Star Wars’ Carrie Fisher says force of Irish background is strong in her family
Carrie Fisher, famous for playing rebel leader and nascent Jedi Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies, is of Irish descent.
“My great, great, fabulous grandfather Burt McReynolds from the county Donegal was wrongfully accused of being a horse thief, a case of mistaken identity,” Fisher told US-Ireland Alliance president Trina Vargo.
“But rather than put his family through the rigors of a trial to clear the family name, he emigrated to America, dropped the ‘Mc’ in the ocean, became Burt Reynolds and the rest is history… and incredibly boring. Thankfully, my mother changed all that and gave our family name a kick in the pants that it might or might not deserve.”
The Hollywood Reporter says Fisher has joined the list of honourees at the 10th annual Oscar Wilde Awards, which will take place on February 19 in Santa Monica.
The nonprofit US-Ireland Alliance created the party — held each year the Thursday before the Oscars — to recognise the contributions of the Irish in film and television. Fisher, born in Beverly Hills to actress Debbie Reynolds, is the latest “honorary” Irish to take the podium.
Abrams once again will preside over the casual event at his Bad Robot production company. Fisher will be back on cinema screens as Leia in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December
Jedi master Yoda has been recreated at Madame Tussauds in London for a new exhibition.
The tourist attraction will feature 11 different sets from the hit films, including Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader’s clash on the Death Star and Princess Leia in chains in Jabba’s palace.
Another set features the 66cm-high figure of Yoda in the swamps of Dagobah as featured in The Empire Strikes Back.
It took 10 artists four months to make the figure, using oil paint for his distinctive green skin and inserting his wispy grey hairs by hand.
Fans should be able to see the set in May.
Madame Tussauds London’s general manager Ben Sweet said: “Star Wars at Madame Tussauds takes the Madame Tussauds experience up a notch, as guests will not just be able to get close to their film heroes, they will be able to star alongside them and grab a selfie in specially recreated scenes of some of their favourite movie moments.
“We’re working very closely with Disney and Lucasfilm to ensure 100% authenticity and our team has had exclusive access to props, costumes, designs, and even had a ‘sitting’ with one of the original Yoda models at Skywalker Ranch in California.”
Promising that visitors could become “truly immersed” in the movies, Sweet added: “We hope to delight fans and give them a unique way to celebrate the Star Wars story.”
The exhibition will cover two floors at the Baker St attraction and is included in the £22 (€29) admission fee.
The timing of the move could not be better for Madame Tussauds as the recent trailer for the new Star Wars film sent fans into a frenzy ahead of the latest installment of the franchise, which is due out in December.
Director JJ Abrams spent three days in Kerry last summer filming scenes, prompting hopes that the Unesco heritage site Skellig Michael may feature in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Abrams had about 15 cast and crew members with him, most notably Mark Hamill, 62, one of the stars of the original series, who reprises his role of Luke Skywalker.
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