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Remembering Carrie Fisher
'Star Wars' actress died of a heart attack, family says.
David Rogers
Actress and author Carrie Fisher died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack, according to a family spokesman.
She spoke with the Palm Beach Daily News in February 2013 ahead of a scheduled speech later that season at the Old Bags Luncheon, an annual benefit for the Center for Family Services.
Fisher got sick before the luncheon; her mother, Debbie Reynolds, spoke instead.
Here's the story from Fisher's interview with the Palm Beach Daily News.
When you write a semi-autobiographical tome titled Postcards from the Edge and label a similar look into your life Wishful Drinking, chances are, you've been more than the life of the party.
Actress Carrie Fisher is known these days almost as much for her well-publicized struggles with the bottle, drugs and bipolar disease as she is for portraying the steely and sexy Princess Leia in the original Star Wars films.
"Everyone has an up and down life. Mine's just a little more conspicuous," Fisher said recently from her home in Beverly Hills. To her credit, Fisher doesn't blame her famous parents, Debbie Reynolds and the late Eddie Fisher, for her tumultuous journey through chemical addiction.
"It's better to take responsibility for the difficulties you've had because you have a better chance of getting through them," Fisher said.
Fisher is set to appear on March 7 at The Breakers as guest speaker for the 15th annual Old Bags Luncheon, a benefit for the Center for Family Services. The West Palm Beach center provides counseling for individuals who have experienced substance abuse, mental health issues, physical abuse and/or other major issues.
Fisher said the fight to stay free of drugs is constant for her.
"It doesn't go away. It's an ongoing thing to battle," Fisher said, saying she also has to keep her bipolar disease in check. "So it's a question of maintaining and watching out for it. You can't just say, 'That was difficult, so let's now move on to fun.'"
The actress said she began experiencing dramatic signs in her emotional state in her teenage years.
"Drugs did something for me that I couldn't do for myself. They put the monster in the box," Fisher said.
The actress said she turned to counseling at an early age because of her issues.
"I actually asked to go into therapy when I was 15," she said. "It was not because of something going on in my family. But I had seen what it had done for other people. Self-awareness is something everyone can use."
Stanton Collemer, chief fundraising officer for the Center for Family Services, said Fisher's story contains valuable lessons. Fisher's mother previously spoke at the Old Bags Luncheon about being homeless at one point.
"Carrie speaks very honestly about her experiences with addiction and bipolar disorder, and is willing to advocate for the cause," Collemer said. "She will bring awareness to the counseling, education and homeless intervention programs that is provided at The Center for Family Services."
The luncheon's name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to its signature auction of designer handbags. This year's event will feature more than 300 handbags in addition to jewelry and a raffle.
For more information or tickets, visit ctrfam.org, or contact Collemer at SCollemer@ctrfam.org or at 616-1257.
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