With its enormous impact, George Lucas’ science fiction epic Star Wars revolutionized the way blockbusters were seen and promoted, forever changing the landscape of cinema in 1977. The Star Wars world permeated every corner of Western culture, and its three main stars—Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill—became symbols of the late 20th-century zeitgeist.
Fisher and Ford’s brief romance is a little-known fact, even among those who have not seen the movies. Naturally, the reports of their romantic relationship during filming caught the attention of the mainstream media, which shockingly provided scant evidence to support their reports. But as the memoir, The Princess Diarist, made clear, there was, in fact, a “three-month” affair between the married Ford and the teenage Fisher.
In a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Fisher was asked about one vital detail about her affair with Ford: just how wonderful was he in bed? But it was very kind of her to refrain from sharing such personal information out of respect for her co-star.
Romance & Respect: Carrie Fisher’s Boundless Loyalty to Harrison Ford
In a galaxy far, far away, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford shared a secret that fans of Star Wars could only dream about. Their on-screen chemistry as Princess Leia and Han Solo was undeniable, but off-screen, the two embarked on a passionate affair that has since become the stuff of Hollywood legend.
In an interview with The Guardian, Fisher deftly avoided discussing Ford’s prowess in bed, instead reflecting on the emotional terrain of her early years:
Oh come on, I can’t answer that question! I was very infatuated with him. Look at him. Look at those pictures of him. Can you imagine what I thought, given what I thought of myself?
With the wisdom of sixty, the late actress reflected on her formative experiences with Ford and their enduring rapport, a private connection that was invisible to onlookers but palpable between the two. Looking back on her teenage self, Fisher admitted that she felt “sorry” for herself and lacked self-belief.
I felt sorry for myself, and I don’t like that at any age.
Also, through her candid recollections, we glean insights into a relationship that was echoed in her ensuing relationship with musician Paul Simon, whom she dated on and off for several years. She told the outlet:
Well, I went with Paul after that, and Paul was not dissimilar. Paul was much more verbal. But there was something very diffident again. He was the same amount older. I was 21 and Paul was 36.
What is perhaps most surprising about Fisher’s revelation is that she and Ford never discussed their affair, not even during the filming of the sequels to Star Wars.
A Decade Later: Reflecting on Carrie Fisher’s Revelations About Harrison Ford
Carrie Fisher once revealed to Hoda Kotb & Kathie Lee Gifford of the Today Show that her relationship with Harrison Ford was primarily s*xual and more akin to a “three-month one-night stand”.
In retrospect, Fisher realized that she felt bad about the affair Ford initiated while they were filming in London:
I wasn’t raised that way, but when you’re on location — this is something I discovered — everything is permitted.
In her 2016 autobiography, The Princess Diarist, she wrote about her “intense” relationship with Ford during the production of the first Star Wars film. Prior to the book’s release, she claimed to have spoken with Ford, who had jokingly suggested to Fisher that they should “lawyer” up. According to the late actress, her Star Wars co-star would find the book “too much” to handle.
It sounds like Ford and Fisher had a passionate relationship in the late 1970s, but even though they were clearly in love, it seems as though their intense desire never materialized. The actress admitted to The Guardian in 2016:
Yes, I love him. I’ll always feel something for him.
As more details about Fisher and Ford’s affair emerge, it is clear that their relationship was a closely guarded secret that only added to the magic of the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars movies are streaming on Disney+.
