Carrie Fisher, star of films including the Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars: the Force Awakens, and When Harry Met Sally, will address readers’ questions and dilemmas and offer her unique perspective on life. Her first column was published on 10 June and readers can email questions for future columns.
Fisher, who has openly discussed her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and her battles with addiction, is also the author of a semi-autobiographical novel, Postcards from the Edge, and a play and non-fiction book, Wishful Drinking, which tackle some of the issues she has faced. Her new column will build on the honest and open approach she has taken to her own struggles, and will offer Guardian readers advice and guidance on how to navigate everything from heartbreak to addiction, to mental illness and gender equality.
Merope Mills, west coast editor, Guardian US, commented: “It’s fantastic to welcome Carrie Fisher to Guardian US. Her brutal honesty and willingness to share her own experiences perfectly positions her to provide advice to our readers. We look forward to her tackling our readers’ problems in her own indomitable way!”
Fisher is the latest addition to the Guardian’s growing stable of entertainment-industry focused writers based on the west coast. Her advice column will sit alongside the Secret Actress - an anonymous column penned by a Hollywood A-lister which lifts the lid on the TV and film industry.
In addition, the Guardian’s LA-based team, comprising of humorist and writer, Dave Schilling, entertainment writer, Nigel Smith, and LA correspondent, Rory Carroll, will shortly be joined by Lanre Bakare, who assumes the role of arts editor, west coast, in September. Bakare, currently deputy arts editor, based in New York, will further develop a team of writers to cover news, interviews and trend pieces on everything from the golden age of television, to the gender imbalance in Hollywood, as well as covering the big showbiz events of the year live.
Mills continued: “We’re building a world-class team of entertainment writers and editors in LA enabling the Guardian to shine a spotlight on the fascinating themes and debates that originate in Tinseltown, as well as offering more reviews, analysis and comment about the creative output in California.”
Carrie Fisher’s first column for Guardian US can be read here.
