Bridesmaids may have helped launch Rebel Wilson‘s career, but the actress claims she actually “lost money” by appearing in the star-studded comedy.
“I basically made no money,” she said, per The Hollywood Reporter. “I lost money because I had to pay to go to the premiere, like to buy my dress and everything.”
The actress revealed in her memoir Rebel Rising that she was only paid $3,500 for her role in the movie. She also noted that it took a year to receive her paycheck for the film, which left her strapped for cash while trying to make it as an actress living in Los Angeles.
“That was a really skint year where I was living on $60 a week in L.A. once I’d paid my rent and my car hire,” she said. “I wasn’t partying or living this [movie star] life. It was basically having that focus trying to write for myself, like going to auditions.”
The 2011 comedy, directed by Paul Feig, starred Kristen Wiig and Rose Byrne as bridesmaids whose rivalry threatens their friend’s (Maya Rudolph) wedding. It became the highest-grossing female R-rated comedy of all time after its premiere, earning $288 million in the box office.
Wilson’s hilarious performance in the film paid off. The “big hit” helped her land even more roles, including Pitch Perfect.
“I booked six movies off the back of [Bridesmaids], one of which was Pitch Perfect, which was kind of my real golden ticket,” she said.
After Bridesmaids, Wilson’s career included Bachelorettes, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, and more. Pitch Perfect also took off after it premiered in 2012, earning a sequel in 2015.
Bridesmaids is now streaming on Apple TV+ and Peacock.