Isla Fisher's Definite rise to success

16 February 2008

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But exciting developments in her career were quite literally dwarfed by developments in her personal life when the diminutive 5ft 2in star met and fell in love with 6ft 3in British comic Sacha Baron Cohen - who would later have worldwide success with his hit 2006 movie 'Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan'.

Unfortunately, any fans hoping to see the couple recreate their magic on screen will have a long wait.

Fisher declared: "Would we ever work together? God, no! I mean how successful are married working relationships? Nicole and Tom split up after 'Eyes Wide Shut'. Sandra Oh and her director husband Alexander Payne separated after 'Sideways'. I feel like working together is the kiss of death."

By 2004 the couple made in comedy heaven were engaged and in the same year Fisher landed what would become her big break role as crazed nymphomaniac Gloria Cleary in 'Wedding Crashers'.

Like Diaz before her, Fisher delighted audiences and critics alike with her blend of perfect comic timing and girl-next-door looks.

In fact, her unbashful commitment to comedy often left the duo of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson waning in the shadows and scored her a Breakthrough Performance Award at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards.

After secondary roles in relationship drama 'London' and thriller 'The Lookout', Fisher returned to her comedy calling in 'Hot Rod'.

But it was her pairing with another rom-com staple Jason Biggs in 2007's 'Wedding Daze' that reminded audiences of her Diaz-style-appeal as the vulnerable goofball.

Now she shares top-billing with an Oscar-nominee in the form of Abigail Breslin in 'Definitely, Maybe'.

The story evolves around a 30-something Manhattan dad Will Hayes in the midst of a divorce who is probed by his 10-year-old daughter Maya (Breslin) about his life before he married her mother.

Will gives Maya the 'PG' version and changes the names of the three loves of his life so his inquisitive daughter has to guess who the woman is her father would eventually marry; his college sweetheart Emily (Elizabeth Banks), his longtime best friend April (Fisher), or the free-spirited and ambitious journalist Summer (Rachel Weiz).

For all her onscreen pairings, Fisher's best match to date remains with her 36-year-old fiancé Baron Cohen.

In October 2007, the happy couple welcomed the arrival of their first child together, a daughter who they named Olive.

And ever the down-to-earth character both on and off screen, Fisher announced her family would always come first, saying before the birth: "There's no way I'm going to worry about missing out on work - or the pressure to lose weight. I'm fully booked up in my personal life and I can't see beyond that. I'll be focusing on colouring books for kids."

Luckily Fisher had no need to worry, as the film parts came flooding in thick and fast. This year alone she can be heard lending her voice to Dr Seuss animation 'Horton Hears a Who!' and also stars in the big screen adaptation of the hit novel 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'.

With her film credits stacking up and a wedding reportedly round the corner now she has fully converted to Baron's Jewish faith, it looks like this one-time-aspiring romantic novelist couldn't have written herself a better happy ending.

Here, Fisher talks about her on screen chemistry with Reynolds, teaching her kids about sex and why she loves to travel.

Q. Do you recognise parts of April in yourself?

A. I think there are shades of myself in all of the three female characters. I am quite similar to April, being free-spirited and forthright at times. In my early twenties I was like April in that I was desperate to travel. I love travelling.

Q. You have travelled a lot, what country made the biggest impact on you?

A. I loved Morocco. It's very exotic and different from anywhere I've ever been. I had an amazing day there in the high Atlas Mountains near Mount Tamadot, when I rode by donkey into a Berber village and drank some mint tea with a Berber family. It was exceptional.

Q. Tell me more about April.

A. April is feisty and apolitical and she is Will's confidante. She is also, despite being confident, someone who is afraid of love and the depth of her own heart. Through her relationship with Will, she develops the courage to express her true feelings and is inspired to find her true calling in life.

Q. Why does she take so long to come to terms with her true self?

A. Because, when the movie begins, she is so young and is still grieving the loss of her father but with life experience she heals, learning who she is and what she wants.

Q. Do you think women today follow a traditional society-imposed life or follow their own true calling?

A. I think what's great in this movie is that the three female characters portray what it means to be a modern woman - the difficulties of balancing a personal and professional life, or what it feels like to settle down young, like Emily. I think all these women are following their true calling.

Q. What qualities do you find most appealing in the other two female roles?

A. I think that April's most appealing quality is her feistiness, Emily's is her sweetness and Summer's is her sassiness.

Q. Do you find it difficult to find good roles for actresses?

A. I think there is a lack of quality roles for women in comedies. Most actresses get cast as the "eye-roller" or "the serious one," while men in comedies get to do all the fun, silly stuff and muck around. Sometimes you just have to search hard for a role or create one for yourself.

Q. How do you choose a script for yourself?

A. By knowing who the filmmaker is and what his vision is and, obviously, by the role and whether it seems challenging.

Q. What stories appeal to you, real or unreal?

A. I prefer stories that are real and grounded, set in real life.

Q. What was it like to work with your co-stars, Ryan and Abigail?

A. Working with Ryan was really fun. He is very down-to-earth and funny. It's rare when you and your co-star have a natural chemistry, one that doesn't have to be manufactured. Fortunately we had that. Abigail is so talented and mature for her age. We only had a few scenes together but she is so talented that she blew me away.

Q: In the movie Ryan has to explain about love and sex to Abigail, have you considered how you will broach that subject with you children?

A. Motherhood is personally my favourite subject but I don't like to discuss it publicly. I can tell you, however, that my friends who have kids believe that keeping the lines of communication open seem to benefit the child.

Q. On screen you and Ryan show a genuine affection for each other, how did that happen?

A. I got to tease Ryan a lot, both on and off camera, which was fun.

Q. What were the romantic scenes like?

A. I think kissing scenes always feel awkward but there's just no way around it. But it's a part of the job.

Q. What makes this film have an "old movie" vibe?

A. April and Will's relationship reminds me of the Spencer Tracy-Katherine Hepburn dynamic; the witty banter and sexual tension that crackles between them.

Q. How was your experience of shooting in New York?

A. Shooting in New York was incredible. It's so multicultural and alive.

Q. The film's 90s soundtrack is great. What kind of music do you like?

A. I have very eclectic taste in music. I like everything from Nirvana, which is featured in the film, to world music, to orchestral and jazz. For me, the 90s were about Oasis, because I was travelling around Britain when that band exploded onto the music scene.

Q. Your mother is a novelist and you have also written a couple of books too. Do you still write?

A. I still write. I'd love to write more trashy chick-lit. At the moment I just rewrite my own lines, which probably annoys most directors - though, thankfully not Adam Brooks!

Q. In shooting 'Definitely, Maybe' did you follow the script?

A. Yes, because 'Definitely Maybe' was such a well written story and the dialogue was so sharp, obviously, I wanted to follow the script. But Adam Brooks allowed us to improvise.

Q. What would you say the overall message of the film is?

A. This film discusses the idea of whether it's the "who" or "when" in finding your soul mate.

Q. How is this romantic comedy different?

A. Unlike typical romantic comedies, 'Definitely Maybe' is not formulaic or predictable and it spans a decade whilst being set against a political background. Also, the audience doesn't know who ends up with who until the very end, which makes it a sort of romantic mystery comedy.

By Kate Sole

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