Isla Fisher Says Kirsten Dunst Taught Her How to ‘Play Drunk’ During ‘Bachelorette’

Isla Fisher is known for bringing her all to comedy roles, but the actress is now crediting her former co-star Kirsten Dunst for teaching her an invaluable trick of the trade: how to act drunk. Fisher and Dunst co-starred together in 2012 film “ Bachelorette ,” which was directed by Leslye Headland and adapted from Headland’s off-Broadway show. The dark comedy had an all-star ensemble cast that included Lizzy Caplan, Rebel Wilson, James Marsden, Adam Scott, and Ann Dowd.

And while Fisher had famously already played an unhinged character in “Wedding Crashers,” her “Bachelorette” role of an aging alcoholic former high school popular girl had a different level of nuance. Fisher said during “The Drew Barrymore Show” while promoting “Dog Man” and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” that it was Dunst who helped her embody the layers of the character. When asked by host Drew Barrymore which former co-star she learned the most from, Fisher said it was definitely Dunst.



“Kirsten used to teach me how to play drunk right before a take,” Fisher said. “She would say, right before ‘action,’ so when you hear rolling, you just stand and spin. And then you go! You’re there and you’re dizzy.

You’re basically creating...

.your balance is off and you’re just sort of putting it in your inner ear that you’re like on a ship, and then you have to hold yourself as if you want to stay stable, but then your body’s already in the rhythm.” And the final result is appearing wasted! “Bachelorette” writer/director Headland previously told IndieWire that the production for the film was “loosey-goosey,” especially when it came to improvised lines from Dunst and Marsden.

Dunst is actually returning to her “Bachelorette” days, too: It was announced in 2024 that the actress is developing a dark comedy with her “Bachelorette” producer Jessica Elbaum, who also produced “Booksmart,” “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” and “Hustlers.” Dunst also is making another creative reunion with longtime collaborator Sofia Coppola for the 25th anniversary of “The Virgin Suicides.” The 2000 feature, which premiered at Cannes, cemented Coppola as the definitive director to capture young female angst and began her partnership with Dunst.

The duo went on to collaborate with “Marie Antoinette” and “The Beguiled.”.