Actress Isla Fisher has spoken candidly about the emotional difficulties of creating a new life following her very public divorce from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen after 14 years of marriage.
The Emotional Challenge of Starting Over
The 49-year-old actress confessed that building a new existence from scratch has been ‘tough’ and ‘challenging’, revealing she ‘cried’ when her furniture arrived at her new home. Fisher described this moment as particularly poignant, telling ELLE Decoration: ‘I did have a bit of a cry because this was my first time as a single woman, being in a home of my own.’
Despite the emotional hurdles, the Wedding Crashers star emphasised that this rebuilding process has been ‘deeply rewarding’. She shared her current contentment with simpler pleasures, stating: ‘I’m enjoying this new version of my life. I don’t need to party in my house anymore. I love to get in the bath. I’ll light some candles, bring in my laptop and put on something on Netflix. That’s as exciting as it gets.’
Family Priorities and Healing Methods
The mother-of-three, who shares two daughters and a son with her ex-husband, has made conscious decisions about her new living arrangements with her children's wellbeing in mind. ‘I wanted the kids’ bedrooms on my floor so that I can monitor smartphone use’, Fisher explained, highlighting her proactive approach to parenting in the digital age.
She also ensured the property had space for her family from Greece, who visit frequently, and outdoor space connecting to her Australian upbringing. ‘With the Australian upbringing I was lucky enough to have, I’ve always been barefoot in the garden or on the beach, so this is as close as I can get to feeling like I’m home,’ she shared.
Regarding her emotional recovery, Fisher revealed that the Carl Jung method – a therapeutic approach exploring unconscious forces, dreams and symbols – had been instrumental in her healing process. ‘This is totally personal and I say this with the caveat as it worked for me, but the concept of processing stuff and taking your time, thinking about it again and again, you don't really feel better that way,’ she told The Australian.
Moving Forward with Work and Co-Parenting
Rather than dwelling on the past, the Wolf Like Me actress adopted a strategy of constant motion, saying ‘yes’ to any opportunity that came her way and immersing herself in work. This approach has seen her busy on film sets, active in her community and creatively reinventing herself after what she describes as a parental ‘power pause’.
Fisher announced her split from the Borat actor in April last year through a joint Instagram statement featuring the couple in tennis outfits. The caption read: ‘After a long tennis match lasting over 20 years, we are finally putting our racquets down. In 2023 we jointly filed to end our marriage.’
The actress expressed enthusiasm about her professional future, gushing: ‘It's amazing to me that at this point in my life I've got this opportunity, in a positive way, to reinvent what the last act of my life is now from the ground up.’ She clarified that she never fell out of love with acting during her hiatus but was more focused on motherhood. Now, thanks to co-parenting arrangements, she can balance both passions. ‘For most parents, we focus on our kids and it's so divine and magical and so absorbing, but now I have some time where the kids aren't with me, so I get some time to think about what the future might hold for me,’ Fisher concluded.
