Rebel Wilson talks Baton Rouge

Australian actress Rebel Wilson, center. Photo courtesy Universal Pictures

Veteran improv comic and Sydney, Australia, native Rebel Wilson returns in Pitch Perfect 2 as the smack-talking, vertical-running Fat Amy.

Having filmed in Baton Rouge for the original Pitch Perfect and now the second, what is your impression of the city?
I’ve had the best time during both shoots. The people in Baton Rouge are so nice and friendly, and Southern cuisine is exceptional. Some of my favorite memories are going to LSU and Saints games and going on local gator tours.

With your background in sketch comedy and improvisation, how much of that have you been able to utilize in Pitch Perfect?
The Pitch Perfect scripts have been so well crafted by our writer Kay Cannon, but I love that on set we really do get to muck around and have fun within the scenes. It’s very spontaneous, especially when myself and cast member Adam Devine—who has a similar comedy background—are together. Sometimes the best stuff is the improvised comedy. It feels really fresh when you see it onscreen.

So you performed for 3,000 extras for the championships scenes. You’re vocally talented actors, but that must have felt like you’re real pop stars at a festival or something. What was that like?
That night it was outdoors, and I was seriously sweating like a ‘bushpig.’ Having such a huge crowd there really did make the park feel like we were performing in the world championships in Europe, and the energy was amazing. It was really hot and in between takes we had to be blasted cool with industrial hand-held fans, but the finished finale looks amazing and all the hard work was worth it.

Read more about the Baton Rouge-shot movie here.

Read an interview with star Hana Mae Lee here.