Fishing for answers
From her humble beginnings in Australian soap opera Home and Away, Isla Fisher is fast becoming one of Hollywood's hottest up-and-coming female talents. The 31-year-old mother of one talks comedy, her nomadic lifestyle and Sacha Baron Cohen
You seem to be carving a niche for yourself in comdey...
Isla Fisher: It was mainly Sacha that got me into it. At school I was the class clown. I have always been the one to make a fool of myself to get a laugh at a party or wherever I have been in my life. But I have never really associated that with doing it publicly in such a large arena.
But then Sacha was like, 'You are so funny, you are the funniest woman I know - you should be doing comedy.' After that I auditioned for Wedding Crashers. Sacha is so funny that he sort of inspired me. And since I started doing what I like to do on camera, I have had a lot more success. When you try to suppress yourself and be really serious, people just don't buy it.
Are you surprised to be playing more mature roles? You still look so young!
Isla Fisher: I know, I know, I'm old but I look young! Actually, it has caused some problems in the past. We went to a party in Hollywood when we first came over and it was a big celebrity thing and we were really excited. I got to the door and this posh woman ushered us in to this huge mansion and then she took my hand, let Sacha go into the party and took me into a separate room. I'm like, 'Oooh, am I going to get a goody bag?' and the room was filled with 13-year-old kids! She said, 'Do you want a soft drink?' and then it sunk in!
Was it always your goal to make it in Hollywood?
Isla Fisher: No. Weirdly enough I only came out on the back of Scooby Doo for the premiere. Then I ended up getting representation and getting a job almost straight away. I was fortunate in that I didn't have to come out to LA and join a queue of however many people and try to get work. I came in on the back of what was deemed a big studio movie that had had extraordinary success.
Are you happy living in LA?
Isla Fisher: I don't really live there; I live 50 per cent of the time in London and Europe. I'm Australian so that's home too. I'm a bit of a nomad.
A lot of Americans don't seem to know you are Australian...
Isla Fisher: When you go to have meetings, usually before you audition, they'll chat with you and it always feels really contrived and awkward for me to conduct that conversation in an American accent. So I go in and say, 'G'day, I am Isla' and then when I start acting I'll do the accent. When we filmed The Lookout, I would stay vocally in character through the day, just to keep my American accent up.
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