Carrie Fisher Was A Sci-Fi Superstar, But Her Secret Side Hustle May Surprise Fans
Carrie Fisher cemented her place in cinema history with her portrayal of Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise. It was a performance that won the actor legions of fans and sparked a costume party craze that lasts to this day. Yet as well as being a sci-fi legend, Fisher had a lucrative second career – a revelation that will come as a surprise to many fans of the screen icon.
Despite being born for stardom – Fisher’s parents were silver screen legend Debbie Reynolds and much-loved singer Eddie Fisher – this was a woman who forged her own path. And in doing so, Fisher became synonymous with arguably one of the most famous female movie characters of all time. The white gown and famous Leia hair “buns” is one of the most instantly recognizable costumes in movie history.
That’s not to forget the famous gold bikini that Leia donned while being held captive by the odious Jabba the Hutt, of course. The outfit made Fisher a fantasy figure for teenage boys around the world. Scrap that – it set pulses racing across the board and cemented Leia as one of the most desirable movie characters of all time.
But let us not just zoom in on Leia’s desirability, because that would be a disservice to the character’s depth and Fisher’s portrayal. For Leia Organa Skywalker – to give her full name – is a character who in many ways broke the mold. No stereotypical submissive female, Leia almost single-handedly at one stage led the fightback against the evil Empire. Leia – and Fisher – were so much more than just sex symbols. It is another reason why the character is held in such high regard and Fisher’s performance was so valued.
With parents as famous as Fisher’s, stardom was always on the cards. Mostly raised by Reynolds, the youngster soon found herself following in her mother’s footsteps by venturing onto Broadway. The pair starred opposite each other in Irene, a revival of the hit musical. It won Fisher attention that soon translated into movie roles.
