Updated May 22, 2017 19:16:34

Photo: Actress Rebel Wilson arrived in Melbourne last week ahead of the trial. (AAP: Joe Castro)

Australian Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson's "world collapsed" after a number of magazines, including Woman's Day, published articles allegedly insinuating she was a serial liar, a Melbourne court has been told.

The movie star is suing publisher Bauer Media over a series of articles in May 2015, which her barrister told the jury "tore down an Australian star to sell magazines".

Opening Wilson's case, Matthew Collins QC told the court the publisher had "timed its assault" to coincide with the release of box office hit Pitch Perfect 2, which Wilson had a starring role in.

"This publisher refused to let the facts get in the way of a good story," he said.

The initial article published by Woman's Day claimed Wilson had publicly lied about her age, real name and upbringing, allegedly insinuating she had added a touch of Hollywood to her backstory.

It was followed by seven stories in Bauer Media's other magazines including New Weekly and Women's Weekly.

Dr Collins told the court Wilson was subsequently fired from the movies Kung Fu Panda 3 and Trolls and had not been offered another role in a movie since.

Outside court, Wilson said it was traumatic to relive that period of her life.

"You might have seen me crying already today just in the opening statements, to relive the time two years ago," she said.

"I won't be intimidated and I'm here ready to tell my side of the story."

Wilson will give evidence on Tuesday morning.

The court was told her family, agents and other Australian actors including Hugh Sheridan and Kate Jenkinson would also give evidence.

Bauer Media denies the articles were defamatory.

Barrister Georgina Schoff QC, representing the publisher, told the jury the articles were true and, in any case, trivial and unlikely to cause Wilson any harm.

Ms Schoff told the court Wilson had launched the case as retribution for legal action Bauer Media was taking against her in another defamation case for a tweet she had posted about one of their journalists.

The trial before Justice John Dixon is expected to run for three weeks.

Topics: courts-and-trials, arts-and-entertainment, print-media, media, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted May 22, 2017 19:05:29