Actress Isla Fisher has candidly shared the emotional challenges of building a new life following her very public divorce from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen after 14 years of marriage.
The 49-year-old star, who has largely maintained a brave public face throughout the separation, admitted that starting over from a 'grassroots level' has been a difficult process, revealing she 'cried' when her furniture arrived at her new home.
The Emotional Move
In a heartfelt interview with ELLE Decoration, Fisher described the poignant moment she truly grasped her new reality. '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,' she confessed. The actress explained that while creating a new life from an emotional grassroots level has been challenging, she also finds the process deeply rewarding.
Fisher, who shares three children with her ex-husband, has meticulously planned her new living space with her family's needs at the forefront. 'I wanted the kids' bedrooms on my floor so that I can monitor smartphone use,' she stated, highlighting a modern parenting concern. She also ensured there was space for her family from Greece to visit frequently and, importantly, outdoor space to connect with her Australian upbringing.
A New Chapter and a New Routine
The 'Wedding Crashers' star is embracing a quieter, more introspective lifestyle in her new home. 'I'm enjoying this new version of my life,' Fisher shared. '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.'
To navigate the healing process after the divorce, which was jointly filed in 2023, Fisher turned to the Carl Jung method, a therapeutic approach focusing on self-understanding and integration. She told The Australian that instead of dwelling on the past, she found it more effective to keep moving forward. 'The concept of processing stuff and taking your time, thinking about it again and again, you don't really feel better that way,' she revealed.
Reinvention After a 'Power Pause'
Fisher's strategy involved saying 'yes' to any opportunity that came her way, throwing herself into her work and creatively reinventing herself after what she describes as a parental 'power pause'. This period was dedicated to motherhood, which she calls 'divine and magical and so absorbing'.
Now, with the co-parenting arrangement providing her with dedicated time, she is relishing the chance to focus on her career again. '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 said, expressing her love for returning to work.
The couple announced the end of their marriage in April of last year with a now-famous Instagram post featuring them in tennis outfits. The caption read: 'After a long tennis match lasting over 20 years, we are finally putting our racquets down.' They confirmed they 'forever share in our devotion and love for our children' and thanked the public for respecting their family's privacy.
