Every Now and Then We Remember How Much We Love and Miss Carrie Fisher

John Summers • Contributor

Nov 29, 2024 9:00 PM EST

Carrie Fisher was my first celebrity crush. I remember seeing her as Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi when I was just 11 years old, and I was immediately smitten. It wasn't just her looks (though that famous gold bikini scene certainly played a part for a young kid like me); it was her attitude—brave, sharp, and somehow still kind. She had a way of making everything she did seem effortlessly cool.

I never stopped loving Carrie Fisher, and not just for her role in Star Wars. Over the years, I learned how fiercely honest she was, how smart and hilarious she was, and how she never shied away from her struggles. Carrie was more than just an on-screen princess; she was a queen in real life too. Every now and then, I remember just how much I admired her, and I feel the weight of her absence all over again.