Mark Hamill took to Twitter yesterday to celebrate the birthday of his longtime friend and co-star Carrie Fisher in a truly touching way. The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker star paid tribute by sharing a sweet vintage photo of the pair along with one of her iconic quotes. Fisher, who passed away in 2016, was a beloved figure to many, not just due to her role as Leia in Star Wars, but also her indomitable spirit, and unwillingness to let personal demons win.
The daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Fisher rose to international fame as Princess Leia Organa, but her impressive career also includes starring roles in movies like Shampoo, When Harry Met Sally, and Hannah and Her Sisters, unforgettable guest appearances on TV shows like 30 Rock and Sex and the City, and, of course, authoring books like The Princess Diarist, Postcards from the Edge, and Wishful Drinking.
“Being happy isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you have," Hamill posted alongside a black-and-white snap. Rather than choose an image from on-set, the photo instead captures them out dancing, enjoying the big-band stylings of Manny Harmon and his orchestra. Though Hamill doesn’t share when the photo was taken, it was likely between 1976-1982, which is when the first three films from the Star Wars franchise were in production. The joyful expressions on Hamill and Fisher’s faces are a fitting match to the sentiment of Fisher’s words.
Fans responded to the sweet tweet by sharing their own favorite images and GIFs of the two together on-screen and behind-the-scenes, as well as plenty featuring just Fisher by herself. The whole day was a love-fest for Fisher on Twitter, with everyone from Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourd to Olivia Wilde, the director of Booksmart (in which Lourd played the unforgettable, scene-stealing Gigi) marking the occasion.
It was during her press tour for Wishful Drinking that Fisher gave the quote featured by Hamill in his tribute, in response to the question, “What would you say is the turning point in your life?” To which she replied, “I haven’t ever changed who I am. I’ve just gotten more accepting of it. Being happy isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you have. I’ve been working towards that goal. It just works better that way.” Always known for not holding back with reporters, Fisher would go on to share in the same interview a famous story about why George Lucas said she couldn’t wear a bra in space. Fisher will once again star posthumously as General Leia Organa in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which will have the longest runtime of the franchise and open in theaters this December. Speaking of birthday tributes, both the easter-egg-laden final trailer and official poster were released yesterday too.
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Source: Mark Hamill
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Release Date: 2019-12-20
