Carrie Fisher reveals the pressure she faced to shed more than 35 pounds to reprise her iconic role as Princess Leia in the highly anticipated film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The 59-year-old actress opened up about the expectations imposed on female performers in Hollywood, highlighting that the demand for slimming down has persisted since her debut in the franchise nearly four decades ago.
Expressing her dismay, Fisher disclosed to Good Housekeeping U.K., “They don’t want all of me – just about three-quarters!
Nothing changes; it’s all about appearances.
In this industry, weight and looks reign supreme.
It’s absurd; it’s like they’re saying, ‘Just get younger, it’s that simple.
‘”
Despite the disapproval of the industry’s standards, Fisher complied with the request and adjusted her diet and exercise routine to achieve the desired weight loss.
“I did what everyone does – eat less and exercise more!
There’s no other way around it,” she remarked.
“I find it harder to eat right than to work out.
I’d rather engage in physical activities than deprive myself of something.”
However, the process of shedding pounds left Fisher feeling conflicted about the validation she received from her physical transformation.
“When I lose weight, I don’t appreciate feeling good about myself.
It’s not my identity,” she clarified.
“The issue is they address me as an actress, but I hear them as a writer.”
Fisher highlighted that the fixation on weight extends beyond the entertainment industry to the broader culture of Los Angeles.
“We’ve turned beauty into an achievement, which is ludicrous.
Everyone in LA will comment on your appearance, waiting for the mention of weight loss,” she observed.
“It’s never about ‘How are you?’
or ‘You seem happy!
‘”
Reflecting on her upbringing with renowned parents, singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds, Fisher confessed feeling inadequate compared to her mother’s beauty.
“Seeing my mother, I thought, ‘She’s stunning and I’m not like her, so I mustn’t be attractive,’” she shared.
“‘And since my father doesn’t visit, I must not be pretty because he prefers beautiful women.’”
Deciding to pursue show business, Fisher believed it would bring her the love and acceptance she sought through proper makeup and glamour.
In a heartfelt conversation with new Star Wars star Daisy Ridley, Fisher cautioned against being coerced into a “s** symbol” image – drawing from her own experience in 1983’s Return of the Jedi, where she wore the famous gold bikini.
“Stand up for your costume,” she urged Ridley.
“Don’t allow yourself to be enslaved like I was.”
