Has she got stage age? Former classmate opens up about the Rebel Wilson's teenage years and claims that she's actually 36 NOT 29...and was known by a different name

By Daniel Van Boom for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:46 EST, 17 May 2015 | Updated: 16:00 EST, 18 May 2015

She's had a storybook life thus far, growing up in Sydney before having a vision of being an actress while recovering from Malaria in Africa that led to her literally living the dream.

But the story of Rebel Wilson has become a little more complicated with new revelations that as per reported by Woman's Day.

A former high school classmate of the Bridesmaids star opened up about the beloved actress' teen years, alleging that Rebel is actually 36 years old, not 29, as previously thought.

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Rebelling: Rebel Wilson's former high school classmate has made claims about the beloved starlet's teenage life - claiming that her real name is Melanie Elizabeth Bownds

Rebelling: Rebel Wilson's former high school classmate has made claims about the beloved starlet's teenage life - claiming that her real name is Melanie Elizabeth Bownds

'I studied with Rebel at Tara Anglican School for Girls in North Parramatta, Sydney,' said the source.

'But no-one knew of a Rebel Wilson. Her name is – or was – Melanie Elizabeth Bownds, and she’s 36.' 

Daily Mail Australia has also uncovered the Intellectual Property registry of her 2002 play The Westie Monologues - which was lodged by a Melanie Elizabeth Bownds. 

The strange situation could be explained by a 2011 quote from Rebel, where she told The Herald Sun: 'At school we went under our middle names usually. I have two - Melanie Elizabeth - so I was never under Rebel.'  

Further complicating the matter is that the Pitch Perfect star's great aunt was Walt Disney's wife Lillian Bounds, a maiden name very similar to Rebel's alleged name of Bownds.

The funnywoman's siblings are famously named Liberty and Anarchy, for her sisters, and her brother is named Ryot. 

Real age? The source also told Woman's Day that Rebel is 36 - though she's often cited as being 29

Real age? The source also told Woman's Day that Rebel is 36 - though she's often cited as being 29

Making moves: Daily Mail Australia has also uncovered the Intellectual Property registry of her 2002 play Westies Monologues - which was lodged by a Melanie Elizabeth Bownds

Making moves: Daily Mail Australia has also uncovered the Intellectual Property registry of her 2002 play Westies Monologues - which was lodged by a Melanie Elizabeth Bownds

Humble beginnings? Rebel attended Tara Anglican School for Girls, which currently costs parents tuition fees of up to $25,000. The insider says she enjoyed a 'upper-middle-class upbringing'

Humble beginnings? Rebel attended Tara Anglican School for Girls, which currently costs parents tuition fees of up to $25,000. The insider says she enjoyed a 'upper-middle-class upbringing'

Rebel has joked to the likes of Ellen DeGeneres and David Letterman that she grew up in 'the ghetto,' Sydney's west, but her former classmate says she had a 'upper-middle-class upbringing.' 

Tara Anglican School for Girls, which indeed is in Sydney's West is one of Sydney's top schools and currently costs parents tuition fees of up to $25,000 per year. 

'I'm from Sydney, the western suburbs which is kind of like the real ghetto area,'  Rebel told David Letterman last December.

She added that her parents named her Rebel because 'a little girl called Rebel sang at my parents' wedding, and that's where they got the name from.' 

Fact or fiction? She joked to David Letterman last December that she grew up in western Sydney's 'ghetto'

Fact or fiction? She joked to David Letterman last December that she grew up in western Sydney's 'ghetto'

Meanwhile, in 2013 she appeared on Ellen and revealed her parents were 'professional dog showers.'

This is corroborated by a picture of Rebel presenting dogs with her mum at an early age.

However, the former classmate noted she never saw any dogs around at the future comedy starlets home.

Who let the dogs out? In 2013 she appeared on Ellen and revealed her parents were professional dog showers

Who let the dogs out? In 2013 she appeared on Ellen and revealed her parents were professional dog showers

Proof! However, the starlet's claims seem backed up by this shot of herself as a youngster alongside mum Sue (L) as the two present at a dog show

Proof! However, the starlet's claims seem backed up by this shot of herself as a youngster alongside mum Sue (L) as the two present at a dog show

Rebel has famously told of her rise to fame, which began when she contracted malaria in Zimbabwe as a Youth Ambassador for Australia.

'I had this hallucination that I was an actress and that I was really good and that I went to the Academy Awards and won an Oscar,' she told Maude Apatow in 2012. 'That's gonna be my destiny.' 

The blonde's breakthrough Hollywood role came in 2011's Bridesmaids - a role she secured after spending years accruing acting credits in Australia.

Rebel's been spending the last few weeks blazing a promotional trail for the sequel Pitch Perfect 2 - which has already grossed over $100million at the worldwide box office. 

Fast forward: Rebel's been spending the last few weeks blazing a promotional trail for the sequel Pitch Perfect 2 - which has already grossed over $100million at the worldwide box office

Fast forward: Rebel's been spending the last few weeks blazing a promotional trail for the sequel Pitch Perfect 2 - which has already grossed over $100million at the worldwide box office

Tell all: Her former classmate makes her claims about the Bridesmaids starlet's home and academic life in Woman's Day

Tell all: Her former classmate makes her claims about the Bridesmaids starlet's home and academic life in Woman's Day

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