For Malibu Seen, Carrie Fisher was a lot more scary on a high school stage than when she showed off her spunk with donut ears and wielding light sabers in outer space.
On our drama school auditions, I was the first to take the stage in an unimpressive Pixie Town lime green shift while I stumbled my way through “Do-Re-Mi” from the “The Sound of Music.” With no musical instruments to back me up, I never felt so alone, trying to keep my voice from quivering. It was probably a good thing I got to go first because I was the worst — much like one of those off-key dreamers you’d come across on “American Idol.”
The auditions got progressively better and last came Carrie who blew us out of the ballpark.
She came roaring out with “Oklahoma,” studio cast and costume. To bring up the “American Idol” example again, I was one of those with a number and rope around their necks and she was Jennifer Hudson in gleaming lights.
Way before the force became a factor, she made a splash as the most popular, best looking “It” girl with famous parents, the best wardrobe, the best car and all the cool people. Let’s face it, everyone wanted to be in Carrie’s clique.
I wasn’t even close. There was always a glob of teens near Carrie’s core, laughing, gushing, saying, “Do you know that’s Debbie Reynolds’ daughter? She’s famous!” To be famous at Beverly High was an accomplishment indeed. I was on the school stage with her a couple of times — way in the back — but she was the star with the talent worthy of the title.
Even in the lunchroom, she showed grace, humor, courage and class. There was Carrie Fisher’s crowd and then there was everybody else. Can you imagine? She was only in her teens, just like the rest of us, when she when on to star against heartthrob Warren Beatty in “Shampoo.” Then, how about an out-of-this-world flick called “Star Wars,” which took the world by storm?
It cemented this popular kid from Beverly Hills and propelled her into a galaxy far, far away. Can you imagine being a teen and having Carrie Fisher dolls, bathsoap, shirts with your famous donut head in every Macy’s and CVS?
But there was a lot more to Carrie than just two Cinnamon buns and a head. She was a spectacular writer who churned out tome after tome including the semi-autobiographical “Postcards from the Edge,” in which she addresses fame, talent, promise, addiction and a sometimes strained relationship with her famous mom.
It went on to the big screen starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine, and directed by Mike Nichols.
Carrie died after suffering a heart attack on her way home from London, where she was promoting her latest book “The Princess Diarist.” Her mother, Debbie Reynolds, suffered a stroke the next day. It was a huge loss on both counts.
In Hollywood, dreams do come true but you are never guaranteed a happy ending.