Harrison Ford and George Lucas lead the celebrity tributes to Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher
The actress passed away on Tuesday following a heart attack on December 23
HARRISON Ford and George Lucas have led the tributes to their Star Wars co-star and leading lady Carrie Fisher.
The actress, 60, passed away on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack on a flight on December 23.
In a statement the 74-year-old actor who played Han Solo alongside Carrie’s Princess Leia described her as “one-of-a-kind.”
"Carrie was one-of-a-kind…brilliant, original,” he said, adding: “Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely."
Star Wars director George Lucas paid tribute to her “colourful personality.”
He said: "Carrie and I have been friends most of our adult lives. She was extremely smart; a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colorful personality that everyone loved. In Star Wars she was our great and powerful princess - feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think. My heart and prayers are with Billie, Debbie and all Carrie’s family, friends and fans. She will be missed by all."
Meanwhile, fellow Star Wars actor Mark Hamill led the way on Twitter.
The actor simply wrote: "No words #devastated," followed by a picture with the late star.
Stephen Fry posted: “She was the brightest, funniest, bravest, kindest, cleverest and sweetest person I ever knew. A crushing blow to lose .”
Oscar winning filmmaker Dustin Lance Black wrote: “Some called u princess. To me u were the Queen. U were kind to me when u didn't have to give a sh*t. RIP . Go to hell 2016.”
Actor Dominic Monaghan added: “You will always be my first crush and the force will always be with you #rip #CarrieFisher.”
With Piers Morgan simply stating is was “very sad news.”
Graham Norton wrote: "Numb. Unbelievable that such a bright funny loving spark could be extinguished. you will be missed. I wish you peace."
The Star Wars actress was on a flight from London to LAX when she stopped breathing for 10 minutes on December 23.
ANTHONY DANIELS, who played C-3PO, said: “In spite of so many thoughts and prayers from so many, I am very, very sad.”
Lando Calrissian actor BILLY DEE WILLIAMS tweeted: “She was a dear friend whom I greatly admired. The force is dark today!”
Actress BETTE MIDLER added: “I am so terribly sorry, and send my sincere condolences to her family, friends and fans.”
US telly host ELLEN DEGENERES said: “She was a brilliant writer, actor and friend. She was so much fun. I can’t believe she’s gone.”
WHOOPI GOLDBERG said: “She was funnier and smarter than anyone had the right to be.”
And Star Trek’s WILLIAM SHATNER said: “I will miss our banterings. A wonderful talent and light has been extinguished.”
She was rushed to UCLA Medical Centre, where she was joined by her daughter Billie Lourd and her brother Todd.
Despite her mother confirming she was in a stable condition on Boxing Day, Carrie passed away on December 27.
Family spokesperson Simon Halls said: “It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning.
“She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.”
Tributes have poured in for the American star – who’s best known for her role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Born Carrie Francis Fisher on October 21, 1956, the star was shy growing up and a self-confessed bookworm.
She attended the Beverly Hills High School before appearing as a singer in the hit Broadway show Irene in 1973, aged just 15.
Carrie didn’t graduate from high school but her acting talent saw her attending London’s Central School of Speech and Drama just months later.
Five years on, Carrie was accepted in the Sarah Lawrence College but left before graduation to continue acting.
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She made her film debut in comedy Shampoo in 1975 alongside Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn.
But her life changed when accepted the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
The then-barely known star beat massive names to the role - including Meryl Streep, Geena Davis, Glenn Close and Sigourney Weaver.
Carrie had a love-hate relationship with director George Lucas, and said in her bestselling memoir "he ruined my life".
But in 2015, Carrie reprised her role as Princess Leia for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
During an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, she admitted she’d never considered not taking the role again.
She said: “I think I said once it followed me around like a vague exotic smell.
“I have been in Star Wars since I was 20. And they're not just doing some goofy sequel, like, to service the hunger of it.
“It actually has been thought out and it has integrity and they took it seriously, which they didn't have to do, you know?”
Carrie has also had roles in The Blues Brothers, where she famously choked on a Brussels sprout and ex-fiance Dan Aykroyd saved her life by giving her the Heimlich manoeuvre.
She also starred in Drop Dead Fred, When Harry Met Sally and The 'Burbs.
Away from acting, she was a keen author penning various semi-autobiographical novels including Postcards From The Edge which was later made into a film.
Shortly before her death, Carrie had been on tour with her most recent written offering, The Princess Diarist, an intimate recollection of what really happened behind the scenes when she was filming the first Star Wars movie.
Recently, Carrie opened up about her “intense” three month fling with co-star Harrison Ford – something she talks about in detail in her book.
At the time of their trysts, Carrie was 19 and Harrison was 14 years her senior at 33-years-old.
Appearing on the Today show following the admission, she told hostess Savannah Guthrie: “I’m surprised at the reaction. I don’t think it is that surprising.”
Speaking of her fondness for the handsome star and when pressed about whether or not she loved him, she admitted: “I was 19. Yeah, so... I was not a cavalier type person.”
She added: “I wasn't raised that way. But when you're on location everything is permitted.”
Carrie's new memoir is her second autobiography - after documenting her drink and drugs battle in previous release, Wishful Drinking.
The mum-of-one has always been open about her battle with addiction and her bipolar diagnosis.
She said in 2001: “Drugs made me feel normal, they contained me.”
Earlier this year Carrie was awarded Harvard College’s Annual Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism.
It honoured Carrie, saying “her forthright activism and outspokenness about addiction, mental illness, and agnosticism have advanced public discourse on these issues with creativity and empathy.”
Carrie leaves behind her daughter Billie from her relationship with talent agent Bryan Lourd.
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