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The Life of Carrie Fisher

     Carrie Fisher was an actress, author, mental health advocate, producer and screenwriter. She was born on October 21, 1956 in Los Angeles, California.  Her father was singer Eddie Fisher and her mother was Debbie Reynolds actress. In one of Hollywood’s scandals, Fisher left Reynolds when Carrie was two years old for actress Elizabeth Taylor.

     Fisher showed an interested in books and writing poetry. She eventually followed her famous parents into show business. At the age of fifteen she appeared in a Broadway show Irene, where her mom played a starring role.

     In 1975 she made her film debut in a comedy, Shampoo. Fisher took a starring role as Princess Leia in Star Wars in 1977. She appeared as a love interest in Ringo Starr’s TV special Ringo in 1978.

      In 1980 Fisher appeared in The Empire Strikes Back. In 1983 she co-starred with her sister Agnes in the Broadway Production of Agnes of God. Fisher returned to her role as Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi in 1983. She played a major supporting role in When Harry Met Sally in 1989.

      She struggled with alcohol and drug abuse in the 1980’s, but came back in 1987 with her hit book Postcards from the Edge, which she adapted into a movie starring Meryl Streep. Fisher had Bipolar Disorder, (formerly known as Manic Depression), however she used alcohol and drugs to self-medicate. Fisher made more than one appearance on 20/20 and The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive with Stephen Fry. She publicly discussed her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and her addictions to cocaine and prescription pain medication, (Percodan). She used the medication to “dial down” the manic part of her disease. She had nicknames for the manic and the depressive episodes of her disease. Her manic episode she called Roy and the depressive episode she called Pam. “Drugs made me feel more normal,” she explained to Psychology Today in 2001. On December 12, 2008 she appeared on The Late Show with Craig Ferguson and discussed her

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments. In 2014 she stated that she no longer receives the treatments.  

     In 1990, Columbia Pictures released a film version of Postcards from the Edge. adapted for screen by Fisher. She published three additional novels: Surrender the Pink, 1990; Delusion of Grandma, 1993 and The Best Awful There Is, 2004. She starred in the movie Bring Back Star Wars in 2008

     In 2006 Fisher published and performed her one woman play Wishful drinking. This play was autobiographical.    She published another play, A Spy in the House of Me in 2008. Fisher starred in Star Wars Episode VII (The Force Awakens) in 2015. Fisher appeared posthumous in Star Wars: The Last Jedi in 2017 and Star wars: The Rise of Skywalker  in 2019.

     Fisher went public with her diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder on 2000. The first publication of the magazine bpHope came out in 2004, with Fisher on the front cover, (bp-Bipolar). She was featured in an article in the magazine too. Fisher gave a total of three interviews for bpHope. Joanne Doan owner of the magazine said that the three interviews Fisher gave, “inspired our community to be able to…go out there and live fulfilling lives” “She took the stigma against bipolar disorder and kicked it to the curb.” “Carrie’s significance in encouraging people who had bipolar disorder to get over their shame, and her kindness to others in the community, were among the most striking things I learned in researching her life for my forthcoming book, “Carrie Fisher: A Life On the Edge.” Carrie Fisher passed away on December 27, 2016.

Signed Renee D. Warring of Uniquely and Wonderfully Made Ministries

RESOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Fisher

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/07/26/carrie-fisher-champion-mental-health-awareness-column/1820161001/