Carrie wasn’t just playing a strong woman — she was one. Princess Leia’s confidence and defiance reflected her own. “I wasn’t a damsel in distress,” she said proudly. “I was a distressing damsel.” That mix of humor and truth became her trademark.

Carrie didn’t sugarcoat the industry. She spoke up about sexism, ageism, and the ridiculous standards placed on women. “They wanted me to lose ten pounds of my head,” she once joked. But behind the punchlines was a message — she refused to be reduced to her looks.