For all the controversy surrounding the mere casting of John Boyega and the swarm of small (but not insignificant) outrages directed toward him, his co-star Daisy Ridley seems to get a bit lost in the shuffle. But she’s still got just as much at stake here, she’s making the same huge step as Boyega. Something Carrie Fisher is all too willing to remind her of.
In an interview with none other than Interview magazine, an interview of Daisy Ridley was conducted by none other than Carrie Fisher herself. The conversation covered topics like influences, the audition process, and of course Star Wars itself. But towards the end Fisher moves towards a slightly darker topic: the sexualization and potential fetishism of her character in the preposterously influential franchise.
FISHER: Oh, you’re going to have people have fantasies about you! That will make you uncomfortable, I’m guessing.
RIDLEY: Yeah, a bit.
FISHER: Have you been asked that?
RIDLEY: No, they always talk about how you’re a sex symbol, and how do I feel about that. [Fisher sighs] I’m not a sex symbol! [laughs]
FISHER: Listen! I am not a sex symbol, so that’s an opinion of someone. I don’t share that.
RIDLEY: I don’t think that’s the right—
FISHER: Word for it? Well, you should fight for your outfit. Don’t be a slave like I was.
RIDLEY: All right, I’ll fight.
FISHER: You keep fighting against that slave outfit.
RIDLEY: I will.
Fisher is a woman who is not only a veteran of Star Wars, but of the entertainment industry itself. She was born of it. Fisher was even one of the top script doctors for Hollywood for many years (until studios essentially stopped paying script doctors). She’s a woman who knows the many sides of this business and what it can do to you. Ridley appears to very much have her wits about her, so I hope she heeds that advice. I’m all for sexy, but we don’t need another slave Leia.
Via The Wrap
