October 28, 2021
“I was Leia and that was all that truly mattered. I’m Leia—I can live in a tree, but you can’t take that away from me.”42However, before she could begin filming, Carrie was sent to a “fat farm” in order to lose ten pounds for the film. She later explained that, “I was awarded the part in Star Wars with the dispiriting caveat that I lose ten pounds, so for me the experience was less like, “All right! I got a job and more like, “I got a job and I hurt my ankle.” The minus 10 percent was an agent’s fee in flesh.”43 So off she went to a Texas-based fat farm where she fell under the auspicious wings of such women as former first lady Lady Bird Johnson and famous advice columnist Ann Landers. During her brief one week stay, Carrie enjoyed sharing details about Star Wars with her companions. She recalled that Lady Bird Johnson initially confused the name Star Wars with the term Car Wash while Ann Landers frequently gave her unsolicited advice over suppers of burnt looking partridge. Carrie departed the fat farm after a week-long stay. Unfortunately, she had failed to lose the required ten pounds for the film; this fact would trouble Carrie as she began shooting her scenes for Star Wars.44 Filming for Star Wars began on March 22, 1976, at Elstree Studios in London.45 Carrie was initially apprehensive about being on set because she had failed to lose the required weight for the film. With this in mind, she aimed to, “keep myself under the radar so that the powers that be wouldn’t notice that I hadn’t lost the weight they’d asked me to.”46 Despite her best efforts, however, one issue immediately thrust Carrie into the spotlight: Leia’s hairstyle. Not only would her hairstyling require her to arrive on set in the pre-dawn hours, but it also required two hours just to style correctly. The problem vexing Carrie and her hair dresser, Pat McDermott, was which hairstyle to chose from amongst the sketches given to Pat to work with as a guideline. She and Carrie searched through the proposed hairstyles, many of which astounded Carrie. She wrote in The Princess Diarist “So Pat showed me a variety of exotic looks—from Russian princesses to Swedish maids. I looked at the images slightly alarmed. There was no Lady Gaga to guide me…So image by image, we went through hairstyles that would look best when accompanied by clogs, an apron, and puffy white sleeves. A hairstyle probably sported by an Aztec Indian Chief’s daughter on her wedding day. Swirling braids, flowing tresses, and towering wigs. I would sit miserably in front of a mirror and watch while hairstyles did to my face what fun house mirrors do to yours.”47 Carrie and Pat tried each hairstyle one by one, with Carrie rejecting each in turn. “This isn’t a hairdo—it’s a hair don’t” she’d say to Pat.48 Finally, Pat and Carrie arrived at the iconic “hairy-earphone configuration” with which Carrie was still not thrilled. “It’s okay” she managed to say, “I mean I like it better than a lot of the others!…”49 Carrie was still lukewarm, so Pat explained to her that she was only trying to create a hairstyle that would please director George Lucas. “Can’t it be something…simpler? I mean, why does the hair have to be…you know…” Carrie pleaded.50 This time Pat explained that Carrie was going to be in a space film, “we can’t have you larkin’ about wearin’ what I think you call a ponytail with a fringe, can we now?”51 Carrie’s hairstyle had to be odd, so odd in fact that you’d have to travel to another galaxy to find someone who wore it. Leia’s hairstyle had to be unforgettable. Therefore, Carrie resigned herself to her hairy earphones, and she and Pat went to show George Lucas the hairstyle. The pair trekked across the set and found George conversing with first assistant director David Tomblin and producer Gary Kurtz. Carrie was presented to the group like a, “sacrificial asshole.”52 The three men discussed this new hairstyle, now the sixth they had seen adorn Carrie’s head. After some discussion, George finally asked Carrie what she thought about her unconventional hairdo. Carrie, having failed to lose the weight required of her for the film, and worried that she would be fired as a result, replied, “I love it.”53 Carrie’s time on set filming Star Wars was full of memorable moments. In one story, which she retold numerous times over the years, she had just begun filming Star Wars when George Lucas coolly informed her that she could not wear a bra under her white dress. This pronouncement piqued Carrie’s interest who replied, “Okay, I’ll bite. Why?”54 George confidently replied, “Because…there’s no underwear in space.”55 Therefore, as she had done in Shampoo two years earlier, Carrie once again had to remove her bra for a film. This time, however, Carrie used Gaffer’s tape to cover her breasts, which she later joked there would be a contest to see which crew member would remove the tape at the end of the day! When she was not fretting over her outfits and hairstyle, Carrie was busy filming scenes with her costars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, and Kenny Baker. In one scene that Carrie later coined the “trash compactor” scene, she, Mark, Harrison, and Peter had just escaped from Leia’s detention cell on the Death Star and landed inside a huge trash compactor full of garbage and water. The trash compactor proves to be more than meets the eye when the group is attacked by a serpent-like creature called a Dianoga. In Wishful Drinking Carrie fondly remembered how she and Mark would goof off together in between takes, “…he would pick up a little piece of rubber trash and start singing (to the tune of Chattanooga Choo-Choo).”56 Carrie also recalled how her costar accidentally popped a blood vessel in his eye during the trash compactor scene. The ruptured blood vessel affected Mark’s appearance for the remainder of filming as the fresh-faced actor now had a red dot in his eye. Carrie wrote in Wishful Drinking, “So the following day we shot our next scene—which happened to be the last scene in the movie. You know, the one where I give out all the medals? Mark had to grin like a motherfucker in that scene in order to conceal his red dot. Because, ultimately who’s going to give a medal to someone with a big, stupid red dot in their eye? I don’t care how much force is with him.”57 However, of all of her iconic scenes perhaps none was more iconic than the famous hologram scene during which Leia utters these words:
“General Kenobi, years ago, you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father’s request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack, and I’m afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour—help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”58When Star Wars debuted in theaters in May 1977, it became an instant hit! Carrie later wrote of Star Wars’ monumental success that, “It was one movie. It wasn’t supposed to do what it did—nothing was supposed to do that. Nothing ever had. Movies were meant to stay on the screen, flat and large and colorful, gathering you up into their sweep of story, carrying you rollicking along to the end, then releasing you back into your unchanged life. But this movie misbehaved. It leaked out of the theatre, poured off the screen, affected a lot of people so deeply that they required endless talismans and artifacts to stay connected to it.”59 With Star Wars’ success came Carrie’s own fame. Just like her mother twenty-five years earlier, Carrie became a cultural icon, recognizable the world over as Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan. However, she came to understand that she was not the famous one in her relationship with her alter ego. She wrote in the Princess Diarist that, “Besides, the Star Wars fame meant that Princess Leia was famous and not Carrie Fisher. I just happened to look like her—minus her bad hair, and plus less conspicuous bad hair all my own.”60 Thus, Carrie’s new-found fame was not really hers, but rather Princess Leia’s. Nevertheless, Carrie now found herself in a glittering world of movie stars, world premieres, and renowned directors. Unfortunately, behind this world of glittering fame Carrie was also battling a serious mental illness: Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder (BP) or Manic Depressive is a neurological disease that affects an individual’s thoughts, energy levels, and behavior as well as mood. Bipolar Disorder is characterized by intense fluctuations in these aforementioned categories. In particular, those living with Bipolar Disorder experience both manic and depressive episodes throughout the course of their lives. During Manic episodes an individual with Bipolar Disorder experiences high levels of energy, overly positive thoughts, and frantic behavior. By contrast, during a depressive episode those with the disorder experience negative thoughts, have little to no energy, and have difficulty getting tasks completed. It is important to note that while everyone experiences changes in mood, behavior, and productivity from time to time, such changes are extreme in those living with Bipolar Disorder and can lead to issues functioning on a day-to-day basis. For example, those living through a depressive episode may have trouble sleeping or sleep most of the time. They may also lose interest in activities that they usually enjoy and shun all social contacts. While doctors are unsure about the causes of Bipolar Disorder, they agree that a complex combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors contribute to developing the illness. One indication of a genetic cause for Bipolar Disorder is that children who have a parent or sibling with BP is four to six times more likely to develop the disorder themselves. Living with Bipolar Disorder can be extremely difficult. Not only do those who live with the disease have to cope with the intense symptoms, but they also have to contend with the stigma surrounding mental illness.61 Advocates, especially prominent celebrities, such as Carrie Fisher, have helped ease the stigma of Bipolar Disorder and normalized conversations about mental illness. Carrie’s battle with Bipolar Disorder began when she was just thirteen years old. When reflecting on her daughter’s illness, Debbie Reynolds said that, “Manic Depressive is a disease. Now, that was not diagnosed then, so nobody kind of knew what was going on with Carrie. When she was thirteen, her personality changed.”62 Carrie turned to drugs in order to cope with her then undiagnosed illness. She began smoking Marijuana at the age of thirteen, but she did not stop there. Her brother Todd explained in an HBO documentary that, “Carrie and I started getting high together when we were about…I was fifteen. We used to smoke weed together, and we had a lot of fun. And then you know she moved on to other things. And I didn’t. When I would stop, she would keep going.”63 And Carrie kept going and going and going. Years after her diagnosis, when reflecting on how her mental illness contributed to her drug addiction, Carrie said that, “I knew something was the matter with me. I went too fast. I was too much. And I was embarrassed of it. The drugs I liked were painkillers. They calmed me down. I just couldn’t—I couldn’t handle it. I didn’t know what ‘it’ was.”64 The “it” of course was Bipolar Disorder. Carrie used a variety of drugs through the decades to cope with her everyday life. For decades, each day was a rollercoaster of emotions, bad ideas, and rocky relationships. Carrie gravitated between mania and depression; two moods she nicknamed Rollicking Roy and Sediment Pam. ”One mood is the meal. The next mood is the check. Sometimes the tide is in, sometimes its out,” she told Diane Sawyer in December 2000.65
Fighting her addiction and coping with her mental illness were lifelong battles for Carrie, but through it all she was never alone. When discussing the role family played in helping Carrie manage her illness, Debbie Reynolds said, “So, it’s a constant battle that takes all of us to assure her that she’s loved and that won’t get her. Hard. Yeah it’s hard. That’s the hardest part.”67 If Carrie’s illness was a curse, it also proved to be something vaguely resembling a blessing as well. Fisher’s honesty when discussing her illness and addiction helped dispel some of the stigma surrounding both issues. She also gave those struggling with substance abuse and/or mental illness someone to look up to. When accepting her Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award from Harvard College’s Humanist Hub in 2016, Carrie said, “I’ve never been ashamed of my mental illness; It never occurred to me…Many people thank me for talking about it, and mothers can tell their kids when they are upset with the diagnosis that Princess Leia is bipolar, too.”68 Thus, Carrie’s influence reached far beyond the movie screens and glamor of Hollywood. Through her openness, honesty, and humor she invited those struggling with the burdens of mental illness, addiction, and whatever else troubled their hearts to identify with her, get to know her, and to love her. It is ironic that a woman, who began her public life with the expectation that she would one day fade into obscurity, seemed to only grow more notable as time passed. For hers was a star that never dimmed, but only shone brighter with each day she shared with us on Earth. Carrie Fisher was many things: an intergalactic princess, Hollywood royalty, a mental health advocate, an accomplished writer, a daughter, a sister, and a mother. However, above all else, she was simply Carrie. The Force will be with her, always.“I am mentally ill. I can say that.”66
bipolar disorder
Carrie Fisher
Star Wars (film)
Christopher Hohman is a senior History Major and Public History Graduate student at St. Mary’s University. He enjoys writing and researching a variety of topics and is currently working as a graduate research assistant while simultaneously working on his capstone project about women in the San Antonio Fire Service
Author Portfolio PageBrissa Campos Toscano
I loved how you started your article. It immediately captures the reader. I did know Carrie Fisher was bipolar, but I didn’t think she was so open to talking about her illness and addressing it in the most neutral way possible. I think this opens a talk on how famous people can use their influence and power in movies or daily life to convert the “tabu” topics into regular topics that need to be addressed.
04/02/2022
12:04 pm
Madeline Chandler
This was an extremely well written article, and it was so detailed. I have seen Carry fisher in her obvious claim to fame in Star Wars, yet I did not know that she was famous for so many works and films. Another aspect that I found quite interesting is her struggle with mental health issues like being bi-polar. I think that her being open about her struggle can help many audience get help for their similar struggles or mental health issues. It is so sad that she passed but she definitely left a legacy.
08/02/2022
12:04 pm
Madison Goza
I thought your article was so interesting! I didn’t know much about Carrie Fisher’s life, so I learned a tremendous amount about her through your article! I liked how you walked through the important moments in her life, with her family, her career, and personal struggles. Reading about Carrie’s interactions in Hollywood was fascinating to me, in particular seeing the underside or reality of life in the entertainment industry. I also appreciated how you transitioned within your writing as you discussed the major points in her life. Great article!
12/02/2022
12:04 pm
Andrew Molina
Well this was a very cool article to read. I had knew a little bit about carrie from Star Wars and her role in the blues brothers. But I didn’t know the major points of her life so to say. But all in all I think the author did a good job conveying carries life and showing her high and her lows, so sad to say someone’s life ruined from drugs and lag of mental treatment.
04/03/2022
12:04 pm
Laura Poole
Congratulations on your award! It was so well deserved! Carrie Fisher played such a big role in my childhood since my family and I were obsessed with Star Wars. I was devastated with her passing in recent years. I had no idea mental illness played such a big role in her life. It was so interesting learning more in depth about Fisher’s career, I had no idea. I loved the dialog in this article, great work!!
14/10/2022
12:04 pm
Helena Griffith
This essay was really well-written and incredibly thorough. I was aware of Carry Fisher because of her clear claim to fame in Star Wars, but I had no idea that she was well-known for a wide range of other works and movies. Her battle with mental health problems like bipolar disorder is another component that I found to be quite interesting. By being transparent about her difficulty, I believe she can encourage a large audience to seek support for their own struggles or mental health conditions. Although her passing is really tragic, she undoubtedly left a legacy.
16/10/2022
12:04 pm
Emily Rodriguez
First and foremost, congratulations on your well-deserved award for your article. I believe the author did a great job at really diving deep into Carrie Fisher’s life through acting, and it shows his ability to conduct in-depth research about something he’s passionate about. While the article was long, it kept me intrigued the entire time and included information that stuck to the storyline of the article. This article really goes to show the typical struggles of actors and the mental and physical hardships they go through in this industry.
27/10/2022
12:04 pm
Maggie Trujillo
Congratulations on your win! This was a great article! I have always been a Star Wars fan and was devastated when Carrie Fisher passed away. This article was awesome to learn more about how Carrie Fisher got her start in Hollywood to her role in Star Wars. I was also impressed by Carrie Fisher for being so open about her mental illness and making it ok to talk and get help for it. Sometimes it can take one person or article to affect someone and get them the help they need.
05/03/2023
12:04 pm
Abbey Stiffler
Despite the fact that I knew who she was, I didn’t know much about her past. I was not aware that Carrie Fisher had bipolar disorder, and I didn’t realize how openly she discussed it. I believe that by being open and honest about her difficulties, she can encourage a large audience to seek support for their own struggles or mental health conditions. Despite how tragically she passed away, she surely left a legacy.
24/03/2023
12:04 pm
McKayla
This article was so well written and researched. Carrie Fisher touched the lives of many, especially through roles such as Princess Leia. Despite me knowing who she was, I wasn’t too familiar about her backstory, and it was so interesting to have a full scope of her career and life, including her struggles, especially since every other person I know is a fan of her and her work.
13/12/2021
12:04 pm