Today, Australian actress and author Isla Fisher celebrates her 45th birthday, so it is only right we celebrate her amazing career – so far.
Born in Muscat, Oman, Fisher is the daughter of Elspeth Reid and Brian Fisher – originally from Scotland. Isla’s father was a banker in Oman for the United Nations. As a child her family moved to her father’s birth country in Scotland, however, when she was six, they moved across the other side of the world to Perth, Western Australia.
From a young age, her acting career began to shine through after she had lead roles in her school productions including Little Shop of Horrors. As she grew up, when she turned 21, she attended the L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq school in Paris. There, she not only studied musical theatre, but also mime, clown, and commedia dell’arte – formerly known as Italian comedy.
At age nine, Fisher made her TV debut after appearing in various Aussie TV adverts, however her professional debut came in 1993 after guest appearing in children’s TV shows Bay City and Paradise Beach. From 1994 until 1997, Isla appeared a little show known as Home and Away, playing Shannon read. After leaving school, Fisher appeared in various plays including in pantomime in the UK.
Image credit: Pinterest
Isla Fisher’s transition to Hollywood came in 2002 appearing in the live action version of Scooby-Doo. After that, she appeared in supporting roles in Dallas 362 (2003) and The Wannabes (2003).
Her true breakthrough came in the 2005 comedy Wedding Crashers, where she appeared alongside Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. When speaking in interviews, Isla had described how it was “an interesting character to play, because she was so crazy and lacking in any kind of social etiquette.
“She doesn’t care what anyone thinks.”
Fisher was recognised for her breakthrough film as he received the “Breakthrough Performance Award” at the MTV Movie Awards, two Teen Choice nominations and Empire magazine described her as an “unexpected scene-stealing joy.”
Isla appeared more frequently on our screens over the next few years in films such as The Lookout (2007), Hot Rod (2007) and Definitely, Maybe (2008), all films which included other stars of Hollywood that we know and love today including Andy Samberg, Ryan Reynolds, Elizabeth Banks and many more.
Many of you will most likely know her from her first leading role in the 2009 comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic – alongside the dreamy Hugh Dancy. Following the film, she received her third Teen Choice Award nomination.
From 2010, Fisher began to appear on the silver screen more as she was becoming a household name. this included appearing in the 2011 animated comedy Rango – alongside Johnny Depp, Abigail Breslin and Bill Nighy. Other films over the next few years included Bachelorette (2012) and Rise of the Guardians (2012).
Some of the bigger films of her career (so far) both came out in 2013 and proved both very successful. This was The Great Gatsby, where Fisher played the mistress of Tom Buchannan and in Now You See Me.
From 2015, Isla continued to appear on our screens such as the 2015 independent horror Visions, starring as a pregnant woman who begins to experience supernatural manifestations. Then, in 2016 she appeared alongside her real life husband Sacha Baron Cohen in Grimsby playing the Nadler of a MI6 agent.
Image credit: Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Going back to her personal life, Isla first met Cohen in 2002 at a party in Sydney. Two years later in 2004, the pair became engaged and married in 2010 in Paris, France. Together, they have three children and now reside in both London and Los Angeles.
Before Fisher married Sacha, she converted to Judaism as this was his faith and they had a Jewish wedding back in 2010.
Isla Fisher is a Hollywood talent who has many acting years ahead of her, as well as writing and luckily for us, she has already provided us with some memorable pieces. Happy birthday!
By Katie Green
Feature image: The Telegraph