Last week, the world lost Carrie Fisher.
Most people recognize Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, the iconic main character in the wildly successful Star Wars franchise. And, if I’m going to be honest, that’s how I primarily knew her until her untimely and tragic death. Suddenly, I was learning more about Carrie Fisher than I ever could of dreamed, her name all over my Twitter feed and her picture on articles posted by all the major news outlets. The more I learned about her, the more I grew to admire her.
Though she will always, undoubtedly, be known for her role as Leia around the world for many years to come, I want to write this article to remember the other side of Carrie Fisher. The real Carrie Fisher.
The real Carrie Fisher was a brave advocate for mental health. She recalled her struggles with bipolar disorder, which she was first diagnosed with at the age of 24, with unflinching honesty and sincerity that is often rare in the plastic world of Hollywood.
A few powerful (and occasionally humorous) things that she has said in relation to bipolar disorder over the years:
- “Being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you’re living with this illness and functioning at all, it’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of.”
- “You know how most illnesses have symptoms you can recognize? Like fever, upset stomach, chills, whatever. Well, with manic depression, it’s sexual promiscuity, excessive spending, and substance abuse – and that just sounds like a fantastic weekend in Vegas to me!”
- “The only lesson for me, or anybody, is that you have to get help. It’s not a neat illness. It doesn’t go away.”
- “Generally someone who has bipolar doesn’t have just bipolar, they have bipolar, and they have a life and a job and a kid and a hat and parents, so it’s not your overriding identity. It’s just something that you have, but not the only thing – even if it’s quite a big thing.”
- “One of the things that baffles me (and there are quite a few) is how there can be so much lingering stigma with regards to mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. In my opinion, living with manic depression takes a tremendous amount of balls. Not unlike a tour of Afghanistan (though the bombs and bullets, in this case, come from the inside). At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you're living with this illness and functioning at all, it's something to be proud of, not ashamed of. They should issue medals along with the steady stream of medication.”
Carrie Fisher’s humor is completely unique. I have watched numerous interviews that she’s given over the years, and I am in awe of her wit and grace.
She was also a feminist and was quite frank and open in regards to the reality that women are treated differently than men. She also asserted how women can be strong, and supported women in becoming good role models for young girls. She notably told Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey in the newest Star Wars trilogy, to not become a “sex symbol” or “slave” like she was as Princess Leia.
I particularly enjoy her response to an outraged father who was up in arms about her infamous metal bikini outfit that she donned as Princess Leia:
-“The father who flipped out about it, ‘What am I going to tell my kid about why she’s in that outfit?’ Tell them that a giant slug captured me and forced me to wear that stupid outfit, and then I killed him because I didn’t like it. And then I took it off. Backstage.”
I also feel like I can’t write this article without mentioning that, tragically, Carrie Fisher’s mother, Hollywood icon Debbie Reynolds, passed away only one day after the death of her daughter. We should all be channeling good thoughts and well wishes to that family.
Carrie Fisher will be missed. I think we can all agree that she was a real treasure. I wish that I knew more about her advocacy for mental health and her blunt, hilarious, and raw personality before her passing. But even though she is gone, we can keep her spirit alive by living in a way that Carrie would approve of, which means speaking out about the issues you are passionate about, knowing and asserting your worth as a human being, and being unafraid to be yourself.
This article only briefly touches down on the eventful life that she led, so I would encourage you to read up on Carrie Fisher’s life to learn more about this amazing woman. Carrie Fisher has also written numerous books, including two deeply personal memoirs, which I personally plan on reading in the near future. Also educate yourself on the causes that she supported, which included mental health awareness and feminism.
