Isla Fisher.
AACTA has named Isla Fisher as the recipient of this year’s AACTA Trailblazer Award, designed to recognise “the achievements, abilities and successes of an Australian screen practitioner who inspires others with their portfolio of work.”
The AACTA Trailblazer Award is a discretionary award, determined by the board and president of AFI | AACTA. It was first awarded to Rose Byrne at the 4th AACTA Awards.
After her start on Home and Away, Fisher broke in the States with 2005 comedyThe Wedding Crashers. She has since gone on to star in the likes of Definitely, Maybe; Confessions of a Shopaholic; and The Brothers Grimsby alongside husband Sasha Baron Cohen. Despite being a self-described ‘comic actress’, Fisher has also appeared in The Great Gatsby and the recent Nocturnal Animals.
Outside of acting, Fisher also published two teen novels at age 18; ‘Bewitched’ and ‘Seduced by Fame’. She has also co-written two scripts with Amy Poehler and her first children’s book ‘Marge in Charge’ was released earlier this year.
CEO Damian Trewhella said Fisher’s work in the international screen industry has added to Australia’s reputation for producing outstanding screen talent.
“Isla has carved a diverse career we hope serves as an inspiration to other Australian performers,” he said. “We also recognise Isla’s influential role as a champion for female comic actresses – a cause she has advocated for over a decade and which marries with one of AACTA’s most important aims: to foster talented Australian screen practitioners who serve to mentor and inspire the next generation of Australians to pursue their craft to its full potential.”
Isla Fisher said: “I’m so honoured to be recognised by the Australian Academy and my Australian peers as a trailblazer in film and television. That I am considered among those Australians who are inspiring the next generation of talent is a true honour. I’m looking forward to coming back to Sydney to accept the AACTA Trailblazer Award.”
Fisher will accept the award in person this Wednesday at the AACTA Awards Ceremony held at Sydney’s Star Event Centre.
Also in attendance will be Fisher’s husband Cohen, presenters Jessica Marais, Michael Caton, Marta Dusseldorp, Shane Jacobson, and Stephen Curry alongside guests Josh Thomas and Greta Scacchi.
The AACTA Awards will be televised on Channel 7 at 8.30pm with an encore screening on Foxtel.