Born 29 January 1985 in Melbourne Victoria, Isabel made the move from Cairns to Sydney to take up the role of Tasha Andrews in Home and Away in 2003.
As a six year old, Isabel and her family travelled from Melbourne to live in Switzerland for a year (her mother is Swiss and Isabel speaks Swiss-German). Her family returned to Melbourne for a short time and then re-located to North Queensland to live. Isabel at this time lived in a small mining town of only 1,000 people. She and her sister Nina attended the Jabiru Area School in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Her school was made up of Aboriginal and white children, she described herself as a 'wild bush child'.
Throughout her school years, Isabel had always been involved in drama and had enrolled in courses with the Victorian College of Arts and with Queensland University of Technology. But it was not until she was 'discovered' by an agent that Isabel auditioned for roles.
Isabel was found by agent Sharron Meissner when she was holidaying in Port Douglas in June 2002 and was signed up immediately. When Isabel later went to Melbourne with her family, her agent had her audition for the role of Kit Hunter in Home and Away. (This role is now played by Amy Mizzi). The producer of the show, Julie McGauran felt the role was not right for Isabel, but did not want to let her go. Julie said: "When Isabel came on screen, I thought there's no way I am letting her go. The executive producer John Holmes backed me up 100 per cent."
So the role of Tasha Andrews was especially created for Isabel!
One day when her mother was picking up Isabel and her friend from school she received a call on her mobile that Isabel had been given a role in Home and Away. Her mother had to pull over to the side of the road and then Isabel heard the news for herself. "I was so excited at the news! We had a big family dinner that night to celebrate", she says.
"Before the audition I thought I would just give it a go and give it my best shot, not ever thinking I would be successful. It has been such a great challenge for me, so I just want to stay open-minded and learn as much as I can. I think I am very lucky", she says.
Isabel's character joined the show in a mysterious way when Max (Sebastian Elmaloglou) finds her on the rocks at the beach and thinks she is a mermaid. We learn that 'Jane Doe's' real name is Tasha Andrews.
"When I moved to Sydney to take up the role, everyone was so welcoming. I really didn't know what to expect. Some of the cast showed me around Sydney, so that helped to make me feel settled in pretty quickly", Isabel says. "Sydney is a beautiful city, but extremely different from Cairns, with so many people."
When at home in Cairns, Isabel enjoys riding her horse 'Tiki' She has been a keen horse rider from the age of ten and has competed in dressage and show jumping. She just loves animals!
Isabel lists some of her favourite recording artists as being Jack Johnson, Norah Jones and Ben Harper. Her favourite actresses are Cate Blanchett and Audrey Tautou.
In April 2004 Isabel won the Most Popular New Talent category of the TV WEEK Logie Awards.
"I feel blessed, fortunate, overwhelmed and grateful to many people as I see it as a team effort", she says.
In that year Isabel also became an Ambassador for World Vision, helping to raise awareness of the plight of children in developing countries. Isabel herself is a sponsor for a 10-year-old girl from Zambia and her parents sponsor children from Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Isabel was born under the Zodiac sign of Aquarius, the Water Carrier.
