CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS OF ISLA FISHER AND SCENES FROM ‘CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC’
News flash: Isla Fisher is not Amy Adams.
Although many people confuse the fair-skinned redheads, they are, in fact, different actresses.
Adams played the princess in “Enchanted,” the sassy congressional assistant in “Charlie Wilson’s War” and the young nun in “Doubt,” for which she was nominated for an Oscar.
Fisher (her first name is pronounced “Eye-la”) played the nymphomaniac daughter obsessed with Vince Vaughn in “Wedding Crashers,” the quirky object of Ryan Reynolds’ desire in “Definitely, Maybe” and now Rebecca Bloomwood in “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” based on Sophie Kinsella’s series of popular books. The movie opens Friday.
There are other differences as well.
The 33-year-old Fisher is not only Australian, but has a daughter with fiancé Sacha Baron Cohen of “Borat” fame. Amy Adams is not Australian, and has never dated Borat.
In this interview, Fisher discusses the public’s confusion with Adams, what she thought of the notorious nude wrestling scene in the “Borat” movie and how she reconciles portraying an irresponsible spendthrift during a worldwide economic crisis.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: I have read that it was Sacha who convinced you to pursue comedy because you were leaning toward drama. After your performance in “Wedding Crashers,” it’s hard to believe that you ever considered a dramatic acting career?
ISLA FISHER:I did go to an acting school that specialized in clowning, mime and that kind of stuff, but you’re right in that I went there with the intention of pursuing drama. I don’t think I consciously knew when I enrolled that comedy would be where I ended up.
Q.Where you thinking that you wanted to be the next Meryl Streep?
A.Not that I wanted to be Meryl Streep, but I definitely admired her. But that wasn’t why I wanted to be a dramatic actress. It was more that I believed that to have a job meant that you had to work at something that you didn’t really enjoy. Since I didn’t really enjoy drama, I therefore thought that I was doing a proper job. I was forcing myself to do something that didn’t seem natural.
Q.What happened when you switched to comedy?
A.I couldn’t believe how much fun it was. I kept saying to myself: “Imagine if I could do this as a job and get paid for it.” But it felt too good to be true. How could this be a job?
Q.Were you surprised at how good you were at comedy?
A.I didn’t realize that I had been preparing my whole life for a career in comedy. In “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” which is my first lead, I was able to show tricks that I had been working on since I was a little girl.
Q.For instance?
A.The dance sequence. I had wanted to do that dance in a film for the last five years but I never had a chance. I pitched that dance scene to the director (P.J. Hogan).
Q.What did he say?
A.To his credit, a lot of directors would feel threatened by such a suggestion. But he was completely open to collaboration. He knew it would cost a lot of extra money to shoot it, but he is so mischievous that he leaps at any chance to buck the establishment.
Q.Now, it’s obvious that you are an attractive person…
A.(giggles) Oh, thank you. That is so nice.
Q.That was just the buildup to the question.
A.I thought we peaked (laughs).
Q.What I was getting at is that there is a commonly held belief in Hollywood that attractive women can’t be funny. Do you think being attractive works for or against you in this business?
A.I don’t think of myself as attractive. But I think what does work in my favor is that I am willing. A lot of dramatic actresses are not as willing as I am to tap into their inner idiot.
Q.With “Wedding Crashers” and this film, do you think you are now defined in Hollywood only as a comedic actress?
A.What is interesting is that, while I am seen as a comedic actress now, the door to drama has remained open.
Q.How did you manage that?
A.I think it’s because I did “The Lookout.” It wasn’t a strategic move at the time, but it seems to have kept me open to dramatic roles, and I’m very grateful for that. I want to be able to do the dramatic roles that inspire me, but comedy will remain a large part of what I do in my career.
Q.I know you don’t like to talk about Sacha and your personal life, but since we were discussing comedy, I have to know how you responded the first time you saw the infamous naked wrestling scene in the Borat movie?
A.Obviously, I knew about the wrestling scene long before I saw it because when you live with someone, you are involved in their art.
Q.I’m sure it’s a typical household.
A.Yes, as in: “Hi honey, what did you do at work today? Well, I got arrested, I’m being sued and a 300-pound naked man sat on my head.” It’s just a regular household.
Q.Sorry, I interrupted.
A.That’s OK. But, yes, I knew all about the scene. And even when we were discussing it at home, I would almost pee my pants. But when I actually saw it, I realized how brilliant it was. Watching people watch “Borat” is the most amazing thing. It’s almost interactive; people shout at the screen: “No, no.” It’s probably my favorite comedy film of all time.
Q.As you said, this is your first lead in a movie. Is there any trepidation as the movie is about to open?
A.Absolutely.
Q.Describe your emotions.
A.I was apprehensive to begin with. I was gobsmacked that anyone would give me my own movie. I am eternally bewildered. Every time I see (producer) Jerry Bruckheimer, I want to shake him and say: “Are you mad? Why would you put me on a poster?”
Q.What about playing a beloved book character?
A.That was the other thing. That’s a huge responsibility. You don’t want to let the readers down. But, the responsibility of carrying the film was even worse. It dawns on you on the first day of filming that you are responsible for the tone of the film.
Q.Are you concerned about reader reaction to changing the character from British to American?
A.I was terrified, but when Sophie told me that she felt we had captured the essence of the character, I wanted to cry. I was so happy. Her approval meant everything. I can’t worry about how it does at the box office. As long as the author is satisfied, that’s all I care about.
Q.You’re not worried about the box office?
A.I am a mother. It’s a brilliant bonus to be working in movies, but the responsibility of motherhood far outweighs what I do as an actress and that includes worrying about box office numbers.
Q.How was life on the set as the star of the movie as compared to life as a supporting player?
A.I felt very maternal toward everyone on the set. I wanted to make sure they had their lunch breaks on time.
Q. Did you enjoy the bigger trailer and perks?
A. Honestly, the entire experience was a blur of working and breast-feeding.
Q.Let’s move on to the subject matter.
A.Go right ahead.
Q.When you started this project, the economy was not in the dumper. It is in the dumper now, so how relevant is this movie?
A.The lessons that she learns in this movie are the lessons we’re all learning in real life right now. It feels very topical.
Q.Do you believe there is a marketing problem with this movie because it looks from the commercials to be about a woman who loves to spend irresponsibly?
A.Yes. I’m glad you brought that up. I don’t know whether they should have marketed this as social realism or escapism. The studio has decided to take the latter approach, and I’m sure they know what they’re doing. They must have thought through this issue. But I am comfortable with the movie itself. It is hilarious and has a huge heart. And, more important, it has a positive message.
Q.And if it fails, it’s an Amy Adams movie, right?
A.Yes.
Q.You get confused a lot, don’t you?
A.There is a lot of confusion about that, but I think Amy gets more of it than I do.
Q.And if the movie succeeds?
A.Then it’s an Isla Fisher movie.
Contact the writer: 714-796-5051, ext. 1110, or bkoltnow@ocregister.com
