Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has announced the birth of her second child, amidst a turbulent time for the Australian-born actor.

Wilson, who has been in Australia for a blockbuster court battle with a former co-star, confirmed the birth of baby daughter Rose Estelle on Instagram on Monday.

“What a gorgeous blessing to have another little girl! Now on May 4th it’s now 4 of us! Ramona and I are feeling so incredibly grateful and blessed to grow our family, thank you everyone for all the well wishes,” she wrote.

Wilson had been accompanied to court in Sydney for at least part of last week by wife Ramona Agruma. The heavily pregnant Agruma was eventually excused from giving evidence in the case, which centres on Pitch Perfect star Wilson’s directorial debut film The Deb.

Baby Rose is a little sister for the couple’s other daughter, Royce Lillian, who was born by surrogate in late 2022.

Wilson’s Instagram post about the little girl’s birth was flooded with messages of congratulations from some of her 11 million followers. Among them was socialite Paris Hilton, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards and singer Brittany Snow.

“Wow! The most beautiful,” Snow wrote.

Monday’s announcement came ahead of closing arguments in the defamation battle in the Federal Court between Wilson and her former co-star, Charlotte MacInnes.

MacInnes claims she was defamed by Wilson in social media posts that suggested she was a liar and a sellout who withdrew a sexual harassment complaint to advance her career.

The posts alleged MacInnes confided to Wilson – but later recanted – that she felt uncomfortable when the film’s co-producer Amanda Ghost asked to have a shower and a bath together.

The claim hinges on a medical episode Ghost suffered at Bondi Beach on September 5, 2023. It led to her and MacInnes sharing a bath in their swimwear to warm up.

The court head that neither MacInnes nor a witness had any concern about the incident and hadn’t considered anything untoward had happened.

Wilson said in evidence she was shocked by the divulgence and that night told The Deb‘s local producer Greer Simpkin, who she described as very responsible.

But Simpkin told the Federal Court on Friday she hadn’t discussed the bath incident with Wilson until a phone call days later.

She said she was unaware of Wilson’s claims that MacInnes had reported being uncomfortable until a week after the medical episode, when she dined with Ghost.

“I would have acted on it earlier if I’d known it was uncomfortable,” Simpkin said.

She subsequently orchestrated MacInnes’ removal from the apartment she had been sharing with Ghost and another woman. She also met MacInnes’ agent to check on the young actor’s welfare and to reveal the real reason for her eviction.

In an email tendered to the court, the agent reported back to “mend this misunderstanding” and clarify MacInnes had never been uncomfortable around Ghost, whom she idolised.

Simpkin forwarded the email to Ghost, noting that MacInnes’ version of events was different from those of the producer and another woman who was there.

Simpkin told the court her communications relied on Wilson’s insistence that she did not misunderstand MacInnes’ disclosure.

“I’m in a tricky situation here,” she said.

“Rebel Wilson is my boss, as is Amanda Ghost. I’m trying to be respectful to both parties”.

She said was surprised when Wilson re-agitated the alleged complaint a month later.

Wilson has rejected accusations she fabricated the sexual harassment complaint or raised it for leverage during her disputes with co-producers rather than out of concern for MacInnes.

She maintains MacInnes “flip-flopped” and changed her story in exchange for “huge enticements”, including a lead role and a record deal.

The high-profile lawsuit had been expected to wrap last Friday but will instead return to court this week for closing arguments.

-with AAP