When Rebel Wilson began her “Year of Health” in 2020, she knew she might lose weight and change some unhealthy habits. the Pitch Perfect actress didn’t initially realize how much she would gain.
“When I was heavier, it was kind of like a barrier. In some ways, that barrier protected me from things, but now that it’s gone, I’ve become more raw as a person,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle. “It’s had an unexpected benefit to my acting because I don’t have anything that protects me and I’m very raw. I’ve got two movies coming out this year, the Netflix comedy ‘Big Four’ and the serious drama ‘Almond and Seahorse,’ and I think between those two, it’s the best work I’ve ever done. Oddly enough, I’m a better actress, and I never thought it would come with the added benefit.”
Wilson, who recently hosted BAFTA, also describes herself as a “late bloomer” at 42.
“I’m really feeling the best I’ve ever felt,” she notes. “It’s not just about how I look, it’s about how I feel about myself. I do think beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes I waltz down the red carpet in size 18s and 20s, and you can see in the pictures that I’m really confident and love myself. But I secretly knew I was engaging in some unhealthy eating behaviors, and that’s what I wanted to work on. So now, because I’m a healthier person, it’s going to shine. A lot of my friends say that while I used to be confident, I have a newfound confidence.”
She said Wilson’s “healthy year” gave way to a “hot girl summer. The star revealed she is currently dating someone.
“Hot Girl Summer was so successful that I dropped out of the market,” Wilson shared. “So I won’t be doing Hot Girl Summer this year. Hopefully I’ll have a happy, successful relationship.”
Wilson is also embarking on a whole new journey: she is currently undergoing fertility treatments and hopes to have a family of her own, something she originally spoke about in 2021 and said in part inspired her decision to embrace a healthier lifestyle. Wilson has PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), which made the process even more challenging.
“I just knew I still had eggs, so I could still try and still have a chance, but it’s a real emotional roller coaster where you think you might make it and it doesn’t turn out that way,” said Wilson, who is also considering surrogacy, explained. “If I’m lucky enough to have a family, that would be great. I’ll have to see. Unfortunately, I don’t know where it will go, but I’ve been trying for the past few years. I really feel for anyone who’s gone through it.”
She now encourages other women to consider options in fertility as well.
“I would say to any young woman out there, even though you may be a professional woman, like me – I just don’t think I want kids at all – if you can afford to freeze your eggs, it just gives you more options,. ” she said.
Wilson is also looking to the future in terms of helping the planet. She is currently working with HP on their Plant a Tree With HP campaign, which is in partnership with Dr. Jane Goodall’s Jane’s Green Hope and the Arbor Day Foundation. Every HP product purchased between now and June helps plant one million trees.
“They’re giving back and supporting the environment by planting trees because it’s the best natural way to get carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and help the environment,” she said. “So, it’s really, really great that they’re doing this.”
She added that while she has previously set year-long goals that will benefit her life, such as her “Year of Health,” she wants to make adjustments to her plans for 2022.
“I think 2022 should be the ‘year of giving back,'” she says. “Part of that is the environment. As Australians, we care about our environment. We’re outdoors a lot and we love it, so it’s fantastic to work with Dr. Jane Goodall and HP.”
The JoJo Rabbit actress is excited to enter a new phase of her life – one in which she feels no apologies for being less than glamorous at times.
“Now that I’m in my 40s, the least apologetic I’ve been is when I was ‘wild.’ It’s an Australian word – when you’re not put together, your hair’s a mess and you’re not wearing makeup,” she explains. “Before, I used to be like, ‘Gosh, I don’t want people to look at me like that.’ Now I’m like, ‘You know what? If you came to my house, I would get really wild, in my natural state. I wouldn’t [have] any pretense or anything like that.”
While there are many projects she’s eager to say yes to-such as her latest initiative with HP-she also prides herself on being comfortable with the word “no.”
“If there’s something you don’t want to do or anything else, I’m like, ‘No.’ You don’t have to make excuses. Before I say, ‘Oh, let me check my calendar,'” she says. “I just exerted myself in a way so I could say, ‘Oh, is this something I really want to do or don’t want to do? If not, then so be it.”
