Heartbroken Isla Fisher pays emotional tribute to Confessions of a Shopaholic writer Sophie Kinsella following her loss of life aged 55

Isla Fisher has paid an emotional tribute to her friend, author Sophie Kinsella, on Instagram following the writer’s death.

The Australian actress, 49, famously played Rebecca Bloomwood, the fun-loving, fashion-obsessed girl of Confessions of a Shopaholic, in the 2009 film adaptation based on the first two novels in Kinsella’s bestselling series. 

After news broke that Sophie had passed away following a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer, Isla shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram Story alongside a photo of herself with the author. 

She wrote: ‘Dear Sophie, you’ve 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. 

‘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.’ 

Isla Fisher has paid an emotional tribute to her friend, author Sophie Kinsella, on Instagram following the writer’s death

The Australian actress, 49, famously played Rebecca Bloomwood, the fun-loving, fashion-obsessed girl of Confessions of a Shopaholic, in the 2009 film adaptation (seen) based on the first two novels in Kinsella’s bestselling series 

Isla also posted a still from the film, captioning it: ‘I’m so heartbroken that you are gone @sophiekinsellawriter.’ 

Sophie sadly passed 19 months after revealing she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Best known for her bestselling Shopaholic book series, the 55-year-old’s family announced her death on Instagram on Wednesday. 

It read: ‘We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy). She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy. 

‘We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life.

‘Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed – to have such wonderful family and friends, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career. She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received.

‘She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.’

Madeleine Sophie Wickham, who wrote under the pen name Sophie Kinsella, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer, in 2022.

After news broke that Sophie had passed away following a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer, Isla posted a heartfelt message on her Instagram Story as well as a still from the film, captioning the post: ‘I’m so heartbroken that you are gone @sophiekinsellawriter’ 

Sophie sadly passed 19 months after revealing she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer (pictured in 2018) 

Madeleine Sophie Wickham, known by her pen name Sophie Kinsella, was an English author whose books sold more than 50 million copies across over 60 countries. She was best known for her bestselling Shopaholic series (pictured 2008)

Revealing her diagnosis in 2024, she explained: ‘I did not share this before because I wanted to make sure that my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our ‘new normal.’ 

She said in the post that she had been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Cancerous brain tumours are the deadliest form of the disease for children and adults under 40 in Britain — claiming 5,300 lives every year, about 15 every day.

Even benign brain tumours, which, unlike cancerous ones, don’t spread to other parts of the body, can still be deadly as they grow within the sensitive tissue of the organ.

Both can cause a set of worrying symptoms which can be easily shrugged off, which can lead to later diagnosis and reduced treatment options.