How young actor's big break ended in court battle against a Hollywood star
Charlotte MacInnes, a young actor, is suing Rebel Wilson for defamation following a fallout during the production of the film adaptation of The Deb. The case centers on allegations of a smear campaign, a disputed incident involving a bathtub in Bondi, and accusations of sexual misconduct against a producer. Wilson denies wrongdoing, claiming her statements were true, while MacInnes asserts her reputation has been damaged.
- ▪Charlotte MacInnes was cast as the lead in the play The Deb at Rebel Wilson's theatre in Sydney.
- ▪A 2023 incident involving MacInnes and producer Amanda Ghost in a Bondi bathtub became a focal point in the defamation case.
- ▪Rebel Wilson's team created a 'whistleblower' website accusing Ghost of sexual misconduct, which included claims later disputed in court.
- ▪MacInnes claims Wilson launched a social media smear campaign that damaged her career and reputation.
- ▪Wilson is defending the case by arguing that her public statements were truthful and not defamatory.
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'Girl power movie', Bondi bathtub and Russian oligarch: Inside Rebel Wilson's defamation trialIBy Isobel RoeTopic:Courts11m ago11 minutes agoFri 1 May 2026 at 9:34pmRebel Wilson gave evidence across three days. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)abc.net.au/news/rebel-wilson-relies-on-truth-defence-in-defamation-trial/106630564Link copiedShareShare articleCharlotte MacInnes, a fledgling acting school graduate from Western Australia, got the opportunity of a lifetime in 2021, when she was cast as the lead in a new play, The Deb.It was to run for two months at The Rebel Theatre in Sydney, named after self-described "Australia's biggest female comedy export", Rebel Wilson.On one night of rehearsals, the theatre's namesake was in the audience watching Ms MacInnes's debut as Maeve, the somewhat snobby city…
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