Rebel Wilson's 'Girl Group' found inspiration in the Spice Girls

Hear this story TORONTO − Rebel Wilson is back in her spicy era.

The Australian actress and filmmaker celebrates decades of girl-group music in her fittingly titled new directorial effort, the musical comedy “Girl Group.” She pays special tribute, however, to the Spice Girls, one of her favorite groups growing up Down Under.

“Basically, the Spice Girls helped me out in a really dark time when I was a teenager,” Wilson said at a Q&A following the Sept. 11 world premiere of “Girl Group” at Toronto International Film Festival . “They’re like, ‘Girl power!’ and ‘Get out there and do it,’ and that was kind of at the time when I came out of my shell as a 14-year-old. Those girls gave me the courage to be out there and want to be bold and brave.”