Carrie Fisher is saying she was asked to lose weight before reprising her famous role of Princess Leia in the upcoming "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" film.
In an interview with Good Housekeeping U.K., the 59-year-old actress says she was expected to drop more than 35 pounds to portray the character she played 38 years ago.
"They don't want to hire all of me — only about three-quarters!" she tells the magazine. "Nothing changes, it's an appearance-driven thing. I'm in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance. That is so messed up. They might as well say get younger, because that's how easy it is."
The actress speaks candidly about Hollywood's obsession with appearance, and the pressure women face to stay thin.
"We treat beauty like an accomplishment, and that is insane," she says. "Everyone in LA says, 'Oh you look good,' and you listen for them to say you’ve lost weight. It’s never 'How are you?' or 'You seem happy!'"
Despite how "messed up" she thinks it is, Fisher did what was asked of her to be in the film.
"I did it the same way everybody has to — don't eat and exercise more!" she reveals. "There is no other way to do it. I have a harder time eating properly than I do exercising. It’s easier for me to add an activity than to deny myself something."
However, she had conflicting feelings about her weight loss.
"When I do lose the weight, I don’t like that it makes me feel good about myself. It’s not who I am," she explains. "My problem is they talk to me like an actress, but I hear them like a writer."
"Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" hits theatres Dec. 18.
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