Simon Upton
For more than two decades, Isla Fisher has been charming Hollywood with glamour and giggles. Sitting down with marie claire at the exclusive Chateau Marmont, the Perth-born actress opens up about the joys and challenges of raising a family in LA.
“Juggling a family in LA isn’t easy,” says Fisher, 42, who has three young children Olive, 10, Elula, seven, and Montgomery, three. “There’s not really a culture of bringing your kids to dinner parties or to restaurants past 6pm. I tend to entertain at home because I want to be with my family – it’s easier to put your kids to bed and have a wine with friends.”
As a mother and A-list actress, Fisher is protective of her children’s privacy and prefers to shield them from her work. While her husband, actor Sacha Baron Cohen, has been known to arrive home in character as Borat or Ali G, Fisher is more cautious. “I try not to bring it home. They’re only exposed to the fun parts like picking a pretty dress and having hair and make-up done,” says Fisher, who stars in the upcoming film Tag – based on a true story about a group of friends who have been playing tag for 30 years.
Fisher and Baron Cohen met at a party in 2002, and she describes that moment as like “winning the lottery.” Married since 2010, Fisher puts their attraction down to being “polar opposites” and reveals their relationship success is due to “a shared sense of humour and a willingness to be married.”
The family is planning to return to Australia for Christmas this year and Fisher has dreams of relocating. “I have this secret fantasy of slowing down, moving to Byron Bay, getting off the grid and sitting on the sand with a Vegemite sandwich,” she admits.
The new issue of marie claire, starring Isla Fisher, is on sale Thursday.
