The scary experience that convinced Rebel Wilson she had to become an actor.

After starting out as Toula in Fat Pizza, Rebel Wilson has landed roles in some of the biggest comedy films of the last decade. And she has a mosquito to thank for all of it.

You see, when Wilson was on a trip to Mozambique in the early 2000s, she caught malaria. The disease induces symptoms like fever, vomiting, tiredness and headaches, and can be deadly.

The medication Wilson took to treat her malaria caused her to hallucinate. While hallucinating Wilson dreamt she had won an Oscar for acting.

"I took like a gap year between high school and college and I went to Africa for the year," she told Today in 2022. 

"I got malaria really, really badly and I hallucinated that I was an actress and that I was really good."

While Wilson returned to Australia to study law, she also chased her acting dreams.

"I come back to Australia and said, 'Guys I'll go to law school as well, but I think I've got to pursue acting too because I had the vision.'"

"I know it sounds stupid, but it was so real and I just knew then it would happen," she previously Elle. "When I came back, everyone was like: 'Rebel, you can’t be an actress because you’re so smart,' but I was sure."

And her determination and sheer grit paid off.

Although she’s yet to win an Oscar, Wilson continues to be one of the most well-known faces in Hollywood.

Plus, she’s damn funny.

Image: Facebook/UNSW Law & Justice.