By Lucy O’Loughlin/Bang Media
The Aussie star reveals how she struggled to get her “ruined” body back after the birth of her daughter Olive.
Isla Fisher now boasts a picture-perfect figure, but the 33-year-old actress says when she scored the lead role in Confessions Of A Shopaholic she had her personal trainer close to tears as she attempted to lose almost 30kg following the birth of daughter Olive. Here the former Home And Away star talks about sneaking snacks, her marriage plans with Borat funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen and why she’s the world’s worst shopper.
You put on a lot of weight when you were pregnant with Olive. How did you lose it all so quickly?
Jerry Bruckheimer, the Confessions Of A Shopaholic producer, hired a personal trainer to help me get rid of the 30kg I put on during pregnancy. He said I was lucky I was blessed with good genes because I had a really bad attitude towards exercise — like stopping when it hurt or got boring, and having a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Apparently you are not supposed to do that in Hollywood.
Did you feel pressure to lose the weight quickly?
My trainer was all about lifestyle, and he had this list of things I wasn’t allowed to eat. It was so long, there was hardly anything left I could eat! He came around to my house three days a week, so I had to lead this double life where I pretended to be really good but secretly had cakes stuffed into all my pockets. As soon as he looked the other way, I’d shove them in my mouth. One time I’d eaten a hamburger and fries and I was feeling guilty, so I confessed to eating a bread roll and he nearly burst into tears. Imagine if he knew everything else I’d eaten!
How do you feel about your body since giving birth?
I definitely feel sexier after having Olive because even though everything’s going south and is essentially ruined, I feel like a real woman now. I’m a mum. I love being a mum … just love it.
Would you ever consider getting plastic surgery?
Being proud of who we are as people is more important than cutting into ourselves to create this false idea of beauty. I think there is nothing sexier than laughter lines. I haven’t done the white teeth — I haven’t really Americanised my look. But we will see what happens when you interview me in five years. Maybe I’ll be looking permanently surprised through Botox!
You and Sacha have been engaged for nearly five years. Are you ever going to walk down the aisle?
We are going to get married, now more than ever. We have been talking about it and been very close, but it has been difficult to plan. It is very important to me to have a beautiful ritual celebrated with all my family and friends, and to feel part of a community. When you are in the public eye, to make that happen and keep that private is really difficult.
Is Sacha a good father?
He is a wonderful father. He’s very attentive, constantly amusing and really hands-on. He’s better than 10 out of 10. Olive’s only 17 months old and he already makes her shriek with laughter.
You and Sacha have very busy schedules. How do you keep things spicy in the bedroom?
I think there is nothing sexier than a handlebar moustache. We have a spare one at home — and I wear it!
You are converting to Judaism for Sacha. Are you fluent in Hebrew yet?
That would be pushing it! I know a bit.
Do you ever discuss film roles with Sacha?
He was the reason I got into comedy. I was auditioning for dramatic roles without any success. I was losing confidence in my abilities when he suggested comedy. He always felt I was really funny, so if someone as funny as him recommends that, I listen. I auditioned for Wedding Crashers, which turned out to be my big break.
Would you ever consider doing a movie with him?
I would love to work with Sacha — I think he’s the funniest man in the world — but not right now. At the moment I’m not working and I don’t feel like working. I’m really lucky to be in the position that I am.
Is it true you only agreed to do Confessions Of A Shopaholic if you were allowed to wear 12cm stilettos?
I did. There’s something very funny about a shopaholic wearing ridiculously high heels and tottering everywhere. I thought it’d be amusing. It was less amusing, of course, when I was actually doing it every day.
Are you a shopaholic?
I have never been a good shopper. I shop very rarely and very poorly. I don’t really enjoy it. I find that when I buy things, I buy the same thing over and over again. It will be a specific kind of bright top, and I never have what you call basics, so it doesn’t really go with anything. I wouldn’t describe myself as a fashionista but I am definitely not as shy about dressing as I used to be. I have learnt a lot.
Were you surprised to be cast in the film?
I was sent an early draft of the script but I didn’t really think about it. The next thing I know, the producer is on the phone wanting to meet with me. I was six months pregnant and I could barely walk. I had already put on about 50 pounds [25kg], which is a lot for me because I’m so tiny. I waddled into the meeting and pitched a lot of jokes and a lot of them ended up being in the movie. Normally, you pitch all the funny ideas and then they give the part to somebody else, but in this case they picked me!
What was the last thing you bought on a credit card?
I love going out for dinner. I bought some magazines at the airport because I don’t carry cash.
Have you ever been in debt?
I am sure I have, but I am not owning up to it! That is very Rebecca Bloomwood of me! I would love to tell you but unfortunately I can’t!
Did you have any embarrassing moments on set?
It is interesting because when I am in character I don’t really feel embarrassed. In real life I am a lot shyer, but once I am on set and in costume, I am hidden behind the person I am playing and I feel quite free to experiment.
Do you think the film sends out a positive message, considering the current economic crisis?
Yes I do. I think the message is about consumption and it is something we are all learning about at the moment. Obviously, the movie was set in a different economic period but it is a redemption story and I think she learns her lesson.
There seems to be a lot of films lately that focus on women’s relationship with shopping. Why do you think that is?
Men like to shop too!
You play a journalist in the movie — what research did you do?
My girlfriend from high school is a journalist so I spoke with her. I also researched the shopping end of the character by visiting some over-spender under-earner groups, who, essentially, are shopaholics. Rather sadly, their lives have become unmanageable because of their shopping addiction. But I don’t want to focus on that side, this movie is supposed to be escapist fun.
You started your career on Home And Away — how does that compare to starring in your own film?
You do feel the difference when you have a trailer and it is warm and it has television — compared to when you are getting changed in the back of a Winnebago.
Did you enjoy working with Sex And The City stylist Patricia Field?
She is incredibly imaginative — she isn’t married to any designer. She is fun and open-minded. Every single look told a story. I really enjoyed working with her. I am not a fashionista and I don’t have much experience in that world, but I was educated by the end. And I feel even my own fashion style is more brave. I enjoy dressing a lot more now.
What did Patricia teach you about fashion?
I used to think you had to match things like your shoes to your belt or your bag with your shoes, but Patricia doesn’t believe in any of that. She just mixes and matches colours. It is all about contrast with her. I learned a lot. I learned to be braver.
Did you get to keep any of you outfits from the film?
I didn’t keep anything. I loved wearing the costumes, but at the end they are Rebecca Bloomwood’s costumes and I felt like her in them. I don’t know how I would have felt in my everyday life in those heels.
Do you have any money saving tips?
Put your credit card in ice. Put it in the freezer like Rebecca does!
That’s a great scene in the movie — when Rebecca is trying to get her credit card out of the block of ice. Was it fun to film?
It was surprisingly difficult. I was excited when I was given the stiletto heel and the block of ice, but I was less excited a couple of hours later when I was handed a hairdryer and I had the hot air blowing on it.
What is your guilty pleasure when you go shopping?
I love buying books, more recently cookbooks. I think it is wish fulfillment too, as I never have time to cook. I just look through the books and imagine the dishes I would make if I wasn’t going out for a business dinner. If I do ever get to cook, I like to make Italian dishes or French ones.
Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic novels have a lot of fans — were you worried about what they would think of your portrayal of Rebecca?
Yes. I was extremely worried about this role because Rebecca Bloomwood has such a huge fan base. When you are the lead in a movie you are more responsible for the tone of the film. There was also the added pressure of taking on such a beloved character. But I was fortunate because I was truly the biggest fan of Sophie Kinsella’s books. This is going to sound pretentious but I had felt the vibrations of this character since I read the books. She really captured my imagination. The moment I got the role I just thought about her every day. If I was driving my car, if I was cooking, I was thinking about Rebecca and what she would think.
What was it like working with Hugh Dancy?
Hugh did such a great job. He really grounded the movie in reality. And, of course, Hugh has those gorgeous blue eyes. He did a great job.
What are you working on next?
I am working on an animated movie called Rango with Johnny Depp. That is going to be fun and I’m really looking forward to it.
