Star Wars: Carrie Fisher’s top 10 moments from Princess to General

4. “Nerf herder!” – Empire Strikes Back

What’s a better term of endearment than a “nerf herder”? In the Star Wars universe there are no sweeter words than that when coming from Leia.

Leia threw daggers at Han Solo when she yelled at him, “Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerf herder?” in The Empire Strikes Back. Leia and Han trade shots throughout the series, but Carrie Fisher got the last laugh in this scene.

Especially when she turns and give Luke a big, fat kiss. Granted, at the time no one knew they were siblings, so poor Luke was used by Leia to get Han riled up – and it worked.

But where exactly did the nerf herder insult come from?

It was revealed decades later in the Marvel Comic’s Star Wars #17, Han Solo lost their money in a game of Sabacc and decided to get it back by smuggling.

In this case, he smuggled a herd a nerfs, which kind of look like yaks. It was a moment Leia didn’t forget, and was hanging on to that insult for the right time.

This outburst was just one of several between the two future lovers, but the most memorable throughout the Star Wars saga.

However, what makes it fun is how Fisher makes it seems as though she came up with every word in that moment. It was a line thrown out for fun, but shows her quick wit and charm in the same breath.