Nearly 40 years ago, Carrie Fisher rose to fame portraying Princess Leia. When she was asked to reprise that role in the new "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," she felt pressure to lose weight to fit the part.
"They don't want to hire all of me — only about three-quarters," the 56-year-old actress told Good Housekeeping U.K. of Hollywood still expecting only slim, young actresses. "Nothing changes. It's an appearance-driven thing. I'm in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance. That is so messed up. They might as well say get younger, because that's how easy it is."
Even though she was totally against Hollywood's way of thinking — and how the emphasis put on female actresses to slim down hasn't changed since she first starred in "Star Wars" at just 19 years old in 1977 — she still did as she was told and changed her diet and workouts to drop 35 pounds.
"I did it the same way everybody has to — don't eat and exercise more," explained Fisher. "There is no other way to do it. I have a harder time eating properly than I do exercising. It's easier for me to add an activity than to deny myself of something.... When I do lose the weight, I don't like that it makes me feel good about myself. It's not who I am."
She went on to explain how this isn't only a problem in the business, but in Los Angeles in particular. "We treat beauty like an accomplishment and that is insane," she continued. "Everyone in L.A. says, 'Oh you look good,' and you listen for them to say you've lost weight. It's never 'How are you?' or 'You seem happy!'"
Fisher isn't the only one who had to go on a strict diet and workout regimen to get in shape for the highly anticipated film, either. Last month, young star Daisy Ridley explained how her role as leading lady Rey came with a lot of pressure, and three long months of grueling training.
"[The diet] is lots of fish, legumes and spirulina shakes," she told Elle, explaining how she spent five hours a day in the gym for five days a week. "It became my solace."
