The Princess Diarist

April 3, 2017
Fisher finally set out to publish a collection of essays related specifically to her role as Princess Leah in the blockbuster Star Wars movie franchise and a brief affair with her older—and married—co-star Harrison Ford during the shooting of the first film. The juxtaposition between Fisher’s narration of her contemporary writing with the voice of her daughter, actress Lourd, reading diary portions written four decades earlier makes for telling contrast: Fisher, with her smoky, husky voice, sounds like a tough-as-nails seasoned survivor who doesn’t take her past romances and heartaches seriously and wishes her own fans would lighten up about their assumptions and speculations. Lourd performs the emotional long-ago passages with a palpable air of youthful self-consciousness. Both handle the duties at hand with poise and skill, leaving listeners to appreciate the way that time can shape one’s perspective quite dramatically. A Blue Rider hardcover.

December 15, 2016
How playing Princess Leia changed the author's life. When Fisher (Shockaholic, 2012, etc.) accepted the role at age 19, she had no idea the Star Wars franchise would become such a phenomenon. In her mind, like so many others, the original movie was "a cool little off-the-radar movie directed by a bearded guy from Modesto....It wasn't supposed to do what it did--nothing was supposed to do that. Nothing ever had." In this frank, self-deprecating memoir, the author rehashes her thoughts about her brief and exciting affair with married co-star Harrison Ford, which lasted the duration of the filming of Star Wars, about three months. However, readers in search of the nitty-gritty details of their weekends together won't find them here; Fisher is discreet, leaving much of the physicality of their shared experiences to the imagination. What she does provide are excerpts from her diaries written at the time, which show the naivete of a 19-year-old in love with her older counterpart, as well as some poorly written love poems. After that overly long section, the author divulges what it's like to attend conventions where she's paid to sign photographs of her younger self, often snapshots of Princess Leia in her metal bikini sitting beside Jabba the Hutt. Fisher successfully imitates the gushing conversations of various fans, giving insight into the complicated push-pull reality of being a celebrity: you need them to buy your signature so you can pay your bills while at the same time selling a tiny bit of your self-worth, which eventually drains you. Those looking for details about the filming of the Star Wars movies or Fisher's affair should look elsewhere, but those who want to understand the dynamics and personality of a young woman thrust into unexpected stardom and how that shaped the woman she has become will find plenty to ponder here. Outspoken, honest commentary of what it's like to be Princess Leia on and off the screen.

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