Rebel Wilson took America by storm in the 2011 smash hit, Bridesmaids. Her star status was cemented a year later when she appeared in another huge box-office success, Pitch Perfect. Wilson went on to win an MTV Movie Award and a Teen Choice award for her performance. Audiences and critics alike loved the raucous character the Australian actor created. They just weren't sure whether she was actually the one doing the singing in the musical comedy.
Based on a book about the rivalry between Collegiate a cappella groups, the movie features a lot of singing. A cappella is one of the most difficult vocal styles, so fans were justified in wondering whether Rebel was really carrying a tune with her own voice during the film.
Only Good Singers Were Cast In Pitch Perfect
Being able to sing was one of the most important requirements for the casting sessions. Director Jason Moore, himself a Broadway musical star, was adamant that the Pitch Perfect actors would perform their own vocals.
The audition list for the two lead a cappella groups, the Barden Bellas and the Treblemakers, included established musical stars like Skylar Austin, Ben Platt, Brittany Snow, and Anna Kendrick, who won a Tony at age 12 for the Broadway musical High Society.
Also on the list was Australian actor, Rebel Wilson. She’d been invited by writer Kay Cannon, who was knocked out by her comedy performance in Bridesmaids.
Rebel Aced Her Pitch Perfect Audition
Wilson apparently delivered an outstanding audition, and in fact, was the first of the Bellas to be cast in the film. Moore was blown away by her rendition of Lady Gaga's hit song, The Edge of Glory.
Wilson included body percussion in her try-out and accompanied her singing with rhythmic thumps on her chest and thighs, interspersed with claps.
It was exactly the type of thing College choirs included in their performances. Wilson’s performance even got a nod from Gaga herself. The Poker Face singer raved after seeing an impromptu performance of Wilson's audition piece on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Once the cast was confirmed, the actors realized just how serious the director was about the musicality being top quality. According toScreenRant, ahead of shooting, the cast attended a month-long a cappella boot camp in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the movie was shot.
It was run by the man known as ‘the father of contemporary a cappella', vocal producer Deke Shannon, who put them through their paces, and made sure they'd be able to handle the intricate style by the time shooting commenced.
Audiences Loved The Movie And the Soundtrack
The work paid off. Three of the songs from the soundtrack made the Billboard Hot 100, and it became the bestselling Soundtrack album of 2013, going platinum with over a million copies sold.
But while audiences didn’t question that it was Anna Kendrick performing songs like the hit Cups, they weren’t so sure about Wilson’s singing skills, and whether it was actually her singing the Gloria Estefan hit We Belong in a duet with friend and co-star Adam Devine.
It's been verified that it was indeed the star herself, and she's gone on to prove that she's a great singer.
Wilson Has Gone On To Sing In Other Musicals
In a 2021 Interview with Broadway World, Wilson admitted that she was never cast in the lead roles in school musicals. The actor trained at the Australian Theater for Young People, where she appeared in a number of new Australian musicals.
Since Pitch Perfect and the 2 Sequels, Wilson has taken her skills back to the musical arena again. In 2016, she made her West End Debut in the Classic musical Guys and Dolls, playing the iconic role of Miss Adelaide.
Three years later, she appeared in Tom Hooper’s film version of Cats, the Broadway musical. Working alongside stars like Dame Judy Dench, James Corden and Taylor Swift, Wilson played the role of Jennyanydots.
Growing up, she might not have had opportunities to show off her voice, but she's more than made up for it, and it all began with Pitch Perfect.
In 2022, Rebel Wilson and her friends celebrated the 10th anniversary of the film. Fans are desperate to see the fourth sequel, and this time, they'll know that the star is singing her own songs.
