Billie Lourd, who lost her mother, Carrie Fisher, and grandmother, Debbie Reynolds, during the Christmas season of 2016 has taken to Instagram to share a powerful message about grief and loss.
The American Horror Story star posted a photograph of herself beside her two relatives, the legendary actresses, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, on Christmas day. In the caption, she reminded her followers that there is no one right way to grieve, especially during the festive season.
Watch the final trailer for The Rise of Skywalker:"Happy holidays! (But also sad/emotional/weird/stressful holidays!) Sending my love to everyone who has lost someone they loved and is missing them a little extra today," she wrote.
"I see you. It’s okay if everything ain’t all merry and bright. It can be a mix of all of it. And it’s all okay. Feel all the feelings - the good and the not so good."
"Eat something delish they used to love,” Lourd continued. “Put on one of their favorite songs. Tell a story about them. Cry about them. Call one of their friends you haven’t talked to in a while. Be kind and patient with yourself. Don’t grieve in silence. You’re not alone."
This Christmas is especially poignant for the actress, given that it coincides with the release of the ninth and final Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker. The feature, which was made after Fisher's death in 2016, includes a performance from the late actress as General Leia Organa, which was crafted from deleted footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
In the movie, Fisher and Lourd - who portrays Connix, a resistance member - appear together. "I want to be in scenes with her. I want it for my children when I have kids. I want them to see me," Lourd reportedly told director JJ Abrams whilst on set.
"There are moments where they’re talking; there are moments where they’re touching," Abrams since stated. “There are moments in this movie where Carrie is there, and I really do feel there is an element of the uncanny, spiritual, you know classic Carrie, that it would have happened this way because somehow it worked. And I never thought it would."