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Princess no more: How some fans prefer to remember Carrie Fisher

Her most mature -- and most valuable -- role.

Heather Dockray

on December 27, 2016

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Everyone remembers Carrie Fisher from her Princess Leia days, but it was her role as General Organa that some fans cherish most.

Toronto-based writer Anne Thériault made her case on Twitter today shortly after hearing of the Star Wars icon's death. For her role in The Force Awakens, Fisher was neither young nor traditionally Hollywood "sexy."

She was fierce, mature and dedicated to justice -- qualities we don't typically see in our female stars.

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Thériault spoke of her love for this role in a Twitter thread that quickly reached over 20,000 retweets.

Everyone is sharing pictures of Fisher when she was young, but let me show you the Leia that was the most important to me: General Organa pic.twitter.com/xXFETlkZ8Y
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

She's not young. Not wearing a gold bikini or a robe. She's dressed to do what she's been training her whole life to do: lead the rebellion.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

This is the Leia that has lost everything: her world, her parents, her son to the dark side, her brother to who knows where, her lover
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

This is the Leia that could easily have broken down or given up. But she was stronger than literally every man in her life. She kept going.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

Because for Leia fighting for what is right and just is more important than her feelings or her personal life. She. Is. A. Fucking. Fighter.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

Unlike Luke or Han, Leia keeps fighting when things seem impossible. In spite of all the losses she's suffered, in spite of impossible odds.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

She's in it for the long haul. She is the real fucking hero in Star Wars. Without Leia, the rebellion would have be quashed long ago.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

When I see Fisher as General Organa, I see a woman who has put up with so much shit from so many men and yet keeps showing up for them
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

In General Organa I see a woman changed by loss but not destroyed. I see a brilliant commander with good people skills & tactical knowledge
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

Princess Leia was great, but General Organa was Fisher's real gift to us. And she's who I'm going to be looking to in dark times.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

May we all be able to get up every day and, in spite of our pain and loss and fear, put on our boots and vest and plan to destroy the empire
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

I often think about how Leia was born (well, adopted) into princesshood, but she earned the rank of general through hard fucking work.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

Like oh my god you get so many montages of Luke training, but Leia worked so much harder than him with half the recognition.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

And in the end it wasn't Jedis who did the bulk of the work in the rebellion, it was regular people who hadn't received any special training
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

General Organa taught me that don't have to be special or chosen to be a leader. You just have to show up and learn and do the work.
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) December 27, 2016

A model of courage and leadership, when we need it more than ever.

Topics Star Wars

Heather Dockray

Heather was the Web Trends reporter at Mashable NYC. Prior to joining Mashable, Heather wrote regularly for UPROXX and GOOD Magazine, was published in The Daily Dot and VICE, and had her work featured in Entertainment Weekly, Jezebel, Mic, and Gawker. She loves small terrible dogs and responsible driving. Follow her on Twitter @wear_a_helmet.