Carrie Fisher: Honoring the beloved Star Wars Princess Leia

We honor our beloved Star Wars Princess Leia, Carrie Fisher.

It’s been a year and a day since our beloved Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia, became one with the Force. Still, even one year later, it had not entirely sunk in fully. Not until Star Wars: The Last Jedi released, that is.

Mark Hamill — Luke Skywalker himself — showcased these emotions best, with his tweet honoring Carrie Fisher.

"No one’s ever really gone."

The Force indeed intervened with that particular scene, one where we saw the reunion of the Skywalker twins. Luke and Leia together for the final time. It’s difficult typing these words without breaking down.

George Lucas: “She was the boss. It was her war. She was very strong. Very smart. Very funny. Very bold. Very bold. There weren’t very many people like her.”

Now, Carrie Fisher was no ordinary Princess. She exposed her flaws alongside her strengths, which made her true royalty.

Her exposing her demons, so to speak, reached those who shared in those very struggles.

Carrie Fisher, Leia, paved the way for the strong female characters within the Star Wars universe — Ahsoka Tano, Rey, Asajj Ventress, Jyn Erso, the list goes.

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In A New Hope, it was Leia who showed that she did not need rescuing, that she was capable of saving herself — and others. Leia’s strength endured the death of her home planet.

Instead of drowning in her sorrow, she was offering a helping hand to Luke, who was wallowing in his own.

Fast forward nearly 30 years in the Star Wars canon story, Leia loses the love of her life — Han Solo. Before that, she lost her son Ben Solo to the Dark Side of the Force.

Yet, she carries on. She is a beacon of strength for her friends. For the galaxy. In real life, Carrie Fisher was much like Leia. Strong. Independent. Blunt. Heroic. She even passed on those traits to her daughter,  Billie Lourd.

In a tribute for the ages, Lourd persevered when giving honor to her mother at Star Wars Celebration this past spring.

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

"My mom used to say she never knew where Princes Leia ended and Carrie Fisher began… She was imperfect in many ways, but her imperfections and willingness to speak about them, are what made her more than perfect."

Fisher even gave Daisy Ridley a nickles worth of free advice, preparing her for what true stardom will truly bring her.

Mark Hamill, Fisher’s on-screen brother, developed that tightknit relationship in real life. Hamill’s tribute to her at the same event is one that will indeed need tissues to view. It’s powerful.

"“I’m mad. She should be here… Wait until you see her in The Last Jedi. You’re going to love her. I’m still not thinking of her in past tense.”"

George Lucas reminisces on Carrie Fisher, where she was typically the first to object to certain aspects of the film she disagreed with:

"She was fun to be with kept the whole group going. Very challenging in terms of pointing out that certain pieces of dialogue were a little hard to say."

We will never have another like Carrie Fisher, whether it be in Star Wars or real life. She is missed, dearly.

But, like Mark Hamill — Luke Skywalker expresses, she is never truly gone. She lives on through her legacy. Her films. Her daughter. Through all of us.

Next: Fisher’s dog Gary will be in The Last Jedi

May the Force be with you, Carrie Fisher. Always.