing-idUSL1N0Y70GP20150516
redundant
I can believe she’s 36, but she does have beautiful skin and looks younger.
36 is still pretty young.
She was able to pull off the lie because she looks younger. It doesn’t faze me because it’s standard in Hollywood. It’s too bad it has to happen but she’s just playing the Hollywood game.
I was born in 1980 and will turn 35 this month. It’s crazy for me to realize I’ll be 35! I still feel younger and I think I look younger.
I was born in 1980 as well and will be turning 35 the end of August , I still cant believe it and its So depressing lol . What’s funny (in a sad way) to me is how people think 35/36 is so terribly old- even outside of Hollywood. I’m having such a hard time getting older that I can’t even imagine how it must feel to be an actress in this culture! And the fact it’s always a witch hunt to try and prove a woman is lying about her age yet I don’t remember them doing this to any of the actors out there. Maybe instead of these media outlets investing so much time and energy into trying to prove that some woman is really a “lying old hag” they should take that energy and change the message of age in society. But no. That would give women too much power. Can’t control someone who has power.
Hollywood likes a older actor, always have.
The vast majority of people with power (ie studio heads, producers and directors) are middle age and yet still older men so they have no problem in seeing a man at a similar age being a leading star. Ironically its younger male actors that get less breaks then older actors.
I’m 36 and yeah, 35 was hard, maybe even harder than 30 was.
Aging is hard and it sucks, but it’s inevitable.
I remind myself every day to enjoy being in my thirties, because by the time I turn 40, I’ll wish I looked as good as I did at 36. Also, let’s face it–thirties are pretty great 🙂
So just remember that this is the last year you’ll be 35! Embrace it and enjoy it.
GIRL. The 30s ROCK. They were my best decade, next to my 40s! (Which I’m still in.) My best birthday ever was 30, until I hit 35, then that was the best. Then 40 just was…incredible.
There’s a lot to say about being in your 30s and 40s. You aren’t old enough to be old, but you’re old enough to be smart and mature and know yourself. You’re still young enough to have a good time and close down the bars (if that’s your thing), but you’ve left superficial insecurities behind.
It KICKS ASS. Enjoy it, because if you’re lucky enough to live to your 80s or 90s, and you remember yourself bemoaning being in your 30s, you’re going to want to go back in time and kick your own ass for it! 🙂
@liz interesting I’ve found personally as ive gotten into my 30s (which are great) I would rather watch 30 + actresses I have no interest or patience for 20 something’s and younger. Could be the quality of project but most the time I just roll my eyes at them I’d rather see my own age or older.
And I don’t think I’m alone look at who the big name women entertainers are youngest is 35
JLaw is huge right now and she is in her mid 20s. I enjoy watching women of all ages as long as they are talented. There are fabulous actresses of all ages, some are even kids.
That being said the 30s are great. I always try to feel lucky I have lived another year. I had an aunt that was dreading turning 60. At 58 she got cancer and all she wanted to do was reach 60. Unfortunately she died 2 months shy of her 60th birthday. I always think of her when I start worrying about birthdays.
Don’t buy into the bad press, celebrate every birthday, 35 is just a number, but it is a number to be proud of, not to be sad over. Don’t weep over your past youth, embrace your life!
You guys think she looks younger? I guess a lot of perceived age must be subjective, cause I know absolutely nothing about this woman and assumed she was around early 40’s.
I don’t know how she thought people wouldn’t find out.
Exactly. They were able to call out people – Baby Spice, Agyness Deen – in the days of print.
How could anyone not know it’ll be a thousand times easier with the internet???
She probably knew she would be caught, but probably hoped she would be famous by then. It worked because she got offered Pitch Perfect and became famous. I don’t think they would have cast her for a college movie if they knew she was in her 30s.
She’s actually commented before in an interview that her Hollywood Age is incorrect, so I honestly don’t think she minds.
I’m not startled by stars shaving off years off their age, especially women. It’s very well-known that Hollywood is only interested in young new talent and emphasis on the YOUNG. Also, its be stated (many times by actresses themselves) that for women the roles start drying up once you reach a certain age so when I hear that a female star lied about her age. I always think good for her!!! Why give Hollywood the ammunition to discriminate you. If you look 8 years younger than you real age and you know that you won’t get work with your real age then I say lie until you’re in your sixties then tell the world your real age.
This is my attitude, women SHOULD lie about their age in Hollywood. Use every tool in your arsenal, ladies, cuz these folks will put you out to pasture just as soon as they think you’re on the far side of 35.
LOL I love your post.
She doesn’t even have laugh lines around her mouth. I’m 29 and I have faint lines already. Maybe she is in her twenties.
That can be genetic or environmental as well. Some people have thicker skin, so don’t show lines as readily, and having a fat pad helps. The fact that she’s fat, her lines won’t show as easily as someone who is skinny. That’s why it’s said to choose in old age to be thin or beautiful – meaning that if you put on some weight in old age, it lessens the wrinkles. I personally think that laugh lines are beautiful, so will be whatever size my body wants me to be. lol
I really know very little about Rebel Wilson except that her brand of comedy gets old pretty quick. That said, if she is 30 years old, I’d say sure, and if she is in fact 36 years old, I’d say sure. Now Jessica Chastain trying to pull off 33? No way. She is a beautiful woman, but I honestly thought she was in her early 40s.
What about David Gandy? There’s no way he’s only 35.
Gandy looks like he’s 45.
i thought this was kinda known? i can’t find the lainey article now, but it was pointed out on there that the age she gave and her age on imdb didn’t match up at the time. this was months ago… so…!?!?!?
I don’t know about Lainey, but Vulture mentioned that Rebel actually acknowledged it herself that her Hollywood age is younger than her actual age.
Lying about age also happens in other film industries. I remember reading an article about in one particular country (can’t recall which one), the average actress took off 2 or 3 years from her age–i.e. claiming to be 24 when she is really 26, or claiming to be 32 when she is really 35. And a lot of these actresses later admitted they were advised by managers or producers to do so, especially if they were near “threshold” ages.
In Rebel’s case, her big breakout was around 2011/2012, so I can see how whoever decided it was appropriate to conceal her real age –her and her agent?– would find 25/26 a more suitable age to takeoff, versus early 30’s. She isn’t a sex symbol, but she does go for those young actress roles. I wonder if this will affect what roles she gets now, or if it doesn’t matter because she fills a niche: overweight comedic actress. I mean, it is not hurting Melissa McCarthy, whose career is doing well in her 40’s.
I know it is a joke that everyone in Hollywood is lying about their age, but I imagine it is harder to do it now in the age of the Internet. Someone will eventually out you.
Sheesh what’s next, Tom Cruise isn’t 5’9′ , Jeremy Renner isn’t straight, Gwyneth Paltrow isn’t a kind hearted guru who wants to make my average existence better? …the lies!! ALL the LIES !!! damn Yee Hollyweird…….
+1 Tia!
Everyone in Hollywood, actually, make that everyone in the entertainment industry (because I think we can name a European or two that fits this description) is a lying liar who lies.
Not really shocked and I’m inclined to believe it. I’d probably lie about my age too in that industry. It’s all about the illusion and appearance in Hollywood anyway. She really does look younger though which I think is a combination of protecting her pale complexion from the sun and her weight. It fills out her face and gives a youthful roundness to her features and smooths out any lines that may be thinking of forming.
Does it matter? That girl in the yearbook picture does not look like her, IMO. What is Rebels real name, wouldn’t that clear things up?
Eta. Looks like her real name is Rebel, I mean she has siblings are Liberty, Ryot, and Annachi.
I heard her siblings names are actually Liberty, Anna and Ryan Bownds. She seems to have given false names out.
Rebel and her siblings used their middle names so they would not get teased in school – David Bowie son changed his name and so did Keith Richards..but I think Frank Zappa’s kids all used their names, Moon Unit, Dweezil..and I can’t remember the rest.
What I’ve come away from this story with is the Gawker quote that stated “And she STILL looks younger than Lourde!”
Eesh. It’s kinda sad anyone has to lie about their age for the sake of their career but I get why they do it. When it’s about how much money gets out on the table you’d rather be 25 than 35 in Hollywood if you’re not already established.
She’s definitely 36, and she didn’t try to hide the evidence of that. She was relatively well-known in Australia for almost a decade before she broke out in the US, she’s done plenty of press that mentions her real age. I mean, she studied law and went to drama school before her first role on a TV show, Pizza, in 2003, so obviously she wasn’t 17 then.
I’m guessing whomever manages her career in the US shaved some years off and she just went along with it. It’s not like it’s some big cover-up though, like some celebs lies about their ages. A little research into her life and her real age is glaringly obvious, there’s been no scrubbing of her past.
The website that ‘broke’ this story (Mamamia) is awful, like the worst parts of Jezebel and Buzzfeed combined. They call themselves a feminist website but they actively look for successful women they can attack, and are constantly writing these gross, passive aggressive articles about them then pretending they’ve done nothing wrong. Talking about Rebel’s real age isn’t out of line, but the article they wrote about it was full of subtle, petty jibes about her schooling, her career and so on. They have an agenda beyond pointing out the facts, and there’s definitely a strong undertone of tall poppy syndrome running through their writing.
Well, 35. If she’s a 1980 baby like me we are turning 35 this year.
Sidebar: being a 1980 baby is always fun because you can play with the numbers to show our ages. Up to 1989 it was the last number of the year that corresponded with the age we would turn that year, e.g. 1985 we turned 5; then it was the first and last number so 1990 we were turning 10 etc. Now it’s even more fun because you can just add the numbers – 20+15 = we are turning 35.
Nerd out.
well, if hollywood wasn’t so sexist actresses wouldn’t need to lie about their age, since they only do it because otherwise they won’t get any work.
she does look younger btw. with other actresses you can totally tell they’re lying, but RW could totally pass for late 20s.
she didn’t exactly lie about it. she’s said in the past that she purposely doesn’t tell her real age and that she and her siblings went by their middle names in school so they wouldn’t get teased.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/the-qa-with-actor-rebel-wilson/story-fn6bn9st-1226199246884
As long as there is no underage / legal issue, I don’t care what age people say they are.
I’ve been turning 33 for the last 4 years, and plan to do so for a couple more.
LMAO. Sadly, I have too big a family to get away with that
She wouldn’t have gotten the part in Pitch Perfect if she didn’t lie about her age. So, I don’t blame her.
I don’t know why my post didn’t make it the first time, so here I go again:
I can see why a desperate foreign entertainer would lie about her age in youth-centric Hollywood.
Also, she’s a bit of an eccentric, goofy, out-of-there, kind of nutty comedian. So it’s all part of her act if she lies about her past, imo. I don’t think professional comedians’ stories, even about themselves, should be taken as seriously as they might be for other people.
I can also see why she would say she’s from the ghetto side of Sydney, because it’s part of her act to do rap skits during interviews.
She’s said before that in school, she used her middle name. It was probably because she didn’t want to be harassed by the other kids and by the teachers too.
The DM came out with her real age, name, and previous residence:
“Australian business records filed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have provided ‘formal verification’ that the actress was born on March 2, 1980, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The ASIC documents further revealed ‘Rebel Melanie Elizabeth Wilson’ was the director of Bogan Pride Productions.
It also shows the address of the comedian’s previous home at Cherrybrook, Sydney’s north-west, the Herald reports.”
I can see why ANYone would lie about their ages, the way some people are SO ageist and judgmental. I feel bad for Rebel Wilson having her business dragged out like this.
That being said, I still want to know if Beyonce is really older than she says, ha ha.
1. Why is being 36 scandalous?
2. If she can get away with saying she’s 28, more power to her. At least it’s not obvious like some of the other women lying about their ages.
So I think she looks 36 – but I’m not even sure what I mean by that. She doesn’t look older or younger – just… 36 fits.
Aside from that – I can’t understand HOW these people hide it. Is it industry cooperation for what they presume will improve marketability? They couldn’t successfully keep that secret from the people who pay them or every tax filing would be rejected as a no match for their birth date – I would assume…. ?
OMG someone in Hollywood lied about their age!
I have the same slippers. Ha!
I don’t get it.
Shouldn’t it be about the age you actually LOOK? It’s called acting after all…what’s the point of being 18 if you look 35+ like some like say Lourde or What’s her face Margot Robbie.
Is that a prosthetic face in her yearbook picture, too? Or did she get the face to look like the girl in that pic? Inquiring minds want to know.
Damned fine looking 35 year old. She’s got awesome skin.
And given how insanely unfair Hollywood is to women older than twenty-five, why the hell should she not lie about something that is not her employer’s business if it isn’t affecting her job performance?
Why is it automatically 1979 if she graduated in 1997? That’s a pretty big flaw in the Women’s Day argument. It could easily be 1980 and then she hasn’t really lied. Her birthday is at the start of the Australian school year, it’s very possible that is just young for her year. I was born in April 1978 and graduated in High School 1995 …
Shaving years off your age no biggie, lying about your class background so you can start your career making fun of people you think are beneath you but you won’t get called on it because you lie about being a middle class private school girl from the north shore sucks.
Aside from Jessica Chastain, didn’t Rachel McAdams lie about her age too? I actually don’t know how old Rachel is now.
I don’t like her, don’t think she’s funny, and always thought she was older. Many people in Hollywood lie about their age, which to me, shows their true character. I understand that the younger people tend to get more parts, but if you’re talented and don’t make a huge deal about your age, it shouldn’t matter.
My bigger issue with what she lied about is her background. She apparently has tried to make herself from a certain segment of the population when she was in reality from a segment that has no idea how the other lives.
This story came from Mamamia, an Aussie ‘women’s’ site that I personally can’t stand so for me, this story reeks of not only the tall poppy syndrome but of fattism and sexism too.
Who gives a flying f*ck how old she is? Poor form Mia Freedman.
I hate when commenters harp on about deceit and lies when this stuff comes up. As long as women over a certain age don’t get work, women will have to give fake ages out to get work and have careers.
And don’t start on about Catherine Zeta Jones! We’re the same age, always have been, she was a child actress when I was a child, a teen actress when I was a teen, and we’re middle aged now. But people seem to keep claiming “proof” she is “lying” pfft.
Yuck, she’s gross. But I’m sure she’s not the first thirty-something woman to lie about 29.