With her fierce personality, sharp intellect, and, of course, her signature hairstyle, Princess Leia—beautifully portrayed by the late actress Carrie Fisher—won the hearts of millions of people in a galaxy far, far away. However, did you know that the role almost went to Jodie Foster? At the time of Fisher’s casting as Princess Leia, she was just 19 years old. Also, along with the Foxes actress, Amy Irving, and Cindy Williams were among the actresses who were considered for the role.
The Napoleon and Samantha actress, who is renowned for her impeccable performance, may have traveled to far-off galaxies in Star Wars. Despite declining the chance to be a part of the acclaimed franchise, she recently provided some creative insights to make Princess Leia’s appearance better.
Jodie Foster’s Unique Take on Princess Leia’s Costume
Princess Leia’s white outfit, first famously worn in the original Star Wars film, has grown into a beloved symbol of both beauty and strength. Designed by John Mollo, the ensemble was created to highlight her regal yet resilient nature. According to NPR, he won the Oscar for Best Costume Design at the 50th annual Academy Awards thanks to the trend-setting outfit.
However, in an alternate universe, Jodie Foster’s involvement could have resulted in some exciting changes to the character’s wardrobe, despite declining George Lucas’ offer to play Leia due to other commitments. In a recent interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Foster clarified that she backed off solely due to a scheduling conflict.
She informed the host, Jimmy Fallon:
“I had a conflict. I was doing a Disney movie and I just didn’t want to pull out of the Disney movie because I was already under contract. So I didn’t do it. And they did an amazing job.”
Moreover, describing what might have happened if she had taken on the role, she continued:
“I don’t know how good I would have been. And I might have had different hair, you know?”
With a gesture to the top of her head, Foster added:
“I might have gone with a pineapple.”
Princess Leia’s unique pair of buns has evolved into one of the most memorable hairstyles throughout cinematic history. One can only envision how Foster’s creative touch would have transformed Leia Organa’s look.
Why Did Jodie Foster Escape the Star Wars Universe?
Rather than travel the galaxy, the actress made the decision to immerse herself in a Disney film, as she told Jimmy Fallon:
“I didn’t want to pull out of the Disney movie because I was already under contract.”
Probably the Disney picture in question was Candleshoe, a kid-friendly adventure film that the studio produced and released in 1977, the same year that Star Wars: A New Hope debuted in theaters. However, Foster expressed no regrets in an interview with Empire Magazine about her decision to not participate in the Star Wars film franchise.
“I don’t think I’m going to be on my deathbed going, like, ‘Damn! I didn’t do Star Wars. Well, I’m not going to get to have lunch with monsters.”
Although the actress missed out on a great opportunity, she would go on to accomplish incredible things with her career. Foster was able to create her own incredible acting legacy, so perhaps there would have been some animosity if things had not worked out so perfectly.
Accused, Panic Room, The Silence of the Lambs, and Freaky Friday, are among her most well-known roles under her belt. It goes without saying that the actress has seen and experienced it all, making her one of the most well-liked actors of her generation.
As of right now, she can be seen in Nic Pizzolatto’s anthology crime drama television series True Detective, as Liz Danvers.
Star Wars, streaming on Disney+.
