To us, she’s royalty. It is with an enormously heavy heart that we report the tragic passing of Carrie Fisher. For so many around the world, she’ll always be remembered for her iconic role as Princess Leia in the  Star Wars franchise.

Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, issued a  statement earlier today, “Carrie holds such special place in the hearts of everyone at Lucasfilm it is difficult to think of a world without her. She was Princess Leia to the world but a very special friend to all of us. She had an indomitable spirit, incredible wit, and a loving heart.”

At the time,  Princess Leia Organa was the antithesis of the typical female character in most action-adventure films. Strong willed, independent, and a far cry from a damsel in distress, Leia's character defied convention and inspired generations of Star Wars fans. Her role as Princess Leia created a profound effect on pop culture, essentially paving the way for female heroines in the science fiction genre. Her bold role as Leia helped lay the foundation for modern teen sci-fi heroines like Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games or Tris Prior from Divergent. Without her, it’s hard to fathom the recent additions of Star Wars movies featuring a female lead, such as Daisy Ridley as Rey in Episode VII: The Force Awakens and Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Known for her razor sharp sense of wit and belly-laugh inducing humor, Carrie was a spirited woman with a larger than life personality. Throughout her years as an actress, a writer and a comedian, Fisher always delivered an unabashed sense of honesty and vulnerability in her work. Carrie truly inspired so many to find their own voice through writing and art. Quick to respond with a snappy comeback, Fisher will always be remembered for her witty banter and hilariously biting remarks.

In November, Carrie Fisher recently published her memoir entitled The Princess Diarist. Using snippets of her own personal diary when she was nineteen, Fisher wrote about her life on set while filming Star Wars. In the novel, she revealed that she had an affair with her costar Harrison Ford. “It was so intense,” she wrote. “It was Han and Leia during the week, and Carrie and Harrison during the weekend.”

Over the years, Fisher has been very candid about her experiences with drugs and substance abuse, along with working as an advocate for those who suffer from mental health illnesses. Fisher also worked on various writing projects in the past, where she helped with scripts for The Wedding Singer, Hook and Sister Act. Her French Bulldog named Gary, has become beloved by so many of her fans. With his rolling tongue and smiling face, Gary would often accompany her on press interviews and red carpet events.

Last week, Fisher went into cardiac arrest while flying from London to Los Angeles on Friday, December 23rd. Actress Anna Akana sent out a series of tweets immediately after the plane landed, stating that a doctor and a nurse on board helped perform emergency measures. Fisher was transported to a nearby hospital in Los Angeles and remained in intensive care.

An official statement was released today reading, “It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning.”

“She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly,” said her 24-year-old daughter, Lourd. “Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers."

May the Force be with you, Carrie.

Written by Jade Nicolette

Twitter: @nicolette_style