Australian actress and writer Isla Lang Fisher gained widespread recognition for her role as ‘Shannon Reed’ in the series ‘Home and Away’. Her portrayal of the beloved character on the Australian soap opera for four years earned her two nominations at the Logie Awards and solidified her status as a household name.
Who is Isla Fisher?
Isla Fisher, whose full name is Isla Lang Fisher, was born on February 3, 1976, in Muscat, Oman. Her father was employed as a banker for the United Nations and her mother was an author of romance novels.
Fisher’s parents are of Scottish heritage and, although they briefly returned to Scotland after she was born, they eventually settled in Perth, Australia when Fisher was 6 years old.
As a teenager, Isla Fisher and her four siblings were raised in Perth, and she has characterized her family as being highly active and fond of the outdoors. She later enrolled in Swanbourne Primary School and then Methodist Ladies’ College, where she first discovered her passion for acting through participating in school productions.
At the age of 9, Fisher made her first appearance on screen in a TV commercial. She officially began her acting career at 17, taking on guest roles on popular Australian children’s programs such as “Bay City” and “Paradise Beach.” At the young age of 18, Fisher collaborated with her mother to publish two novels targeted towards young adults.
Career
Isla Fisher’s acting career took off with her role on the popular Australian soap opera “Home and Away,” where she appeared from 1994 to 1997. Her impressive performances on the show earned her two Logie Award nominations, the Australian equivalent of the American Emmys.
Following the end of the show, she relocated to Paris to enroll in L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, where she focused on studying clowning, mime, and musical theatre.
Following her graduation, Isla Fisher relocated to LA, where she landed the role of Shaggy’s romantic partner in the 2002 live-action version of “Scooby Doo.” Despite receiving negative reviews, the movie was a hit at the box office, marking the start of her rising career in the following year.
In 2009, Fisher landed her first starring role in the comedy movie “Confessions of A Shopaholic,” portraying a finance journalist struggling with a compulsive shopping habit. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, the film was a commercial success, earning over $100 million globally and garnering Fisher a third Teen Choice Award nomination.
Continuing to expand her acting repertoire, she also lent her voice to characters in the Academy Award-winning “Rango” (2011) and the Golden Globe-nominated “Rise of the Guardians” (2012).
In the thriller “Now You See Me,” which was recognized with a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Thriller, she played a supporting role. She also had a minor part in the star-studded movie “The Great Gatsby,” both of which brought in over $350 million globally.
During that same year, she joined the fourth season of the television series “Arrested Development,” and her performance earned her a nomination from the Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. She considers her involvement in the show to be one of the standout moments in her career.
Dating History
Shane Ammann
Shane Ammann and Isla Fisher, who played co-stars on Home & Away, were in a romantic relationship from 1994 until 1995. The character of Curtis Reed, portrayed by Ammann, was featured on the Australian soap opera Home and Away starting on 16 September 1994.
He was brought onto the show alongside his adopted sister, Shannon Reed (played by Fisher). Ammann’s character left the show on 15 April 1997.
Darren Day
From 1998 to 2000, Isla Fisher was in a relationship with Darren Day, a renowned English actor, singer, and television personality recognized for his leading roles in West End productions. Fisher and British actor Darren Day were engaged but they ended their relationship in 2000.
Sacha Baren Cohen
Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen began their relationship in 2002 after meeting at a party in Sydney, Australia. They got engaged in 2004 and eventually tied the knot on March 15, 2010.
Together, the couple shares three children: Olive (born in 2007), Elula (born in 2011), and Montgomery (born in 2015). On April 5, the couple revealed on their Instagram Stories that they have jointly filed for divorce, which will be finalized in 2023.
