She found fame aged 19 as Princess Leia, but that’s just the start of her fascinating life story, as told in the BBC’s Carrie Fisher: A Life in Ten Pictures.
Star Wars landed on planet Earth in 1977. But looking back nearly half a century, those times feel like they came from a galaxy far far away. It was, in many ways, the first of its kind. A film that broke new ground and helped create the model for the blockbuster sci-fi and fantasy films that dominate Hollywood today.
Without Star Wars breaking the mould back then and creating the first sci-fi film franchise would we have the Marvel universe? Not on film we wouldn’t.
Because here was a winning formula that could bear being repeated. A film aimed at youngsters that captured the imagination of millions of fans of all ages. A movie whose unexpected box office success spawned two follow-up films almost immediately. Not to mention a set of characters so memorable that they could be easily monetised as merchandise…
But the real star of the film was a teenage girl whose parents were famous but who was virtually unheard of as an actress in her own right. Carrie Fisher may have known what to expect from fame, but that didn’t mean she was prepared for it.
The temptations of stardom combined with her bipolar disorder led to a lifelong battle with addiction. In the end, Fisher all but turned her back on the film business, forging a successful career as a writer instead.
This week, Fisher’s story is told in A Life in Ten Pictures on BBC Two. You can see the pick of those photographs, some more famous than others, in our feature in this issue.
Fisher sadly died in 2016. But aside from her writing, Star Wars was her legacy. It was a film that not only made her, but also broke her. However, without it, the entertainment world would be a very different – and much poorer – place.
Also in this week’s Radio Times:
- Strictly Come Dancing‘s Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice discuss the new series Adventures in Spain, practising Spanish dancing, and their 10-year friendship
- Kris Marshall on the success of the BBC’s Beyond Paradise, why he quit Death in Paradise in 2017 and what the critics think of his shows
- Speaking to The Radio Times Podcast: Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver chat about growing up together, shoplifting in West London, and their new BBC Sounds podcast Miss Me?
Carrie Fisher: A Life in Ten Pictures airs at 9pm on Thursday 21st March on BBC Two.
If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide or visit our Documentaries hub for all the latest news.
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