After her mother’s death from cardiac arrest at age 60 last December, Lourd, 25, found strength in the love and support of the Star Wars universe. “She taught me by her own example, that the most evolved person is seemingly a contradiction—they are both the strongest and the most vulnerable person in the room,” Lourd said in April. “And that was her. That is Leia.” YOUNG PADAWAN
When she watched Star Wars for the first time, “I noticed my mom was one of the most confident characters in the entire film,” Lourd told People in 2015. “On special occasions I would make her get in a lightsaber fight with me. Let’s just say the more trained Jedi usually won.” COURAGE IN TRUTH
Lourd was especially proud of her mother as she battled bipolar disorder and drug addictions. “I know my mom,” she told People shortly after Fisher died. “She’d want her death to encourage people to be open about their struggles.”
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[My mom] made me realize women are just as powerful as men and that we can truly do anything they can” —BILLIE LOURD Photographs by MEREDITH JENKS
PEOPLE Star Wars: The Last Jedi
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