Awkward Oscars Encounter for Isla Fisher and Ex-Husband Sacha Baron Cohen
Isla Fisher experienced an undeniably awkward run-in with her former spouse Sacha Baron Cohen at the prestigious Vanity Fair Oscars celebration, merely days after publicly declaring that her divorce felt profoundly "freeing." The actress, aged 50, and the actor, aged 54, who initially announced their separation in late 2023 and legally finalised their divorce in June 2025, were both present at the exclusive Hollywood soirée.
Divorce Described as Liberating Experience
While Fisher has firmly stated she is "not ready to date" following the split, Baron Cohen was recently linked to a 27-year-old OnlyFans model after being spotted together on a night out. Their simultaneous attendance at the glamorous event likely proved slightly uncomfortable, given Fisher's recent effusive comments about the joys of post-divorce life.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine at the TIME Women Of The Year Gala in Hollywood on March 10, when asked about her wellbeing, Fisher responded enthusiastically: "I'm good. I'm so great. I turned 50. I was so nervous about that... but it has felt so freeing. I feel so liberated. There's [also] something about being divorced where you just feel like you could just do anything."
The mother of three humorously suggested that no longer being married granted her permission to act as she pleased, describing it as her "get out of jail free" card. She elaborated: "You could just do anything, and someone would be like, 'Oh, don't worry. She's divorced.' It's so cool."
Stylish Appearances at Oscars Celebration
Fisher looked stunning at the Vanity Fair event, wearing a strapless satin gown featuring an intricately beaded floor-length skirt, complemented by a pair of statement earrings. Her red locks were styled in a glamorous bouncy blowout. Meanwhile, Baron Cohen also opted for white, sporting a smart blazer over a black top and trousers, paired with patent dress shoes.
Only three months after Fisher and Baron Cohen confirmed their divorce was complete, reports emerged that the Borat star had potentially moved on with younger model Hannah Palmer. The pair reportedly met at film director Taika Waititi's 50th birthday party in Ibiza during August last year, though friends of Baron Cohen later insisted he was not dating Palmer.
Rebuilding Life from the Ground Up
Baron Cohen's approach to dating presents a stark contrast to Fisher's current career-focused mindset and commitment to rebuilding her life independently. Behind her brave public facade, Fisher has been quietly reconstructing her existence "from grassroots level," as she revealed in an emotional recent interview.
Discussing her divorce, Fisher admitted that creating her new home has been challenging. She shared: "I'm enjoying this new version of my life. 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."
She also told ELLE Decoration about the poignant 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."
Therapeutic Healing and Professional Reinvention
Fisher previously disclosed how she has been picking up the pieces following the split, acknowledging that the Carl Jung method had assisted her in healing healthily. The Jungian therapeutic approach explores unconscious forces, dreams, symbols and archetypes, aiming toward self-understanding, self-integration and personal fulfilment.
"This is totally personal and I say this with the caveat as it worked for me, but the concept of processing stuff and taking your time, thinking about it again and again, you don't really feel better that way," she explained to The Australian.
Instead, the Wedding Crashers star maintained forward momentum after the divorce, saying "yes" to every opportunity that presented itself and immersing herself completely in her professional work. This strategy has kept Fisher occupied on film sets, active within her community, and creatively reinventing herself following what she describes as a parental "power pause."
"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 expressed enthusiastically, adding that she loved returning to work.
Balancing Motherhood and Career
The actress further clarified that she never fell out of love with acting during her hiatus from the screen; she was simply more enamoured with motherhood, and remains so today. However, thanks to the additional time that co-parenting arrangements provide, she can now successfully balance both aspects of her life.
"For most parents, we focus on our kids and it's so divine and magical and so absorbing, but now I have some time where the kids aren't with me, so I get some time to think about what the future might hold for me," Fisher reflected.
No Immediate Dating Plans
In early 2025, Fisher confirmed she was not looking to date again anytime soon in the aftermath of her divorce. "That's not on my to-do list. I'm not ready to think about any of that," she told The Sunday Times.
Fisher explained that her own parents separated when she was nine years old and acknowledged their peaceful arrangement is what she now strives to emulate. "It was very harmonious, I don't ever remember them fighting about anything… they were very inclusive of each other," she recalled.
When questioned if that represented the "blueprint" for her own separation, Fisher responded simply: "That's the dream." When the former couple mutually announced the conclusion of their 14-year marriage at the end of 2023, they vowed to prioritise their privacy throughout the process.
