Australian actress and comedian Rebel Wilson made her directorial debut with the musical film “The Deb,” which premiered at the closing night of the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday. Wilson both directed and starred in the movie. She explained her passion for musicals developed after watching a stage production as a teenager that helped her through dark times.
“The Deb” tells the story of two cousins from different backgrounds who both seek attention and discover themselves through their rural Australian high school’s upcoming debutante ball. Taylah Simpkins, played by Natalie Abbott, is an outcast who sees the ball as her chance to transform. Meanwhile, her city-dwelling cousin Maeve, played by Charlotte MacInnes, views the traditional event as outdated and looks to challenge social norms.
Inspired by classic Australian movies like “Muriel’s Wedding” and “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” Wilson said she wanted to create a film set in Australia featuring local aspects like koalas and the bush. She adapted it from the original stage musical of the same name. Major producers included Wilson’s own Camp Sugar Productions along with Australian company Bunya Productions and firms Unigram and AI Film.
Though her background was in acting, Wilson discovered an interest in directing while working on the movie adaptation of “Cats.” A conversation with that film’s director and encouragement from a female producer prompted Wilson to consider moving behind the camera. Now Wilson plans to focus solely on directing musicals, saying they can spread joy and positivity. She has already received two offers for future musical directing projects.
