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Rebel Wilson says “a lady never tells her age” and admits she lobbied Fairfax to pull an unflattering article

Rebel Wilson fronts court for defamation case against Bauer Media

Rebel Wilson fronts court for defamation case against Bauer Media Source: AAP

Rebel Wilson insists she never lied about her age and always said “a lady never tells”, as the star admits to asking Fairfax to pull an unflattering article with a picture of her with a “fang tooth”.

The actress is suing Bauer Media over a series of articles she says damaged her Hollywood career when she was “hot, hot, hot” property.

Wilson’s claim against the publishers of Woman’s Day, Australian Women’s Weekly, NW and OK magazine is over a series of eight articles she claims painted her as a liar and a fake.

She claims the articles, published in May 2015, caused her to be fired from two DreamWorks films.

Wilson insists she also missed out on further movie roles because the stories said the actress lied about her real name, age and childhood.

As her defamation trial rolled on in the Supreme Court in Melbourne on Tuesday, Wilson said she had sought to make changes to an article in a Fairfax Media publication because she found it unflattering.

She said the Fairfax article had used an old photo that showed a “fang tooth” before she’d been able to afford dental work.

Rebel Wilson arriving at court on Tuesday. Photo: AAP

Wilson again repeatedly denied claims from defence barrister Georgina Schoff QC that she had lied to journalists about her real age.

Wilson told the court she did not tell reporters she was 29 when she was in fact 35, but simply used her “standard comment” that “a lady never tells”.

“I understand you’re being paid per day and you’re trying to drag this out as much as possible,” she told Ms Schoff.

“To say any lady who doesn’t disclose her age….is a serial liar is a huge leap in logic.”

She admitted she had asked Fairfax CEO Greg Hywood to change elements of an “unflattering” article that made reference to her age, and included the toothy photo.

She said that request came when she was the face of online streaming service Stan, and Mr Hywood had offered to assist her if she ever needed help.

Wilson said the Fairfax article referred to her attending a film school she had never studied at.

She denied she had tried to control media references to her age, stating her request to change the Fairfax article came about because of her “business relationship” with Mr Hywood.

“I knew there was mystery as to my age because I’d stopped disclosing it as of 2009,” she said.

She said the mystery “suited me” but denied she’d lied during media interviews.

The trial continues.

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