Actress Rebel Wilson revealed she pushed herself to the limit in preparation for her latest role in the upcoming action-comedy Bride Hard, where she stars as a bridesmaid with secret agent skills tasked with saving her best friend’s wedding.
Speaking at the film’s premiere in West Hollywood, California, Wilson told People magazine that this role required her to elevate her physical comedy to new heights. “I often put my body on the line for physical comedy. In past roles, that’s meant quite a lot of falls, but for Bride Hard, I had to properly train for the fight scenes,” she said.
The Pitch Perfect star underwent a demanding five-week training regimen that included conditioning and fight choreography. “I was pretty strong during this movie. I trained for a full five weeks and did conditioning. I had to be really in beast mode, but I really enjoyed it. Getting paid to almost be fit, which is really good!” she added.
Image: IMDb
Wilson made a striking appearance on the red carpet alongside her stunt double Meredith Richardson. Meanwhile, her wife, Ramona Agruma, stayed home with their daughter, Royce.
Highlighting the difference from her previous physical comedy work, Wilson explained, “Some of the physical comedy I’ve done before is just running into walls or falling over. But this was actual fighting.”
Wilson also credited her comic-action inspiration to Jackie Chan, recalling her childhood in South Africa: “To pass the time, I’d watch Jackie Chan films. I loved his comic timing. Even when I couldn’t understand the dialogue, the action scenes were just so good. I guess that’s why I first picked up nunchucks, trying to be a bit like Jackie Chan.”
Despite her playful approach to training, Wilson admitted, “I’m a little bit coordinated, but I’m no Bruce Lee, that’s for sure. I just did it kind of as a laugh.”
The actress revealed she sustained an injury on the final night of filming when a gun accidentally struck her face during an opening fight sequence, splitting her nose. “That was the one downside,” she said.
Still, Wilson left the production with at least one new skill. “I think I could throw a good left,” she joked. “I’m heavily left-handed. If needed, if we were mugged on the street, I think I could throw a solid left hook.”
Bride Hard is set to bring a fresh mix of action and comedy, showcasing Wilson’s commitment to expanding her range as a physical performer.