On December 27, 2016, the galaxy lost Carrie Fisher. The world mourned collectively at the loss of this vibrant personality who really was every Star Wars fan’s princess. She not only played that role in front of the cameras, but she lived that role behind them. In many ways, she contributed to the heart of Star Wars through the decades. Two years after her death, the world still misses her. Nobody misses her as much as her daughter though, Billie Lourd.
Lourd posted a musical tribute to her late mother this week. It was on the piano that was given to Fisher by her father, Eddie Fisher. “It has been two years since my Momby’s death and I still don’t know what the ‘right’ thing to do on a death anniversary is (I’m sure a lot of you feel the same way about your loved ones),” writes Lourd. “So I decided to do something a little vulnerable for me, but something we both loved to do together – sing.”
“And as the song says, we must ‘keep on moving,’” adds Lourd. “I’ve found that what keeps me moving is doing things that make me happy, working hard on the things that I’m passionate about and surrounding myself with people I love and making them smile. I hope this encourages anyone feeling a little low or lost to ‘keep on moving’. As my Momby once said, ‘take your broken heart and turn it into art’ – whatever that art may be for you.”
Carrie Fisher died at the age of 60 on December 27, 2016. Her mother, Debbie Reynolds, passed away the next day. Fisher had been making quite a comeback with the return of the Skywalker Saga Star Wars movies. She had prominent roles in both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Where Han Solo was the central classic character in The Force Awakens and then Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi, Fisher’s General Leia was to be the central figure in next year’s Episode IX.
Fisher will still portray the role of Leia in Star Wars: Episode IX director J.J. Abrams has shared.
“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” Abrams said. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”
Next year as the Skywalker Saga draws to a close, fans will not only say goodbye this series but also again to Carrie Fisher. She will always be THE princess of Star Wars and will be missed by fans who felt her story was cut short. Today though, her memory and legacy are remembered. Fisher was a woman who was unapologetically herself. She was a role model who embraced her flaws and shared the life lessons she learned, both through her books and also her public appearances. Carrie Fisher’s influence on the worlds of Star Wars and beyond continues past her death and continues to grow.
Two years after her death, she is still remembered and her absence still felt. However, her personality and presence continue to carry on through her work and those who knew her. Carrie Fisher’s legacy continues to grow and she will always be THE princess.
