Princess Leia Organais one of the most iconic characters of all time, and her presence and importance inStar Warsis undeniable. For nearly 50 years, the Princess of Alderaan has impactedStar Warsaudiences, but the same actor hasn’t always played her. With the explosion ofnewStar WarsTV showsand movies in the past ten years, it’s easy to see how executives at Lucasfilm would have to find someone else to fill the role.
In theoriginalStar Warsmovie (later retitledA New Hope), Leia Organa was captured by Darth Vader after escaping with the plans for the Empire’s super weapon, the Death Star. Leia sends out a distress signal to the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, which eventually leads to her being rescued by Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. Leia instantly proved that anyone could be a princess and also hold their own in a fight. She was fearless and has inspired many generations of young girls. Here’s everyone who has since carried on that legacy by portraying Princess Leia Organa inStar Wars.
1977
1980
Return of the Jedi
1983
2015
2017
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
2019
The late Carrie Fisher is the original Leia Organa actor and became iconic because of it. Fisher returned to her iconic role in 2015 for the sequel trilogy, where audiences saw Leia take on the role of General of theResistance.Despite her large role in the sequels, Carrie Fisher suddenly passed away in 2016 after filmingStar Wars: The Last Jedi. Unused scenes filmed for the first two sequel films were used for her appearance inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which came out three years later.
Carrie Fisher’s 10 Best Roles Outside Star Wars
Carrie Fisher might have had her breakout role in Star Wars, but she’s been in all sorts of incredibly fun and impressive roles beyond Princess Leia.
Outside ofStar Wars,Carrie Fisher was an accomplished author, with multiple fiction, non-fiction, and screenplays to her name.Her other roles include Marie, Sally’s best friend inWhen Harry Met Sally, and voicing Peter Griffin’s boss Angela on the animated adult showFamily Guy.While Carrie Fisher will always be remembered as Princess Leia, she was so much more than that.
Young Leia Organa (CGI) / Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix
It would likely surprise audiences to know that Carrie Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, was heavily involved with her mother’s role of Leia in the sequel trilogy. Lourd first appeared inStar Wars: The Force Awakensas Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix and appeared in all three movies. However, in a flashback sequence inThe Rise of Skywalker, Lourd portrayed a younger version of her mother. The resemblance between the two is uncanny, which is likely why there are so many calls for Billie to take over the role of Leia Organa for shows set in theNew Republic Era.
Outside ofStar Wars,Billie Lourd has found success on the small screen. She portrayed Sadie Swenson / Chanel #3 in 23 episodes of the showScream Queens.Since 2017, Lourd has found success in theAmerican Horror Storyfranchise, appearing in more than 40 episodes playing a variety of characters.Lourd has also had roles in films like 2022’sTicket to Paradise, which starred Julia Roberts and George Clooney. Hopefully, this isn’t the last audiences have seen of Billie Lourd inStar Wars.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
2022
Seeing theObi-Wan Kenobiseries focus on the relationship between the titular Obi-Wan and a young Princess Leia was a welcome surprise. Vivien Lyra Blair was incredible in making audiences believe that she was a young Carrie Fisher, and the emotional beats between her and Ewan McGregor are some of the most memorable of the show. Outside ofStar Wars, Blair has been featured in films likeBird BoxandWe Can Be Heroes. She’s also had guest spots on shows likeFatal Attraction. IfObi-Wan Kenobiever comes back for season 2, it will hopefully include Blair.
2011
Star Wars Rebelsseason 2, episode 12
2014-2018
Disney Infinity 3.0(video game)
LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures
2016
Julie Dolan most famously portrayed a teenage Leia Organa when she appeared inStar Wars Rebelsseason 2, episode 12 “A Princess on Lothal.”In the episode, Leia works with theGhostcrewto help the rebels acquire more ships for their growing fleet. Though that was Leia’s only appearance inRebels, it wasn’t Dolan’s. Dolan has voiced Leia a total of four times, but hasn’t portrayed the Princess of Alderaan since 2016. Outside ofStar Wars,Dolan has recently appeared in shows likeThe Marvelous Mrs. MaiselandReasonable Doubt.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(Leia stand-in)
Archival footage of Carrie Fisher fromA New Hopewas superimposed on Deila’s face, along with Carrie Fisher’s voice saying“Hope.”
Norwegian actress Ingvild Deila was the stand-in forLeia Organa’s cameo inRogue One: A Star Wars Story. Because the film takes place just before the events of 1977’sA New Hope,Deila essentially provided motion capture for the role. Archival footage of Carrie Fisher fromA New Hopewas superimposed on Deila’s face, along with Carrie Fisher’s voice saying “Hope.” Outside ofStar Wars, Ingvild Deila has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as World Hub Tech inAvengers: Age of Ultron. Deila often appears in low-budget independent films, with her latest one coming out in 2019.
2016-2018
2021
2023
LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy
2024
Shelby Young is an accomplished voice actress who has done ADR voices for many Disney projects.However, when it comes to playing Leia Organa, Young has voiced the iconic character 6 times,most recently in 2024’sLEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. Young also has a large following on social media, where she shows off her skills as a voice actor. With such an extensive filmography, it won’t be long before audiences hear Shelby Young’s voice in some form again inStar Wars.
All four episodes ofLEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxyare now streaming on Disney+.
2018
2018-2019
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Carolyn Hennesy lent her voice to playing an older Leia Organa inStar Wars: Resistance, more specifically the Leia audiences saw in the sequel trilogy. However, Hennesy has found a lot of success in live-action. She had a recurring role in the WB teen dramaDawson’s Creek, but has two Daytime Emmy nominations for her role as Diane Miller onGeneral Hospital. Carolyn Hennesy has also snagged recurring roles in shows likeCougartownandRevenge, but has most recently voiced Mrs. Godfrey on the showBig Nate.
1996
1997
1998
2001
LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
2012
Lisa Fuson hasn’t voiced Princess Leia very recently, with most of herStar Warsroles coming between the time of the original and prequel trilogies. She has provided Leia’s voice in quite a variety ofStar Warsvideo games. Outside ofStar Wars, Lisa Fuson has had voice-acting roles in shows likeHey Arnold!Since 2018, Fuson has taken on the role of Barbie’s mother, Margaret Robert, in multiple animatedBarbieprojects.
2003
2005
Star Wars: Lethal Alliance(video game)
2006
Joyce Kurtz is a voice actor who has been active since the 1980s, butshe lent her voice to play Princess Leia Organa in the early 2000s in multiple, now non-canon video games.Kurtz has had some acting roles in shows like the 2019 reboot ofThe Twilight Zone. Additionally, Kurtz often lends her voice to ADR work, with some titles she’s worked on includingNarcos,Claws, andBig Little Lies.
2008
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
2010
Fans ofStar Wars: The Clone Warswill recognize that Catherine Taber was the voice of Padmé Amidala in all 7 seasons. However, Taber has lent her voice toStar Warsin a variety of ways. While she’s voiced the senator from Naboo in most animated titles, she’s also done the audiobooks for theQueen’s Shadowtrilogy by E.K. Johnston. Outside ofStar Wars, Taber most recently voiced the Silver Banshee inMy Adventures with Superman. While Taber hasn’t done aStar Warsproject in a while, audiences will hopefully hear her voice Padmé or Leia Organa again.
