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Isla Fisher is mourning the death of Sophie Kinsella.
In a tribute posted to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Australian actress, who starred as the lead in Kinsella’s 2009 rom-com Confessions of a Shopaholic, reflected on the impact the late author left on the world.
“Dear Sophie, You conjured Rebecca Bloomwood, a hilarious flawed dream of a comic character – and I was lucky enough to step into her shoes and speak your witty & brilliant words,” Fisher, 49, wrote in a text overlay that accompanied a photo of the pair smiling at an event together.
Isla Fisher/Instagram; Ian West – PA Images/PA Images via Getty
She continued, “My daughters grew up being read your books and love them to this day. My heart is broken. You are still my hero, and I’m grateful for you. And though we won’t meet again, your light and magic lives on in your incredible characters.”
The London-born writer, whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham, wrote more than 30 books throughout her career. Still, Kinsella is best known for her 2000 novel Confessions of a Shopaholic, which was made into the 2009 film starring Fisher and Hugh Dancy.
Kinsella’s family confirmed her death on social media earlier in the day, hours before Fisher’s tribute. She was 55.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy),” the Instagram post read. “She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy.”
A single photo of Kinsella smiling outdoors was included with her family’s message.
Kinsella was diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of glioblastoma brain cancer in 2022, and her family said on Wednesday that “Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed.”
A second post shared to Fisher’s Instagram Stories included a promo photo from the film of the actress as Rebecca Bloomwood stuffing Henri Bendel shopping bags into a taxi cab.
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“I’m so heartbroken that you are gone,” Fisher wrote over the image, tagging Kinsella.
Additionally, the Now You See Me: Now You Don’t star shared a few clips with scenes from the movie to her Stories as well.
Kinsella wrote her first novel, The Tennis Party, at just 24 years old after working as a financial journalist.
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“To be honest, it was the only job I could get,” she told The Guardian in 2012 of her path before her blockbuster career switch.
Kinsella is survived by her husband Henry Wickham and their five children.
