Some stars never fade through the passage of time, such is the case withCarrie Fisher. Carrie Fisherdelivered some iconic performancesduring her four-decade career, establishing herself as one of the most talented performers in Hollywood. From her defining performance as Princess Leia, her latter work in rom-coms and dramas, to her monumental return toStar Wars, Carrie Fisher displayed a versatility that made her captivating to watch onscreen. Here are fifteen of Carrie Fisher’s best performances, ranked.
15Under the Rainbow (1981) - Annie Clark
This performance’s low ranking has nothing to do with Carrie Fisher’s performance; the movie itself has simply aged poorly due to its offensive characterizations, causing controversy even during its initial release.
Under the Rainbowhas Carrie Fisher paired alongside Chevy Chase in an odd, who-done-it comedy that finds itself congested with historical and cinematic allusions, notablyThe Wizard of Oz, but utilizes them to no substantial effect. Fisher gives a solid performance as MGM employee Annie Clark, displaying a cleverness that keeps the film’s momentum going as she and Chevy Chase’s Bruce Thorpe go from one danger to the next.
14The ‘Burbs (1989) - Carol Peterson
This late 1980s dark comedy stars Carrie Fisher alongside Tom Hanks as a married couple, Ray and Carol Peterson, on the verge of uncovering a sinister plot in their small, suburban community.The ‘Burbsshows a completely different side to Carrie Fisher, who until then had portrayed strong and liberated heroines living in metropolitan (or intergalactic) settings.
Carol Peterson is, for the most part, a content wife who goes along with Ray’s lead, rarely objecting to his actions in place of her own desires. While not a particularly nuanced character, Carol is relatable to anyone who has dealt with an erratic partner and manages to keep a grounded mindset for both parties involved.
One of Carrie Fisher’s more racy performances, Betty Melton is the life of the party inHollywood Vice Squad,serving as the catalyst for the film’s plot.Hollywood Vice Squadfollows Pauline Stanton, Betty’s estranged mother, who travels to Hollywood in search of Betty after discovering she works in adult entertainment.
Fisher’s Betty embodies a rebellious spirit looking to break free from her instilled family values, but nevertheless has a good heart. It’s interesting to see Fisher portray Betty Melton as she herself sustained a more daring Hollywood career than that of her mother, Golden Age Era actress, Debbie Reynolds. Some may say that Fisher took a loose inspiration from her own life when molding Betty. WhileHollywood Vice Squadreceived mixed reviews, critics praised Fisher for taking on such a different role from her previous portrayals.
12Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) - April
This mid-80s comedy-drama has Carrie Fisher sharing the screen with other acting powerhouses such as Mia Farrow, Dianne Weist, and Barbara Hershey. Told in a three-part fashion,Hannah and Her Sisterstells the story of Hannah, a woman navigating the ups and lows of marriage, divorce, and ultimately, the meaning of life.
The story starts and ends on Thanksgiving, with Hannah’s experiences coming full circle on Thanksgiving two years after the film’s opening scene. Fisher portrays April, an aspiring actress that starts a business with Holly, but their friendship soon takes an unexpected turn to rivalry as they find themselves competing for the same Broadway role–and the love of the same man. Fisher’s April is haughty, ambitious, and arguably the scene-stealer whenever she’s onscreen.
Related:Mark Hamill Emotionally Remembers Carrie Fisher On Star Wars Day
11Lover Boy (1989) - Monica Delancy
This 1989 rom-com has Carrie Fisher starring alongside Patrick Dempsey in a hilarious tale about the uncertainties people go through during their coming-of-age. Its plot follows Randy Bodek, a college student with no viable ambitions aside from just getting by in life through his family’s financial support. When Randy’s forced to get a job to fund his college tuition, he decides to resort to his charm to seduce wealthy women into supporting him.
Through his shared experiences with these women, Randy develops a deeper understanding of women’s wants and needs, one such example being his brief affair with Monica Delancy, an introverted photographer who dominates their relationship. Fisher’s Monica is complex, filled with a need to connect with Randy, but well-aware of his self-serving motives. Despite her years of experience with Randy, Monica is also a character trying to find balance in her convoluted life; a relatable character all across the board.
Drop Dead Fredhas Carrie Fisher once again portraying the best friend of a woman with terrible luck in romance. This dark comedy follows Elizabeth Cronen, a woman who returns to her childhood home to figure out an action plan for her life after her husband files for divorce. The only problem is, Elizabeth’s mother is the root of most of her shortcomings, emotionally abusing Elizabeth from a young age.
Elizabeth’s return home causes a string of surrealism when her imaginary childhood best friend, Fred, resurfaces to help Elizabeth get her life in order, but instead unleashes comedic mayhem that results in more problems than solutions for Elizabeth. Though Fisher’s Janie takes a backseat to Phoebe Cates’s Elizabeth, she manages to leave her mark as the supportive friend pushing Elizabeth to embrace her self-worth during her lowest point.
9Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) - General Leia Organa
Carrie Fisher’s last performance ever,Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerbrings Carrie Fisher’sStar Warslegacyas Leia Organa to a bittersweet ending, paving the way for the new trio to lead the franchise. After the events ofThe Last Jedi, Leia takes it upon herself to complete Rey’s training to become a Jedi, all the while still holding onto the hope that her son will redeem himself.
UnlikeThe Force AwakensandThe Last Jedi,The Rise of Skywalkergives audiences a glimpse into Leia’s own Jedi training and how she honed her force sensitivity. In true hero fashion, Leia expends her remaining life force to break through to Ben as he battles against Rey, bringing a close to the originalStar Warsheroes.
Related:Carrie Fisher Will Finally Gain Her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star On May 4th
8Appointment with Death (1988) - Nadine Boynton
Appointment with Deathset the stage for movies suchClue,Murder on the Orient Express, andKnives Out. Its plot follows the Boynton family, a wealthy family controlled by the manipulative Emily Bolton, a woman bent on keeping her late husband’s inheritance all to herself following his death. The plot thickens when Emily is murdered and her step-children and daughter-in-law, Nadine, become the prime suspects.
This whodunit comedy has Carrie Fisher portraying a woman looking for adventure beyond the conformist lifestyle her husband, Lennox, has subjected her to. Fisher’s Nadine is a sweet and quirky character that allows audiences to see a softer side to the actress, while also cementing Fisher’s comedic quip.
7When Harry Met Sally… (1989) - Marie
When Harry Met Sally…redefined the way rom-coms were perceived by audiences, featuring two unlikely lovers, Harry and Sally, that hate each other with a burning passion throughout most of the film. Sally spends the majority of the movie navigating between romantic partners and close friends, until she befriends Marie. Fisher’s Marie is very much a realist in every aspect of life, aside from her own romantic shortcomings.
Entangled in an affair with a married man, Marie is constantly questioning the meaning of love until she falls madly in love with Jess, Harry’s best friend, marrying him shortly after. Maris is one of Fisher’s more exuberant performances.
6This Is My Life (1992) - Claudia Curtis
This early 1990s comedy has Carrie Fisher portraying Claudia Curtis, the personal assistant to rich and influential agent, Arnold.This is My Lifefollows the journey of a stand-up comedian, Dottie Ingels, a single mother who sells cosmetics to support her two daughters while waiting for her big break.
When Dottie meets Claudia, she facilitates a meeting between Dottie and Arnold that leads to Dottie’s career finally taking off. Fisher’s performance as the tough as nails Claudia reiterates the actress’s ability to portray strong characters with a rich backstory.
