The death of Carrie Fisher was announced today, she had been ailing since a heart attack last week. The daughter of showbiz stars Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, she became one of the most famous actresses in the world after taking the role of Princess Leia in the blockbusting Star Wars franchise. She had started following in her mother's footsteps with a mildly scandalous turn in Shampoo, but it was the science fiction epic that made her name, and she went on to appear in such cult films as The Blues Brothers, Under the Rainbow, Hannah and Her Sisters, The 'Burbs, When Harry Met Sally, Drop Dead Fred, Soapdish, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Scream 3, Wonderland and White Lightnin'.
Her troubles with drug abuse were well documented, not least by herself in her bestselling books, one of which was turned into the film Postcards from the Edge. Her sense of humour and acute take on the showbiz scene kept her profile high until she reprised her role as Leia in 2015's The Force Awakens, and she is due to be in the next Star Wars chapter next year. She will be greatly missed as an iconic presence in the most loved blockbusters of all time.
