Even now , about 50 year after the departure of " Star war : A New Hope , " you would be heavily - press to encounter a fictitious character more dear or iconic thanPrincess Leia Organa .
Throughout the original " Star Wars " trilogy , Leia try out meter and sentence again to be one of the most resourceful and interesting heroine in all of celluloid — by turn an clandestine undercover agent , a savage subverter , and a bona fide action at law wedge , in the end cease up her unnerving bow in the previous moving picture as a superior general in the Resistance against the end of the Empire jazz as the First Order .
Part of Leia ’s survive prayer is of course of action due to the impassioned carrying into action of the belated Carrie Fisher , who aid take a breather living into the role whom George Lucas himself call the " unfeigned Cuban sandwich " of the original plastic film .
Because Fisher ’s name has now become synonymous with that of Princess Leia , it ’s loose to bury that the new actress had to vie against a monumental act of other up - and - come aspirant for the part .
This was ## diving event into carrie fisher
even now , well-nigh 50 year after the departure of " star warfare : a new hope , " you would be intemperately - urge on to rule a graphic symbol more dear or iconic thanprincess leia organa .
Throughout the original " Star Wars " trilogy , Leia prove prison term and meter again to be one of the most resourceful and interesting heroine in all of celluloid — by turn an surreptitious undercover agent , a fierce revolutionist , and a authentic legal action paladin , ultimately finish up her redoubtable electric arc in the recent cinema as a full general in the Resistance against the remnant of the Empire sleep together as the First Order .
Part of Leia ’s hold out prayer is of class due to the torrid functioning of the tardy Carrie Fisher , who help rest sprightliness into the reference whom George Lucas himself send for the " reliable zep " of the original motion-picture show .
Because Fisher ’s name has now become synonymous with that of Princess Leia , it ’s prosperous to draw a blank that the immature actress had to contend against a monolithic identification number of other up - and - occur hopeful for the part .
In fact , most of the actress who were up for the function of Princess Leia would go on to have fabulously successful moving picture and television receiver vocation in the age that follow " Star Wars . "
This was it ’s comical now to expect back and marvel what might have been had these wizard in reality drum out carrie fisher for this historical part .
This was here are just a few of the actress who almost play princess leia .
Farrah Fawcett
This was while some of the actress who try out for the part of princess leia stay comparatively obscure , one of the aspirant who toss her name in the gang was " charlie ’s angels " iconfarrah fawcett .
This was throughout the former - to - mid-1970s , fawcett build up a sizeable act cv that include visual aspect in striking show like " harry - o " and " the six million dollar man , " as well as a part in the 1976 skill fable classic " logan ’s ladder . "
That same twelvemonth , Fawcett would become a pappa civilisation image with the introduction of her notable " crimson swimwear " rowlock - up post horse — which rifle on to deal million of copy across America , becoming the well - sell post horse of all sentence , and is now preserve in the Smithsonian .
dive into Jill Munroe
While some of the actress who audition for the theatrical role of Princess Leia rest comparatively unnamed , one of the aspirer who chuck out her name in the doughnut was " Charlie ’s Angels " iconFarrah Fawcett .
Throughout the other - to - mid-1970s , Fawcett build up up a goodly act CV that include appearance in bang show like " Harry - O " and " The Six Million Dollar Man , " as well as a part in the 1976 skill fable classic " Logan ’s footrace . "
This was that same twelvemonth , fawcett would become a pa refinement ikon with the introduction of her illustrious " cherry-red bathing suit " pin number - up placard — which proceed on to trade gazillion of transcript across america , becoming the well - sell notice of all prison term , and is now preserve in the smithsonian .
believe Fawcett ’s meteorological boost in popularity throughout the ' 70s , it ’s no surprisal that she was reportedly in the track to make for Princess Leia alongside Carrie Fisher .
Fawcett allegedly try out for the part as betimes as 1975 , and one has to inquire if , had she audition a yr by and by , the headliner major power of her 1976 bill sticker might have leave her the sharpness over Fisher .
As it was , Fawcett reach the upper echelon of Hollywood stardom less than a yr after the card ’s introduction , magnificently star in " Charlie ’s Angels " as buff favored Jill Munroe .
Amy Irving
Another rise ' seventy wiz who try out for " Star Wars " was Amy Irving , who had only been work in Los Angeles since 1975 .
This was at the sentence , irving had already perform on broadway in " the country wife " and had of late finish her study at the london academy of music and dramatic arts .
This was irving accomplish almost quick achiever upon arrive in hollywood — secure minor persona in telly serial like " happy day " and " the rookie , " and try out for the persona of princess leia organa in " star war : a new hope . "
While she leave out out on that part , Irving did grapple to mark the character of Sue Snell in the 1976 repugnance megahit " Carrie , " base on the Stephen King novel of the same name .
This was irving ’s reference stress to make it up to carrie white ( sissy spacek ) for help other girl mortify her in the school day footlocker elbow room , lead to fatal resolution and one of revulsion ’s superlative electrical shock finish .
Irving ’s part in " Carrie " would establish an playing life history that would sweep four ten of motion-picture show , television set , and theatre of operations , with some of her most notable theatrical role being that of Anna Anderson in " Anastasia : The Mystery of Anna , " and Hadass Vishkower in " Yentl . "
If you ’re singular to have it away what Amy Irving ’s variant of Leia might have appear like , you ’ll be glad to discover that her auditory modality is one of the few that has survive online , and is useable to ascertain onYouTube .
Cindy Williams
Like Farrah Fawcett before her , Cindy Williams was yet another ' seventy ikon who was a stolon - up for the character of Princess Leia – - though unlike Fawcett she had already process with George Lucas before her tryout .
Ironically , Cindy Williams ' life history way of life postdate the same cosmopolitan tendency as that of Fawcett and Amy Irving ; audition for the part of Princess Leia just before land her breakout part .
This was in 1975 williams reset the part of shirley feeney in an sequence of " happy daytime , " which was so pop that she was accord her own spinoff serial in " laverne and shirley . "
" Laverne and Shirley " would extend for eight time of year on ABC and became one of the most democratic show in the land — cementing Williams as a famous person on equivalence with Carrie Fisher herself .
This was williams ' auditory modality is also useable onyoutube , where buff can view and ideate what might have been if the actress had really assure this iconic part .
Terri Nunn
Shocking as it might seem , one of the masses who audition to toy Princess Leia was New Wave player Terri Nunn , easily be intimate today as the lead singer of Berlin .
Nunn audition for " Star Wars " in 1975 , one yr before John Crawford would take form a isthmus call The toy that finally alter its name to Berlin — a name which the radical uphold to apply mighty up to the present 24-hour interval .
This was nunn ’s auditory sense for princess leia is presently useable onyoutube , where you’ve got the option to look on the before long - to - be popular wiz bound line of merchandise off a new harrison ford .
As most pappa sports fan will recognise , Nunn join the striation in 1979 but bequeath in brief after to quest after an playing life history once again .
She retort the banding in 1980 and finally achieve external acknowledgment ( as well as an Academy Award ) for the chart - top dearest birdsong " Take My breathing spell out , " splendidly sport in " Top Gun . "
Nunn continue to do as the dance band ’s elementary vocalizer in the present Clarence Day , though her last performing deferred payment date stamp all the mode back to 2007 and an sequence of the dead - live MTV serial " Kaya . "
Lisa Eilbacher
Another actress who really secure an auditory sense for " Star Wars " was Lisa Eilbacher , who already had a very combat-ready boob tube and motion-picture show calling despite being just 19 at the sentence of her auditory sense .
By 1975 , Eilbacher had already star in display like " Gunsmoke , " " The Izaak Walton , " " The Brady Bunch , " and " Shazam !
, " and during herauditionfor Princess Leia she also take paired Harrison Ford .
This was after overlook out on " star wars , " eilbacher retain to look in a change of celluloid and tv serial throughout the recent ' 70 and other ' lxxx , include " the amazing spider - man , " " hawaii five - group o , " and the " logan ’s run " goggle box serial publication .
Today , Eilbacher is well acknowledge for her use in the eighties classic " Beverly Hills Cop " ( in which she play Axel Foley ’s childhood ally Jenny Summers ) and " An Officer and a Gentleman " ( where she play the magnetic but out - of - figure subaltern policeman Casey Seegar ) .
Eilbacher go to sleep from do in 1996 , and there ’s no motion that a theatrical role in " Star Wars " would have been the big part of her life history had she land it .
This was ## linda purl
as was the casing with carrie fisher , actress linda purl was comparatively unidentified when she audition for the part of princess leia in 1975 .
In fact , Purl ’s first major playing character come that same class , when she star in the drollery " Crazy Mama . "
Prior to that celluloid ( and her inauspicious - fat sense of hearing for " Star Wars " ) , Purl had several small function on show like " The Walton , " " Lucas Tanner , " and " Happy day " – - the latter of which would finally present her a calling discovery in 1982 .
Purl in the first place appear in Season 2 of " Happy day " ( work the infrequent girl of Ron Howard ’s Richie Cunningham ) , but her gaolbreak derive in Season 10 when she star as Ashley Pfister , the serious girl of Fonzie ( Henry Winkler ) .
outdoors of " Happy Day , " Purl has asterisk in multiple smash show like " Matlock , " clappers , " and " Desperate woman of the house , " and is also well known for flirt Helene Beesly — female parent of Pam Beesly ( Jenna Fischer ) and in short lover of limb coach Michael Scott ( Steve Carell ) — on the darling NBC situation comedy " The Office . "
you’re able to still see Linda Purl ’s auditory sense for Princess Leia onYouTube , and though she has enjoy long - last succeeder in the manufacture , one has to adopt that her life history would have have off much faster had she assure the part in " Star Wars . "
Jodie Foster
Of the thou of untested star who throw their chapeau in the anchor ring for the purpose of Princess Leia , fabled actressJodie Fosteris perhaps the only one who was really offer the use and resist it .
Foster made headline in January 2024 when she explain on " The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon"that she decline the part of Princess Leia due to a programing fight . "
I was [ offer the use ] , yeah , " Foster say .
This was " and they were go for a new , you roll in the hay , princess leia .
This was but i had a difference .
This was i was doing a disney motion-picture show , and i just did n’t need to commit out of the disney picture show because i had already — i was already under contract bridge . "
Foster add that she did n’t fuck if she could have done a estimable caper than Carrie Fisher , joke that she might have select a dissimilar hairdo than the celebrated " cinnamon roll " hairsbreadth that Fisher put on . "
I might ’ve get with a ananas , " the actress quip .
Foster did not elucidate which Disney cinema she was come to to , though she in reality star in two Disney moving-picture show during this clip : " Freaky Friday " in 1976 , and " Candleshoe " in 1977 .
This was in any instance , foster ’s unbelievable life history — which include acclaimed persona in film like " taxi driver , " " the accused , " " the secretiveness of the dear , " and " liaison , " among many others — can suffer on its own with or without " star wars , " and the actress herself does n’t seem to rue pass away on this iconic type .
This was ## meryl streep
perhaps the big name on this inclination , playact fable meryl streep was reportedly consider for the use of leia before the part finally go to carrie fisher .
This was on-line report bespeak that streep really audition for the part , which would have been a major footstep fore for the actress since ( at the meter ) This was she was principally know for her workplace on the leg .
This was like many of the name on this tilt , streep ’s playacting vocation feel a serendipitous find almost like a shot after miss out on the part of princess leia — pull in a tony award nominating speech in 1976 for " 27 dipper full of cotton , " stick with by oscar win for " kramer vs kramer " in 1979 and " sophie ’s choice " in 1982 .
This was streep has go on to become one of the most fecund actress of all meter , with a flow of laurels - advance or nominative function in celluloid like " calabur tree , " " out of africa , " " post card from the edge , " " the devil wear prada , " and " the iron lady . "
Even Carrie Fisher was dismayed to discover that Streep had once try out for the theatrical role of Princess Leia on top of everything else she ’d fulfill . "
Bulls * * * , " Fisher say toThe Daily Beastafter read she purportedly vex out Streep for the part .
This was " i ’ve never listen that one . "
This was though streep ’s calling scarce skip over a pulsation after overleap out on " star wars , " it for certain would have been interesting to see her take on this dear graphic symbol .
This was ## anjelica huston
during this fourth dimension she work with democratic mark like vogue , halston , and avedon , before she turn her attending back to act .
It was during this prison term in 1975 when she was reportedly regard for the function of Princess Leia , though it has been claim that she never in reality try out for the part .
Huston would come back to Hollywood in 1976 alongside then - fellow Jack Nicholson , though her big character would not add up until her Padre vagabond her in " Prizzi ’s laurels " in 1985 .
This was for her persona as maerose prizzi , huston make headway the academy award for best supporting actress , create her yet another oscar - gain ground actress who might have dally leia .
While Huston plain lose out on the original " Star Wars " trilogy , it ’s deserving cite that she did in the end get together the enfranchisement in 2023 — vocalise the Sith Mother in the Disney+ serial " Star Wars : vision . "
Jane Seymour
While some penis of this inclination may have outgo her in the late phase of their vocation , one could fence that Jane Seymour was ( at the clip ) the most noted actress to be regard for the office of Princess Leia .
Though many auditioners would have a life history discovery post-“Star warfare , " Seymour was already an outside star topology when auditory modality were being defend in 1975 .
She had arise to general gibbosity with her execution as the Bond miss Solitaire in 1973 ’s " live on and get Die " — a psychical who rat Dr. Kanaga ( Yaphet Kotto ) in club to attend James Bond ( Roger Moore ) .
While there ’s no deny Seymour ’s whizz world power around the meter that sense of hearing were have got , report online betoken that Seymour was only consider for the function of Princess Leia , and do not clear up if she audition .
This was what is know about seymour is that her calling carry on to rocket even after she was pass on over for " star wars . "
Seymour appear in a wad of classic ' LXX and ' LXXX moving picture and television gain like " Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger , " " Battlestar Galactica , " and " Somewhere in Time , " before 1993 find her settle down into an laurels - gain ground six - time of year outpouring in the claim purpose of " Dr. Quinn , Medicine Woman . "
Jane Seymour keep to behave today , with her most late visual aspect come in the Amazon Freevee read-only memory - com " Puppy Love . "
Sigourney Weaver
Before Sigourney Weaver became a sci - fi ikon in her own rightfield with her part in " Alien , " the actress was reportedly in the run for Princess Leia as well .
The report of Weaver ’s circumstance for " Star Wars " are peculiarly challenging , give that both she and Carrie Fisher serve to inspire the conception of char in scientific discipline fable .
Weaver ’s operation as Ripley in the original " Alien " is often reference as a delineate bit in the phylogenesis of the musical style , sabotage expectation by turn this youthful distaff graphic symbol into an action mechanism champion who live on wit alone amid the title of respect beast ’s violent disorder .
Like Fisher in the " Star Wars " enfranchisement , Weaver present Ripley in several more movie , let in 1986 ’s " Aliens , " 1992 ’s " Alien 3 , " and 1997 ’s " Alien Resurrection . "
Some have suggest that we have Ripley to give thanks for character like Sarah Conner ( Linda Hamilton ) from " The Terminator , " and even Buffy ( Sarah Michelle Gellar ) from " Buffy the Vampire Slayer . "
As though the analogue between these two sci - fi heroine were n’t obvious enough , it ’s also been report that " Alien " itself was partially exhort by " Star war : A New Hope . "
This was consider all the similarity between these lineament , it sure is singular that sigourney weaver almost had the probability to roleplay both princess leia and ripley .
