A fun chat with Princess-turned-general Leia
CARRIE Fisher talks about growing up in Hollywood. Ruben V. Nepales
LOS ANGELES—“You changed your hair,” Han Solo tells Leia when they finally meet again in a scene in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” that thrilled the audience at the film’s recent big premiere in Hollywood.
Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford together again onscreen after 32 years is one of the sweet moments in JJ Abrams’ first film in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy.
In person, Carrie is wonderfully crazy, funny and candid. Accompanied in this recent interview by Gary, her French bulldog pet, Carrie said, “Gary isn’t scary. He just has more tongue than bite.”
Gary quietly sat or walked in and out under the table while her irrepressible master talked about her latest “Star Wars” movie where Leia is now a general, being reunited with Harrison and Mark Hamill, her personal struggles and her daughter, Billie Lourd, who is now an actress herself, appearing in “The Force Awakens” and starring in “Scream Queens.”
Carrie, 59, also talked about growing up in Hollywood, including the scandal that rocked Tinseltown when her dad, singer-actor Eddie Fisher, left her mom, actress Debbie Reynolds, to marry Elizabeth Taylor. The two actresses were best friends when the controversy erupted.
In real life, if you have a choice between being a princess and a general, which one would you choose?
I’m older now, and there are better clothes for the princess. But you can boss more (as a general). Well, as both, you can boss people around. Generally, I would be a princess—a general princess (laughs).
What does being part of “Star Wars” and playing an iconic character in the series mean to you?
I’ve been Princess Leia all along or people think I am, so I might as well be and we can all just get along.
But it’s fun to do these things again.
How’s your relationship with the fans over the years?
The fans are great! They’re so loyal that there should be another word for it. It’s very sweet.
If there’s one disadvantage of being on “Star Wars,” what would that be?
People say, “Princess Leia!” and I’m supposed to go, “Yes” (laughs). I’m her but I’m trying to make her me now, maybe a striptease kind of thing. It’s a high-class problem.
People easily recognize Leia in the movie.
I look melted, and I look my age. Unfortunately, I don’t want to look my age.
What kind of appearances do you like to see nowadays?
I like looking at good-looking people and babies.
So what do you consider an accomplishment these days?
Having wit.
Did you give any advice to the new members of the cast?
They’re all good. I tell them not to go through the crew like wildfire (laughs).
How did it feel to be with Mark and Harrison again after so many years?
We’ve seen each other a lot over the years, so it’s not like, “Wow, you look bad!”
Did it feel different with the sets they have constructed for this film?
The only thing that was familiar was the Millennium Falcon before it ate Harrison.
Can you talk about Harrison?
When Harrison sees me, he always goes, “Ah” (makes a bored-looking face).
It’s fun to see him! We grew up together. We had this extraordinary experience together that was unprecedented. So, we shared that. We laugh at each other.
Were you on the set when Harrison was injured?
I wasn’t. I was in my trailer. There was a disturbance in the force.
Then, he had a worse accident (the plane crash).
I offered to fly that day and he said, “No.” Why is a man his age doing these things (laughs)? Don’t fly a plane when you’re over 70.
Can you also talk about Mark Hamill?
We’re twins. No, I get along very well with Mark. Like I said, we have strong life experiences together, so I get along with both those guys. I try not to, but I do.
How has your relationship evolved?
We’re bored with each other now. We’re friends. We all know each other a lot!
How are George Lucas and JJ Abrams different or similar?
George was never really a talkative person. He is more (talkative) now. JJ is very talkative. He remembers everyone’s names.
Did you enjoy working more with one than the other?
I enjoyed working more when I was younger because I was younger. But both were kind and easy to work with. Tell them I said that (laughs).
You were reportedly asked to lose weight for this movie.
My physical self and I are not friends (laughs). We’re not speaking and I’m ignoring especially my arms lately, but I’ve never liked my appearance. They were right to tell me to lose that weight.
In the first movie, they told me to lose 10 pounds. Now, there was more. Why don’t I like to (lose weight)? I don’t like depriving myself of anything.
Which “Star Wars” movie do you like best? Why?
“(The) Empire (Strikes Back).”
We always said it was the spiritual “Star Wars.” We filmed it for five months. It was fun to film, and it’s the most emotional one. The characters had a longer screen time to develop.
Can you talk about the need for more female lead roles in Hollywood? How long do you think before this inequality is fixed?
It’s going to take forever! It’s just silliness. My mother got an Oscar this year for her life (lifetime achievement).
Your parents were very famous. Did you struggle with that when you were growing up?
No. I never thought it was glamorous because, as I aged and became aware, my parents’ careers started to fade. I understood that whatever it was, it won’t be that ongoing. So, I didn’t really want to be an actress.
I only did a part in “Shampoo” because I was on the set. So, I just did that (became an actress). There’s a lot of fun stuff to it, but it’s a weird profession.
But I didn’t want to be one (an actress) all the way. I became a writer, then still acted by accident. I wanted to be a writer.
You survived depression and mental issues. Are you in a good place now?
I’ve actually been in a good place for a while, but I have lived with this for a long time.
What’s your advice to people with the same struggles?
Find a community. Find other people who have more struggles. Find your tribe and be with them.
What was the most difficult phase in your life? And what are you proudest of?
Same things. I was in a couple of mental hospitals. I made it out of there, and I made it funny. So, I’m most proud of the show I wrote, which was “Wishful Drinking.” I was most proud of making something funny that wasn’t.
Was the Elizabeth Taylor issue discussed in your family?
Yeah. I became friends with Elizabeth, then my mother became friends with her again. My mother was Elizabeth’s matron of honor (when she married Mike Todd) by then, so they got along very well. I think initially Elizabeth thought my mother was more of a goody two-shoes, and perhaps my mother was when she was 17. But my mother swears like a sailor now, which is what I think healed her.
Looking back, what did you learn from Elizabeth Taylor?
Not to steal my father from my mother (laughs).
Can you talk about your own daughter also appearing in this “Star Wars” film and now, she’s in a TV series (“Scream Queens”), as well?
I don’t know if it’s genetic, but she’s very extroverted and witty. On the set, she was the center. I didn’t realize it until then that she has evolved into this amazing personality who is compelling.
I’m very proud of her! I called my mother and said, “She’s like us now.” She talks too much! She’s funny.
Was it great to see your mother finally get that Oscar recognition?
Oh God, yes, absolutely! She became very ill, [but] she’s getting better.
Are you feistier now than when you were younger?
You get less feisty as you get older.
You have done interesting things in your career, but Princess Leia is probably what you would be remembered for.
Right. It’s good to be known as yourself, but Princess Leia is a good person to be. She is an independent, strong, outspoken person.
What advice would you give your young self if you met her now?
Oh, my God. Don’t do anything you want to do. Your impulses are wrong!
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