Rebel Wilson's memoir Rebel Rising details how the Hollywood actress became the 'fat funny girl'

Rebel Wilson conquered Hollywood by tapping into what makes her unique. (Supplied: HarperCollins Australia / Author's family archives)

In Rebel Wilson's recently released memoir Rebel Rising, the Hollywood actress tells the tale of her move to Los Angeles and how she found herself sharing a flat with another aspiring Australian actress Monique, who she'd known previously.

Wilson writes about observing a slimmed down Monique, who had moved to LA a few years earlier, weighing and measuring all her "healthy" foods on a scale.

"She used to be bigger, but I'd noticed she had slimmed down a lot now that she was in America," Wilson writes.

"She was so tiny now and she obviously wanted to stay that way."

Wilson later writes that Monique, unable to catch a break in the film industry, quietly left Hollywood after years of trying.

In a city where aspiring actors try their hardest to be the slimmest version of themselves, Monique wasn't too dissimilar to everyone else, is the message here.

Wilson, on the other hand, leaned into the key thing that made her different – being overweight.

When Wilson met with the agency that would wind up representing her William Morris Endeavor (WME), she didn't shrink away from what made her different, she emphasised it.

"I tell the agents Stephanie and Kami about how I'm definitely the new female Jonah Hill (selling myself … obvi). I see the agents looking at me.

"I'm experienced with both stage and TV productions, but I'm a big girl and there aren't many of them in Hollywood. Still, I not only act but also write and produce."

Wilson writes that the response she gets is: "'Well, we don't really have anyone else like you on our books,' and with that they agree to represent me. I am unique. And whoa! Being unique has paid off."

Wilson goes on to land scene-stealing roles in the 2011 film Bridesmaids, during which she reveals her bare torso when showing off a "free tattoo", and 2012's Pitch Perfect in which she plays Fat Amy.

In a world where everyone is angling to be the same, Wilson tapped into what made her unique –"being plus-size, Australian and a multi-hyphenate (actress-writer-producer)" – and found great success doing so.

'I used being overweight to my advantage'

While promoting her memoir, Wilson joined former talk show host Oprah Winfrey for a WeightWatchers special.

Wilson told Winfrey she was encouraged not to lose weight by an agent who implied it would affect her career.

She fired that agent.

"I used being overweight to my advantage," Wilson told Winfrey.

"I leant into comedy.

"I first wanted to become a serious actress and then I realised bigger girls do really well in comedy.

"And I made millions of dollars playing the fat funny girl and I loved it. I really loved it."

But it was time for a change.

Wilson's weight loss journey was about motherhood

In the opening pages of her memoir, Wilson visits a fertility clinic to freeze her eggs and is faced with the reality that if she wants to have a child, she needs to be a healthier version of herself.

Wilson has since welcomed a daughter via surrogate.

She's candid in her memoir, opening up not only about weight gain and weight loss, but also falling in love with a woman – her partner Ramona Agruma; about her childhood; and about making it in Hollywood.

A chapter of the book was redacted for legal reasons, which delayed the book's release in Australia and New Zealand.

The book is an inspirational look at what led to where Wilson is today.

Wilson is vulnerable in her memoir. And it gives an insight into the life and journey of an established star, told in a frank and charmingly self-deprecating manner.

Rebel Rising is available in bookstores and as an ebook and audiobook read by the author