Exploring the Impact of Star Wars Women: Amandla Stenberg's Reflection on Carrie Fisher's Legacy (Exclusive)

The Acolyte s Amandla Stenberg Reflects on Carrie Fisher s Legacy Astounding Women of Star Wars

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Amandla Stenberg, the star of The Acolyte, acknowledges that she is following in the footsteps of other strong female characters who have used the Force in the Star Wars universe. One of the pioneers in this regard was Carrie Fisher.

Stenberg, aged 25, described Fisher as a remarkable woman in the entertainment industry. She praised Fisher's wit, charm, energy, beauty, and power during an exclusive interview with We. Stenberg made these comments while walking the red carpet at a New York City screening of her new Disney+ show on Monday, June 3.

Stenberg expressed her admiration for the women who came before her in the Star Wars universe and the incredible legacies they left behind. She feels grateful to be able to continue their lineage.

Even though Fisher passed away in 2016 at the age of 60, her impact as Princess Leia lives on. Whether it's through inspiring courage and boldness or setting trends in fashion, Fisher's legacy remains strong. Stenberg excitedly confirmed that Fisher's iconic prisoner look from Return of the Jedi in 1983 did indeed influence her outfit at the U.K. premiere last month.

Stenberg made a stunning appearance at the London screening on May 28 in a brown halter gown from Oude Waag. The dress featured cutouts at the waist and chest, complemented by gold Misho jewelry. She paired the look with Jimmy Choo shoes and styled her hair in a long braid with gold accents.

Before paying tribute to Princess Leia, Stenberg channeled Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman’s character) at the Los Angeles premiere on May 23. She first wowed in a black Oude Waag gown that highlighted her stomach. Then, she switched things up by wearing a custom Acne Studios crop top and trouser set. Both outfits were reminiscent of Portman’s iconic torn up Attack of the Clones ensemble from 2002.

The Acolyte's Amandla Stenberg Reflects on Following in Carrie Fisher's Footsteps and the Legacies of Star Wars Women

Amandla Stenberg is set to star in The Acolyte, a story that unfolds almost a century before The Phantom Menace. This means that Stenberg's character, Mae, will not cross paths with Padmé or Leia. However, she will encounter numerous Jedi Masters who are being targeted in a vengeful crime wave. One of these Force users is Indara, played by Carrie-Anne Moss. Stenberg has been receptive to the advice and guidance offered by the Matrix star in real life.

Stenberg shared that she received valuable advice from a mentor to trust her intuition when portraying a character, rather than getting caught up in technicalities and perfectionism. The mentor encouraged her to focus on embodying the essence of the character and letting go of unnecessary constraints.

Despite her young age, Stenberg is no stranger to sci-fi franchises. Her breakthrough role as Rue in The Hunger Games at just 12 years old provided her with valuable experience that she found helpful when taking on a new role in The Acolyte.

"It felt like I had a similar experience in the franchise world when I was younger," she shared. "Even though I'm an adult now and things have changed, I still felt like I could relive the fun, fantasy, and happiness from back then. At the same time, I also felt the weight and responsibility of being in this position now that I'm older."

Stenberg shared, "I often feel like my life has led me on a unique journey where everything I've done since I was a young child has been preparing me for what comes next. I believe in having faith and trusting that I am always on the right path."

The first two episodes of The Acolyte will be available on Disney+ starting Tuesday, June 4, at 9 p.m. ET. Subsequent episodes will be released every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.

Reporting by Nikaline McCarley

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