In the latest example of Hollywood sexism, Carrie Fisher was asked to lose 35 pounds before she could return for her small part in Star Wars: Episode VII. All three original Star Wars actors, Carrie Fischer (Princess Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), and Harrison Ford (Han Solo) were asked to have a role in the newest film, but apparently Fisher's came with a weight caveat. "They hired me minus 35 pounds," the 57 year old actress revealed this weekend. It's not known whether Ford and Hamill were given similar ultimatums, but with the sexist record the movie industry has, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was only Fisher who was asked to lose weight.
The first Star Wars film came out in 1977, over 30 years ago, so it's not surprising that the star trio doesn't look the same as they did when they were in their early 20s. But we don't expect them to look like that. Perhaps director J.J. Abrams doesn't know it, but Star Wars fans are actually aware of how aging works and they're probably just excited that the original three are going to be in the 7th film at all. Fisher doesn't need to be stick-thin for people to enjoy her cameo.
What's the point of this required weight-loss anyway? Is the costume department going to try to make her fit back into that metal bikini?
I hope not, because Fisher has admitted to having a complicated relationship to that costume. “In Return of the Jedi, she gets to be more feminine, more supportive, more affectionate," Fisher said about her character in the 1983 issue of Rolling Stone. "But let’s not forget that these movies are basically boys’ fantasies. So the other way they made her more female in this one was to have her take off her clothes.”
Fisher was totally aware of this issue back then, so I'm sure she wasn't thrilled to hear that the situation hadn't gotten any better in the last 30 years. Despite all the time passed and no matter how old she gets, her role is apparently still to fulfill the fanboys wishes by looking desirable and thin.
Image: 20th Century Fox
