Welsh-born actress Catherine Zeta-Jones first captivated U.S. film audiences with her swashbuckling turn in “The Mask of Zorro” (1998) – leaving moviegoers so mesmerized by her ebony-tressed old Hollywoodesque beauty, it was a wonder she was able to move beyond all the comparisons to Ava Gardner and Vivien Leigh – enough to garner respect as a serious actress. It was her impressive turn in “Traffic” (2000) and Oscar-winning scenery-chewing for her musical showstoppers in “Chicago” (2002) which firmly established her as a Hollywood A-lister. That, and a fairytale-likened marriage to one of the industry’s most respected actors-producers, Michael Douglas; thusly, entry into one of Hollywood’s most famous and respected families.

 A true child of Hollywood, Carrie Frances Fisher grew up in the shadow of scandal as the daughter of famous parents run amok. But it was her work as the gun-toting heroine in a then little anticipated science fiction film that cemented her in the public’s mind as Princess Leia Organa in “Star Wars” (1977). The role put the then 19-year old actress on the map and endeared her to generations of fans for decades, and although the actress made other notable appearances in film and earned acclaim and respect for her well-written novels, acerbic wit, and highly sought-after script doctoring skills, she will always be Princess Leia to the faithful of writer-director George Lucas’ sweeping film saga.