American actress and author Carrie Fisher was best known for her iconic portrayal of Princess Leia in “Star Wars”, one of the most eminent science fiction movie franchise ever.
Born in 1956 to famous artist and singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds, she was destined to make a career in Hollywood and quickly followed their path into show business. She first appeared in a Broadway show called “Irene”, in which her mother starred.
In 1975, she made her film debut in “Shampoo” before shooting to fame two years later playing Princess Leia in George Lucas's blockbuster. The success being immediate, she soon became a household name.
However, through much of her adult life, she struggled with drug and alcohol abuse and bipolar disorder. With her collapsing personal life obviously affecting her rising career, the lack of roles led her to try her luck at writing.
“I always wrote. I wrote from when I was 12. That was therapeutic for me in those days. I wrote things to get them out of feeling them, and onto paper. So writing in a way saved me, kept me company. I did the traditional thing with falling in love with words, reading books and underlining lines I liked and words I didn't know,” she once explained.
In 1987, she came back with her book “Postcards from the Edge”. The insightful and candid novel is based on her own experiences. It became a hit and helped restore her popularity. She then wrote the screenplay for the movie, starring Meryl Streep.
Sharing her personal struggles and speaking out about mental health turned her into a powerful advocate for those who might feel ashamed in the same situation. She represented a powerful voice which helped destigmatize issues and support her community.
Over the years, she pursued her writing career that included novels, memoirs and fixing Hollywood scripts. She also went on to play supporting roles in a number of films.
The productive author, screenwriter and actress remained busy until she suffered a massive heart attack and died end of 2016 at the age of 60.