Jews Making News: Rashida Jones, Isla Fisher
Jones: Not Just an Actor
Regardless of your size, shape, color or creed, the world is your dance floor in Rashida Jones’ music video directorial debut. In shooting the hidden-camera video for singer Sara Bareilles’ new track, “Brave.” the “Parks and Recreation” star and her team went as far as building fake trash cans to conceal the camera while filming a series of “brave” dancers getting their groove on throughout L.A.
Of course, that’s not the only video from Jones to make a splash as of late. To highlight another type of bravery, the star joined her father, entertainer and cancer survivor Quincy Jones, to create a PSA for Stand Up to Cancer. Along with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, father and daughter are motivating men to visit their doctor and take preventative measures.
The Harvard graduate clearly has no intention of limiting herself. She continues building a resume behind the camera with her screenwriting debut, “Celeste & Jesse Forever,” and also recently launched a comic book series, “Frenemy of the State.” And naturally, she’ll be reprising her role as Ann Perkins when “P&R” comes back in September for its sixth season.
Jones, born to an African American father and an Ashkenazi Jewish mother, was raised in Reform Judaism and attended Hebrew school but was not bat mitzvahed. During her time at Harvard, she chose theater over law after becoming disillusioned with the legal process.
Fisher Says “No Thanks”
Most actors and actresses dream of getting the big lead – unless, of course, you’re Isla Fisher. In fact, she’s actively turning the roles down. The Australian actress of “Wedding Crashers” and “Confessions of a Shopaholic” fame shocked fans and news sources alike when she announced her self-imposed hiatus from the spotlight.
Fisher explained that the commitments inherent in leading a film were not worth missing out on parenting her young children – she currently has two daughters, both under the age of 6, with fellow actor Sasha Baron Cohen. Even so, she has been taking the time to promote her films, “The Great Gatsby” and “Now You See Me.”
That being said, the actress is all-ears for a feature-length incarnation of her short-lived HBO series, “Bored to Death.” The detective dramedy, which starred Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson, was cancelled after three seasons, but creator Jonathan Ames has already begun work on the film.
Long before “Bored” or “Shopaholic,” Fisher wed Cohen in 2004 and subsequently converted to Judaism. She completed the conversion in 2007 and took the Hebrew name Ayala. Shortly thereafter, she gave birth to her daughters, Olive and Elula Lottie Miriam.
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