Earlier today, Carrie Fisher passed away following her heart attack last week. In light of this news, “Star Wars” creator George Lucas and her co-star Harrison Ford released statements addressing her death and offering their condolences for her family.

“Carrie and I have been friends most of our adult lives. She was extremely smart; a talented actress, writer, and comedienne with a very colorful personality that everyone loved,” Lucas said in a statement. “In 'Star Wars,' she was our great and powerful princess — feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think. My heart and prayers are with Billie, Debbie and all Carrie’s family, friends and fans. She will be missed by all.”

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“Carrie was one-of-a-kind… brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely…My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her Mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her,” added Ford.

Disney CEO Bob Iger also issued a statement on her passing, saying, "Carrie Fisher was one-of-a-kind, a true character who shared her talent and her truth with us all with her trademark wit and irreverence. Millions fell in love with her as the indomitable Princess Leia; she will always have a special place in the hearts of 'Star Wars' fans as well as all of us who were lucky enough to know her personally. She will be sorely missed, and we join millions of fans and friends around the world who mourn her loss today."

J.J. Abrams, who directed "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," took to Twitter to mourn the late star:

pic.twitter.com/RLiWEXU8Ob

— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) December 27, 2016

Best known for her iconic role as Princess Leia on “Star Wars,” the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds, Fisher rose to fame with the release of the classic sci-fi film, but also became well known for her semi-autobiographical novels, including “Postcards from the Edge,” and for her career as one of Hollywood’s top script doctors, polishing screenplays for such films as “Hook,” “Lethal Weapon 3,” “Sister Act,” “Scream 3” and the “Star Wars” prequels.

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She returned to the role of Leia Organa for 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and for 2017’s “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” which completed shooting several months ago. Fisher also released her memoirs in 2016, “The Princess Diarist,” which gathered the journals she kept while filming the original “Star Wars” trilogy.

Though she was a source of inspiration for millions of fans, Fisher faced her share of difficulties as a young actor in Hollywood. While filming the “Star Wars” movies, she became dependent on drugs, and was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. After relapsing in 1985, the actress turned her life around. She wrote a book about her experiences, “Postcards from the Edge,” which was also developed into a movie starring Meryl Streep as Suzanne Vale, a stand-in for Fisher herself.

Beyond her roles as an actor and screenwriter, Fisher was a feminist icon who used her fame as Princess Leia to encourage young women to aspire for the best in their lives. In mid-2016, Fisher launched an advice column in British newspaper The Guardian. Titled “Advice from the Dark Side,” the column was geared specifically for young readers to send her their problems and ask for help.

(via Entertainment Weekly and LA Times)