Star Wars: The Rise Of Skwalker’s Billie Lourd shared an emotional image of her family on Christmas, with an equally powerful message to anyone coping with the loss of a loved one during the holidays.
Lourd is the only daughter of iconic Star Wars alumni Carrie Fisher (the Rebel Alliance’s Princess Leia Organa), as well as the granddaughter of Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds. Fans and castmates were rocked when Fisher tragically passed away on December 27, 2016, following a cardiac incident and a four-day long battle in a hospital. Adding to the sorrow was the equally tragic passing of Carrie Fisher’s mother Debbie Reynolds due to a stroke the following day, in a situation many felt mirrored the death of Leia’s onscreen mother, Padme Amidala. Both these events left Lourd alone to cope with such a great loss, and she’s often spoken out about the lives of both her mother and grandmother.
Lourd posted the tribute on her Instagram page, consisting of an old baby picture of her, Fisher, and Reynolds, alongside a heartfelt message about how she misses the two. She goes on to tell anyone who has lost a loved one near the holidays to embrace the memories and emotions of the season, both happy and sad. “Put on one of their favorite songs. Tell a story about them,” she advises. “Cry about them. Call one of their friends you haven’t talked to in a while. Be kind and patient with yourself.” Lastly, she advises to not “grieve in silence. You’re not alone.” Check out the full post below:
Despite Carrie Fisher’s passing, The Rise Of Skywalker was able to end Leia’s story (albeit heavily altered from what was originally planned) via unused footage from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi being digitally spliced into the film, all done with Lourd’s blessing. She herself features in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as Resistance Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix, serving under the command of her offscreen mother in a noble battle against the evil First Order. Interestingly enough, Lourd auditioned for the role of Rey originally, though she ultimately lost the part to Daisy Ridley.
Though it has been three years since Carrie Fisher’s passing, the wound of her loss can still be felt by Lourd and plenty of Star Wars fans. She was an inspiration to many, either via her performance as the brave and headstrong Princess Leia, who served as an early example of a strong female lead in science fiction films, her uplifting sense of humor even with topics most would find embarrassing, or her real-life story of overcoming depression and drug addiction. Fisher may be one with the Force, but the memories shared by her family and castmates, such as her daughter Billie Lourd, will always be with us. Fans can see how Leia’s story ends in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, which is in theaters now.
Source: Instagram