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Why Carrie Fisher Regrets Her Iconic Star Wars Role
Carrie Fisher was a legendary actress and writer who is best known for her iconic role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise. Born in Beverly Hills, California, in 1956, Fisher grew up in the Hollywood spotlight, as the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds. She began acting at a young age, and made her professional debut in the 1975 Broadway production of Irene.
In 1977, Fisher landed the role of Princess Leia in the first Star Wars film, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The film was an instant hit, and Fisher’s performance as the feisty and independent princess quickly made her a fan favorite. She reprised the role in two subsequent Star Wars films, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and her character became one of the most iconic and beloved in the Star Wars universe.
The “Star Wars” films of the 1970s made an indelible effect on film culture, and it’s practically impossible to picture anyone other than Carrie Fisher in the iconic character of Princess Leia. Fisher, on the other hand, has stated that the breakout role that catapulted her to superstardom was one she wished she had turned down (via People).
Given that her birth mother was Debbie Reynolds, star of Singin’ in the Rain, and her stepmother was Elizabeth Taylor, one-time Hollywood It Girl, Fisher had a luxurious life from the start. Fisher had been surrounded by celebrities since he was a child. As a result, she went on to pursue her own Hollywood career. Fisher performed in a number of films, including When Harry Met Sally and Blues Brothers, in addition to her major part in Star Wars.
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Fisher was a prolific author in addition to her acting career, as reported by Verge. Personal memoirs, fictitious novels, and even a project that weaves autobiographical elements into a fictional story are among her published works. In other words, Fisher was a true multi-hyphenate, not just an actor by trade. Fisher publicly expressed regret for taking on an acting role that would eclipse any and all of her other work for the rest of her life, which is maybe unsurprising.
Fisher was initially enticed to “Star Wars” by George Lucas’ ambition, but she had no idea it would go on to become one of the most popular films of all time. In fact, the actor stated that if she had realized the role would be so successful, she would have rejected it. “I would never have done it,” she stated in a December 2008 interview on “Today.” Despite the fact that Princess Leia was a career-defining role, Fisher regretted accepting it because of the fame that came with it. “All I did when I was really famous was wait for it to end. Because it knew that was coming up,” she admitted.
Carrie Fisher | David M. Benett/Getty Images
Despite having a shaky relationship with fame, Fisher was able to put a comedic spin on it. She joked about how difficult success can be in her memoir “Wishful Thinking.” “There is no point at which you can say, ‘Well, I’m successful now. I might as well take a nap,'” she wrote (via SyFy).
Fisher was also naïve. She signed away her likeness for free when she was 19. It wasn’t until she reprised her role as Leia in Star Wars: Episode VIII–The Last Jedi that she cashed in on the iconic role for a cool $2 million. “I signed my likeness away. Every time I look in the mirror, I have to send Lucas a couple of bucks,” she roasted Lucas at his 2005 ceremony honoring his lifelong achievement award.
Fisher grew up with a front-row seat to stardom and its associated hazards as the daughter of actor Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher, who had an affair with Elizabeth Taylor while married to Reynolds. As she stated, “You might say I’m a product of Hollywood inbreeding. When two celebrities mate, something like me is the result.” Growing up with celebrity parents came with a harsh reality, she told Matt Lauer on Today. As an adolescent, Fisher said “I watched my parents’ celebrity dwindle. I saw the heartbreak of celebrity. Get me away from that.”
Despite her regrets about embracing the part, Fisher showed some affection for Leia. In her 2016 book “The Princess Diarist,” aka her diaries from her time on set for the original “Star Wars” films, and in an interview with Terry Gross on NPR about the book, Fisher said, “The downside is the hair and some of the outfits. But I like Princess Leia. I like how she handles things. I like how she treats people. I — she tells the truth. She, you know, gets what she wants done.”
Why Carrie Fisher hated playing Princess Leia.
Despite the success of her Star Wars films, Fisher reportedly disliked the way her character was sexualized and objectified. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she stated that she felt the character was “used as a sex object” and that she was uncomfortable with the “slave” costume she wore in Return of the Jedi. She also criticized George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, for his lack of input and direction on the character. Fisher said she felt that Lucas “didn’t know what he wanted” and that she was often left to figure out the character on her own.
Despite these criticisms, Fisher remained a fan favorite and continued to play the role of Princess Leia in subsequent Star Wars films. She returned to the role in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and received widespread acclaim for her performance. She also reprised the role in the 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which was released posthumously after her death in December 2016.
In addition to her acting career, Fisher was also a successful writer. She published her first novel, Postcards from the Edge, in 1987, and the book was adapted into a film in 1990, starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine.
In addition to her work in film and television, Fisher was also a successful author and screenwriter. She published several novels, including Postcards from the Edge, Surrender the Pink, and The Best Awful, which were all based on her own life experiences. She also wrote several memoirs, including Wishful Drinking and The Princess Diarist, which provided insight into her struggles with mental illness and addiction.
Fisher was also known for her sharp wit and acerbic humor, and she often used her writing and public appearances to speak candidly about her life and experiences. She was a frequent guest on talk shows and radio programs, and was known for her frank and humorous insights into Hollywood and celebrity culture. She was also a popular speaker and performer, and often performed her one-woman show, Wishful Drinking, on stage.
Despite her many successes, Fisher struggled with mental illness and addiction throughout her life. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 24, and she often spoke openly about her struggles with the condition. She also struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol, and she entered rehab several times throughout her life. She was open about her struggles, and often used her writing and public appearances to raise awareness about mental illness and addiction.
In December 2016, Fisher suffered a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles, and she passed away at the age of 60. She was mourned by fans and colleagues around the world, and her passing was widely seen as the end of an era. She left behind a rich legacy, as one of the most iconic and beloved actresses in Hollywood history, and her work continues to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.
