As much of a cultural phenomenon as Star Wars can be to most, we have to admit that it's one of those things that isn't for everyone. Even being related to someone who was in the series isn't a guarantee that you'd be a fan of the tales of bravery, Rebels and The Empire. But if you're around it long enough, you just might find yourself changing your mind about the power of The Force. Billie Lourd sure did, but before she was anywhere near co-starring with her mother, the late Carrie Fisher, in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, she started out on the other side of the fence.
Lourd spoke with People Magazine recently, as part of a tribute to her late mother, who passed away earlier this week due to complications from a massive heart attack. One particular subject of interest between the Scream Queens star and her interviewer was her exposure to the legacy of her mother's appearance in the Star Wars franchise. With that in the air, the actor told the story of how she, at first, wasn't that big of a fan. Billie Lourd started her story with the following:
My mom made me watch Star Wars for the first time when I was about 7 years old. When I was younger, I hated action movies and pretty much anything loud. So when she put it on I covered my ears and ran out of the room.
While most of us, if not all of us, here at Cinema Blend are dyed in the wool Star Wars fans, we can admit that the first time the iconic theme song blasts its way onto your speakers, it's quite intimidating. You can talk up the experience all you want, or you could even be one of the most die hard fans that are familiar with John Williams' work, it doesn't matter. If that theme music doesn't startle you, the laser blasts of the Tantive IV trying to fend for itself against an Imperial Star Destroyer will certainly make play havoc at the right decibel level.
Thankfully, Billie Lourd's aversion to Star Wars didn't last throughout her childhood years. In fact, as she continued to tell her story, she mentioned the moment when it all turned around for her, which wasn't that long after running out of the room during her initial exposure.
[A year later] I was completely enthralled and didn't stop asking her questions the entire time. For the next year or two, I made her watch it at least once a week --- and on special occasions I would make her get in a light saber fight with me. Let's just say the more trained Jedi usually won.
The rest, as they say, was history. Lourd would eventually follow in her mother's footsteps, not only as an actor but also as a member of the Star Wars galaxy, as she played the role of Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. While it's been rumored that this character will be expanded in Rian Johnson's Star Wars: Episode VIII, we do know that at the very least, the character will be returning and Billie Lourd will be reprising the role as well.
We'll have to wait until December 15th, 2017 to find out more. In the meantime, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is currently in theaters, for those who really need a Star Wars fix. You can also see more of Billie Lourd in both seasons of Ryan Murphy's Scream Queens, which can be seen on Hulu and Fox On Demand, as well as the upcoming film Billionaire Boys Club, which is set to release sometime in 2017.
