Carrie Fisher on Enduring an Image-Conscious Hollywood and Losing Weight for Star Wars
Carrie Fisher is never one to shy away from total and brutal honesty. She is very direct and blunt in her commentary much to the delight of anyone who gets to read or listen to her comments. And today she takes on Hollywood and their obsession with image and beauty.
Fisher has discussed many times how she was asked to lose weight for the original Star Wars. According to her, little has changed in subsequent years to no one’s surprise.
“They don’t want to hire all of me – only about three-quarters! Nothing changes, it’s an appearance-driven thing,” the actor and writer told Good Housekeeping magazine. “I’m in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance. That is so messed up. They might as well say get younger, because that’s how easy it is.”
And in her typical fashion, Fisher was very honest and introspective about her thoughts on the matter.
“When I do lose the weight, I don’t like that it makes me feel good about myself. It’s not who I am,” she said. “My problem is they talk to me like an actress, but I hear them like a writer. … We treat beauty like an accomplishment and that is insane.”
The article goes on to reference recent quotes from Abrams to examine the disconnect between Lucasfilm’s drive to make the films more friendly to young girls, while still being balanced in a Hollywood obsessed with a specific image of beauty. Regardless, one of the best outcomes of the new Star Wars films has been to put Carrie’s voice back in the limelight. Her biting wit and keen observation is always a welcome break from the rehearsed publicity of most actors. Here’s hoping Carrie keeps acting and writing well into the future so we can continue to have more opportunity for her to speak out on whatever she pleases.
Source: Good Housekeeping via The Guardian
The original article is a joke. Hamill had to lose just as much weight if not more. Fisher had to lose weight for the OT too. So this is nothing new. She is just being honest and they are turning it into her slamming the movie which isn’t her context.
And also, she did lose weight and she looks great AND they paid her to do it. I wish I were in that situation.
Completely agree. Its funny, you never see the neckbears on here post about Mark Hamill and his weight before the movie do you? Its easy for men to attack women over their looks and even easier behind a monitor.
I didn’t read the piece as “slamming the movie”
Carrie made some very valid points very eloquently.
And I dispute the comment about her being “a mess” – she was writing and performing and seemed to be quite happy with her “electroshock” lifestyle before tfa came along
…..and while we’re discussing being “a mess” and “out of shape” – hands up anyone on this forum who tips the scales under 100 kilos…
Look up the video where she gets caught buying drugs. She was a mess. Wishful Drinking was awesome but that was 5 years ago now.
Disney told me I had to gain weight for my role in Episode 9.
Are you playing Jabba’s offspring?
skinny shamming much are we Carrie? good god. yes, it is okay for producers to ask you to loose a little weight… for goodness sake you were unhealthy at your weight prior and I’m sure it was negatively affecting you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with sending a meesage to our young that says “hey kids, it might be a good idea to stay fit.” I mean its not like they asked you to wear a metal bikini again. This bullcrap that you felt bad because you looked good is RIDICULOUS. I can already here the “fat-positive” movement cheering this nonsense.
she is just being herself, and she was quoted out of context. Blame the author of the articles.
and as a bonus, they pay for the kilos 🙂
Why does a 59 year old woman have to lose weight for a sci fi role? You know this is sci fi right? Its not real. She’s not really a general. Does her weight make you think she can give commands easier if she is 35 pounds smaller?
In what universe is she “skinny shaming?” She’s saying physical appearance shouldn’t matter as much as it does, that goes both ways.
Carrie has my respect and love. Especially when she’s taken a few off :-p
If Carrie doesn’t want to lose weight, she should find a different business to be in. It goes with the territory. Seriously Carrie, people don’t want to spend $10 (or more) to watch a group of frumpy, dumpy actors running around.
look, Carrie’s weight and overall wellbeing before the force awakens was too bad. It wouldn’t make sense for princess Leia, a character who has fought and led battles to age into what carrie turned out to be
Very sad, but very true.
Yeah sadly Fisher took tons of drugs and had not taken care of herself properly hence the reason she need that fitness regime for this new movie
Carrie fisher should be thanking hollywood before this she was terribly out of shape and unhealthy
Should Mark Hamill be thanking Hollywood too? Funny you just mention her.
Your general attitude towards every comment on this feed is horrible. You either need a puppy or a hug, or both.
every comment so far is backing up what she said …..
personally i couldnt give a toss what size anyone is , “can they act” is the only thing i care about.
How did every comment back up what she said?????every comment so far is backing up what she said every comment so far is backing up what she said
every cohow did emment so far is backing up what she said
how did every comment back up what she said?????
have you read them? -should be thanking hollywood ….she was out of shape – carries weight and appearance ….was too bad . – should find a different business – has my love ….when shes taken a few off – skinny shaming – she looks great .
her point was the only thing that matters is how you look ,…. how you feel and if you do a good job or not are secondary to that one requirement . … and it seems that by the comments , people seem to think the same …only looks matter
You’re absolutely right, and it’s depressing to see the discourse coming from fellow fans.
Would marry.
Of all the people involved in the franchise over the years, she’s the one I would consistently shell out to go hear speak. Brilliant, with a razor wit, and having struggled with a multitude of personal issues, is both amazingly insightful, and brutally honest about herself.
When she’s off the dank bale the brilliance and razor wit come back. Before making this movie that didn’t seem to happen too often.
Personally, I would rather hang with Mark Hamill in an Irish pub.
“When I do lose the weight, I don’t like that it makes me feel good about myself. It’s not who I am,”
Did I read that right? She doesn’t like that fact that she feels good about herself? I’m not sure I get that one.
No, she is saying that she doesn’t like the fact that a change in her weight hits the pleasure center of her brain. She is saying that she would prefer her feeling of personal worth and happiness to be unconnnected to her physical appearance. Self-worth SHOULDN’T be tied to weight – she’s absolutely right, as usual.
I read it quite a bit different than that. She said that she didn’t like the fact that she felt better about herself when she does lose the weight. I’m just not sure I get it.
I didn’t read it that way. To me she’s saying that she is basically a fairly miserable person, and that’s what she wants to remain.
Looks like you read it wrong then….
Maybe you are reading into yourself on that one.
You’re attacking me for stating what I read? You feeling OK?
That was supposed to be reading too much into that one. My phone is not always cooperative.
And you are right, they cut out parts of the quotes and it makes it sound that way. I just search the source quote and its longer and in full context. This was cut and pasted and missing words from the quotes. Maybe its click bait or something.
There’s a reason losing weight makes you happy and it’s not just social programming. When you’re overweight, there is a literal burden on your system. Losing that is a relief. More than that, Exercise literally gives you an endorphin rush. It’s all the benefits of nicotine, without its drawbacks. And it has benefits to mental health that last for weeks after the fact.
There are plenty of jobs that Carrie could have where her appearance wouldn’t matter. Speaking as an overweight woman, I have a job I love and that allows me to live comfortably, and no one cares what I look like or how much I weight. If you choose to be an actress, you choose the physical demands that go along with that.
Even then, however, you can choose the acting roles that demand different physical appearances. It’s not true that there is only one body type shown in film and television. In TFA, Carrie has chosen to accept a lot of money to reprise the role of a very active military general. Let me repeat that: A VERY ACTIVE MILITARY GENERAL. That role would demand her to be fit. I really just don’t see the controversy or the injustice.
Where are you getting this “very active military general” stuff from? Besides the fact that nobody’s actually seen the movie or knows that much about what the character has been through, aren’t generals by definition removed from the action?
You have to hear her talk about this stuff live, this article makes it sound more abrasive than it is. I’ve seen her discuss this before, it’s nothing she didn’t expect. She wasn’t all upset by it or anything.
A much as I adore Carrie and agree with her here, I’m assuming she’s not the easiest person to work with. I’m not sure the weight is the problem all the time.
Weight is not a problem. Look at Melissa McCarthy for example, personality plays a big role. In fact she could do a funny bounty hunter for SW…
You want fans to complain about a new thing in SW? 😛 lol
Please never write a Star Wars movie. I don’t need Jar Jar Fett…
Melissa McCarthy in star wars….the only positive that could possibly come of that is making the prequels look better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn_WBBAvZ_Q
Wishful Drinking is hilarious.
In all honesty, She brought it all on herself far as the weight problems go. Drinking hard, getting fucked up on drugs all the time, overeating, not working out, and smoking your health away for decades takes a serious toll on the human body. She should be very thankful that she’s still alive for this new trilogy. I hope her Daughter learns from her example.
Lets check in with you at 59 and see how you have done?
Christie Brinkley is like three years older than her but looks 20 years younger since she was smart enough to realize she works in a looks based industry and made wise decisions about her health over the decades which clearly paid off. It’s not that difficult if you have any modicum of common sense.
If I was Fisher, I’d sue whoever had her lips done.
YOUR A DISGUSTING HUMAN BEING AND WITHOUT QUESTION ARE OBESE.
You’re not Your. I am not obese but I’d much rather be than intolerant of others such as yourself. The door swings both ways.
She was/is bipolar before bipolar was even a thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn_WBBAvZ_Q
I totally support overall notion that obsession with beauty and looks (especially in movie industry) is harmful and unrealistic. But sometimes weight loss (or gain) is actually justified. Like it’s in this case. You can’t play credible, convincing active Resistance leader/general if you are visibly obese. Nobody would buy a warrior-Rey if she were obese. Daisy is thin, but also strongly build and not sexualised and that’s how it should be.
https://scontent-ams2-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xpf1/t50.2886-16/12298548_476616355854299_223319012_n.mp4
Not sure where you’re coming from here. Churchhill was a big guy, didn’t stop him from being a “credible” leader during WWII.
I was thinking the same thing.. being obese or a little out-of-shape doesn’t mean you can’t be a general. Especially if she’s out of her prime and not fighting anymore, it kinda makes sense actually
Churchill was the right leader at that time. Churchill was not a leader who could rebuild a country. But still, this was not because of his posture.
I’m assuming that Leia would do more than standing next to big map with a pointer.
IF she’s not doing anything else, than “leading” from behind the desk -> you’re right. But I really doubt that, it would be against her archetype.
I agree with most of her points, but I have to mention recalling being 5 and having that poster of her with attitude in a white dress from the original movie. Strong, but sexy!
She was awesome.
“if money all that you love, than thats what you’ll receive.”
Only in Carrie Fisher’s hand does that line sound so strong.
There’s something to be said about being healthy, though. And that’s something that takes real effort and it should be seen as an impressive accomplishment.
Healthy, yes, although I think most healthy women – truly healthy, like the proper fat/muscle balance for body size, proper functioning immune system – would be considered “fat”.
Of course every body is different, some people are at their best thin, others are perfectly fine being “overweight”.
Take, for example, Kelly Clarkson who got ridiculed for her weight – I think she’s pretty healthy, she looks like she could sock it to somebody.
I guess it just depends on your personal preference, and I feel Hollywood has always chosen size 0 when there truly are LOTS of OTHER sizes that are just as good, if not superior.
To paraphrase Alan Arkin: there’s nothing wrong with having some meat on the bones.
This was the image on the poster I had on my bedroom door…
duck face. debate over.
Gotta love Carrie Fisher. She’s smart, funny, and tells it like it is. She’s a straight talker. Simply the best!
Carrie is cool, she could not care less about what the world thinks of her. Too bad she’s often drunk or whatever and she has to lose her duck face look. But … she could not care less about what I think 😉 and that’s cool