Rebel Wilson loses High Court bid to fight defamation case

Lawyers for actor Rebel Wilson have had an application to the High Court for leave to appeal in her defamation case against Bauer Media rejected.

Australian actor Rebel Wilson sucessfully sued Bauer Media for defamation. Source: AAP

The High Court has knocked back special leave for Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson to fight her defamation case against Bauer Media.

Wilson's barristers, Matthew Collins QC and Renee Enbom, appeared before the High Court in Canberra on Friday seeking special leave to appeal after she was forced to repay almost 90 per cent of her record $4.7 million payout to the Woman's Day publisher that defamed her.

But the court refused the application, with costs.

Bauer Media welcomed the court decision.

"Bauer Media is invested in its Australian business now more than ever," Bauer chief executive Paul Dykzeul said in a statement.

"Our audience trust our content and our writers and they love our iconic brands like Woman's Day and Australian Women's Weekly."