Last night at the AACTAs, extremely talented Aussie actress and entirely wonderful human being (we’re biased, it’s fine, move past it) Isla Fisher was honoured with the Trailblazer Award.
Fisher was presented the award by Geoffrey Rush, who referred to her as ‘a firecracker’ and saying she “enjoys tapping into her inner idiot”.
When she accepted the award, she started her speech with a nod to a bunch of famous Aussie actors:
“I really have to thank my fellow actors, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Margot Robbie and Toni Collette – all of whom were no doubt offered this award first and they couldn’t make it here tonight so, yay!”
She then decided to diverge into a speech that we may have heard once or twice on a stage before. Pretty recently, actually:
“From a young age my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in this life, that your word is your bond, you say what you want to do and you keep your promises, that you treat people with respect.”
Fisher delivered these words with utmost conviction, before pointing out that, yes – they were “borrowed” from the soon-to-be First Lady Melania Trump, who stole them from current First Lady Michelle Obama.
“I figured if Melania Trump can use them and have success, I should try!”
AMAZING.
Fisher also spoke of the lack of roles for “gingers”, joking that “Amy Adams took them all”, before then thanking President-Elect Donald Trump:
“I do need to thank Trump. I don’t think I’d be here if it weren’t for him showing the world that unqualified orange people can win things.”
After she left the stage, Fisher spoke seriously about the lack of gender diversity in the film industry, referencing the ‘sausage party’ protest that occurred outside on the AACTAs red carpet:
“I did not see the sausages,” she laughed.
“When I first came to Hollywood, I really wanted to get into the world of comedy but all of the roles I read, the women (characters) would roll their eyes and the men would do funny, crazy stuff.I waited and waited and I was fortunate to be cast in Wedding Crashers – playing a bipolar nymphomaniac. But yes, women are funny. People want to go see women stories.”
Fisher walked the red carpet with her husband Sacha Baron Cohen, who told 7 News that it was actually their wedding anniversary today:
“The first time I came here 15 years ago, I came back with a wife. It was ltierally 15 years ago today, so it’s our anniversary.We’re hoping it ends quickly, so we can go back and…. y’know.”
BLESS.
Photo: Mark Metcalfe / Getty.
