On This Day: The princess we’ll never forget

She wore her hair in two famous buns, stood up to Darth Vader and gave Han Solo plenty of cheek. Today, the actress who brought Princess Leia to life would have turned 70.

For millions of moviegoers, Carrie Fisher will always be Princess Leia, the fearless young woman who became one of the most recognisable characters in cinema history.

Born on October 21, 1956, Fisher was just 19 when she was cast in George Lucas’s Star Wars, which arrived in cinemas in 1977.

Alongside Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, she helped create a film phenomenon that would capture the imaginations of generations.

And what a character Leia was. Whether she was confronting Darth Vader, trading insults with Han Solo or taking charge of a dangerous escape, Fisher brought intelligence, humour and a wonderful sense of mischief to the role.

Hollywood was in her blood

Fisher was the daughter of Hollywood sweetheart Debbie Reynolds, star of Singin’ in the Rain, and popular singer Eddie Fisher.

She went on to appear in The Blues Brothers and When Harry Met Sally…, while her writing career included the bestselling novel Postcards from the Edge, later adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine.

Fisher was also admired for speaking candidly about her experiences with bipolar disorder and addiction, often finding humour in some of life’s most difficult moments.

She died on December 27, 2016, aged 60. In a heartbreaking turn of events, her mother died the following day.

The day we went back to the future

October 21 also holds a special place in movie history.

In the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II, Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown travel forward to October 21, 2015.

Their imagined future featured flying cars, hoverboards, self-lacing shoes and video calls.

When that date finally arrived in 2015, fans around the world celebrated Back to the Future Day, comparing the movie’s predictions with the world around them.

Eleven years later, those flying cars still haven’t become everyday transport.

A famous victory at sea

On October 21, 1805, British Admiral Horatio Nelson led his fleet against French and Spanish warships at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The British secured a decisive victory, but Nelson was fatally wounded aboard HMS Victory.

The battle helped establish Britain’s naval dominance for decades.

Born on this day

Television’s formidable Judith Sheindlin, better known as Judge Judy, turns 84 today.

Musician Manfred Mann, whose band gave us the 1960s hits Do Wah Diddy Diddy and The Mighty Quinn, celebrates his 86th birthday.

And, of course, Carrie Fisher would have turned 70, a milestone that gives fans another reason to remember the woman behind Princess Leia.

Do you remember?

Do you remember seeing Star Wars at the cinema for the first time? We’d love to hear what you thought of Princess Leia and whether you became a lifelong fan.