Laura Dern’s recent comments to ET underscore the core appeal of Carrie Fisher’s personality as an actress and a public figure.
As Leia Organa AND as Carrie Fisher, the actress leaves behind a legacy of intense individualism, originality, and pride in the face of her demons.
That legacy resonated with women all over the world, and Princess Leia has become a cultural touchstone of female empowerment and fierce independence in the four decades since Star Wars debuted.
Fisher made no secret out of her struggles over the course of her life — particularly with regards to substance abuse and mental illness — and a large part of her legacy stems from the refusal to shy away from her strife.