Those who think of Princess Leia probably have her iconic hairstyle in mind. But Carrie Fisher, who played the role, was initially far from happy about it.
What’s the deal with Leia’s hairstyle? In Princess Leia’s first appearance in Star Wars: A New Hope from 1977, most viewers likely noticed her unusual hairstyle.
Leia wears her hair rolled up on the sides, covering her ears. She is the only character in this film with such a hairstyle, contributing to its recognizability. Over the years, the image of Leia has been ingrained in the minds of fans, and the iconic hair is part of that.
In fact, Leia only wore the hairstyle in the first part of the classic trilogy. Starting from “The Empire Strikes Back,” the strict look gave way to a more relaxed way of wearing hair. Perhaps this change was at the request of Carrie Fisher, who played Leia. Because she was anything but a fan of the hairstyle.
“You should see what they did to my hair”
What did Carrie Fisher think? A close confidant and friend shares experiences in his book “The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir.” Among other things, that Fisher initially found her hairstyle in Star Wars strange.
Griffin Dunne writes:
Carrie became increasingly restless as the release date of Star Wars – May 25, 1977 – approached. “You should see what they did to my hair,” she shouted into the phone at the filming location, usually in the morning before she went to the set, for me at four in the morning. “I look like I’m wearing two bagels over my ears.”
Griffin Dunne in “The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir”
With a little imagination, there is indeed something to this comparison. Nevertheless, the hairstyle gained cult status over the years and will always be associated with Princess Leia.
Where did the idea come from? George Lucas and his team of hairstylists did not come up with the hairstyle themselves. They were inspired by a real person. Namely, Clara de la Roche, a Mexican revolutionary leader. Since Leia herself leads a rebellion, it fit perfectly.
What role does the hairstyle play today? Carrie Fisher passed away in December 2016. But her legacy lives on. In the MMORPG SWTOR, there were virtual memorial events, and fans ensure that the actress is not forgotten. Leia’s hairstyle also plays an important role in this.
Today, many cosplays make use of the hairstyle, and users online demonstrate how to recreate it. In the new films, it made a comeback as well.
On the one hand, in Leia’s brief appearance in Rogue One, but also through the character Kaydel Ko Connix in Star Wars 7 and 8. She is played by Carrie Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourd, who also wears the “bagels” on the sides of her head as a tribute to her mother. Fisher was also very irritated by another issue on set – it was about a strange clothing rule.
