Carrie Fisher. An icon. She stole our hearts as Princess Leia in 1977 when the original Star Wars movie released. Her character was bold and witty, much like Fisher herself. Her acting career was made up of the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as a few other movies. However, Fisher’s talent for writing is what truly made her one of my heroes.
Fisher was unapologetically uncensored. She did not care. Her transparency after going through addiction and rehab made her writing genuine and pure, even though it was pretty un-pure, if you know what I mean. Just recently in November 2016, she released her memoir The Princess Diarist, a book full of direct pages of Fisher’s personal journal that she kept while filming Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. Reading this book makes you feel closer to young Fisher and to her Leia character.
On December 27, 2016, Fisher passed away as the result of a heart attack she suffered while on a plane, ultimately going into cardiac arrest. On that day, I was somber. One of my heroes gone. Never would I hear a new joke about George Lucas or that awful bikini from Episode 6. She stood up for women.
Fisher suffered from bipolar disorder and addiction. She was a strong activist for mental illness.
Fisher was a true feminist icon, especially in her older years. She admits to letting things go and not always fighting for herself, like that bikini in Episode 6. Her solid advice to Daisy Ridley was to fight for her costume because she did not fight for herself when she had the chance, but she should have. Her fierceness transferred over into her playing of Princess Leia, and that will live on forever.
Fisher’s mother, famous actress Debbie Reynolds, stole peoples’ hearts in Singin’ in the Rain. Much to the world’s surprise, Reynolds passed away just a day after her daughter. Though she was rushed to the hospital for a stroke, many say that she died of a broken heart. Both women were iconic and inspired millions. Their relationship wasn’t always perfect, and Fisher wrote of it in her first book, Postcards from the Edge.
All of Fisher’s books are well worth the read, especially now. Let her live on by watching and reading her words.
Both Fisher and Reynolds were survived by Todd Fisher, Reynold’s son, Billie Lourd, Carrie’s daughter, and Gary Fisher, Carrie's beloved dog. A joint funeral is now being planned for the two icons.
And to Carrie: May the force be with you. Always.
