Isla Fisher has admitted that creating a new life from a grassroots level has been ‘tough’, and said she ‘cried’ when she moved the furniture into her new home following her divorce
After maintaining a brave public front throughout her extremely high-profile divorce from Sacha Baron Cohen, Isla Fisher is finally opening up about the emotional reality of starting over — alone — after two decades together.
The actress, 49, has been putting on a brave face while going through a very public divorce from Sacha Baron Cohen after 14 years of marriage
The 49-year-old actress admits that rebuilding her life “from the grassroots level” has been far tougher than anyone realised. She revealed that when she moved her furniture into her new London home — the first place she has lived in as a single woman in years — she “cried,” overwhelmed by the weight of everything she had lost and everything she now needed to rebuild.
“Trying to create a new life from the ground up, at least emotionally, has been challenging, but deeply rewarding,” she told ELLE Decoration. “I’m enjoying this new version of my life. I don’t need parties anymore — give me a bath, candles, my laptop and Netflix. That’s as exciting as it gets.”
She also told ELLE Decoration about the moment her furniture arrived: ‘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 admitted that the moment her belongings arrived triggered an unexpected emotional release:
“I had a bit of a cry because this was the first time I was in a home of my own as a single woman.”
Following her split from Cohen — with whom she shares three children — Isla was determined to create a safe, grounding environment for them. She placed all the kids’ bedrooms on her floor of the house so she could keep a close eye on their smartphone use. She also ensured there was enough room for her family from Greece, who visit often, and outdoor space to remind her of the barefoot Australian childhood she cherishes.
The couple announced the end of their marriage – seemingly in 2023, with a picture of themselves in tennis outfits on Instagram
Isla and Sacha jointly announced their separation in 2024, revealing they had quietly filed for divorce the previous year. It marked the end of a relationship that began more than 20 years ago and a marriage that lasted 14.
In earlier interviews, Isla shared that the Jungian therapeutic method helped her process the emotional fallout. But rather than sitting still with her sadness, she chose movement — taking every opportunity that came her way and throwing herself back into her work.
She described the post-divorce phase as a “parental power pause,” a period where motherhood took priority and acting had to wait. Now, with co-parenting giving her occasional stretches of time alone, she is rediscovering her identity as a woman, not just a mother.
“It’s amazing that at this point in my life, I have the opportunity to reinvent the last act of my life from the ground up,” she said. “I never fell out of love with acting — I was just more in love with motherhood.”
The couple originally announced their breakup with a symbolic Instagram photo of themselves in tennis gear. 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. We have always prioritised our privacy and have been quietly working through this change. We forever share our devotion and love for our children.”
Now, standing in her new home with boxes still to unpack, Isla Fisher is slowly, bravely piecing her life back together — one decision, one moment, one tear-stained victory at a time.
