News Digest

Carrie Fisher describes pressure to lose the pounds for Princess Leia

Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher has spoken of the pressure to lose weight for the new movie, saying Hollywood’s obsession with appearance is “insane”. The actress, 59, will be seen again in her famous role as Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens this December, some 38 years after she first appeared as the character. Talking to the January edition of Good Housekeeping magazine, she spoke about having to lose 35lb for the movie. "That is so messed up. They might as well say get younger, because that’s how easy it is,“ she said.

They don’t want to hire all of me - only about three-quarters! Nothing changes, it’s an appearance-driven thing. I’m in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance.

Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher

As the daughter of famous parents - her mother was actress Debbie Reynolds and her father singer Eddie Fisher - she said growing up she would look at her mother and think "Wow, she is gorgeous and I don’t look like her, therefore I’m not pretty." Commenting on Hollywood’s "obsession with appearance” she said: “ We treat beauty like an accomplishment and that is insane. Everyone in LA says, ‘Oh you look good’, and you listen for them to say you’ve lost weight. It’s never 'How are you?’ or 'You seem happy!’”

When I do lose the weight I don’t like that it makes me feel good about myself. It’s not who I am.

Carrie Fisher