Billie Lourd Says Carrie Fisher “Lives on Through Joy” After Death

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Billie Lourd is focusing on the happier aspects of her life.

Nine years after losing her mother, Carrie Fisher, at age 60, actress Billie Lourd spoke about the ever-changing nature of grief. She shared that her children, 5-year-old Kingston and 3-year-old Jackson, whom she shares with husband Austen Rydell, have helped her find moments of happiness during this time.

Billie shared on Instagram on December 27th that watching her daughter play with her father, Bryan Lourd, made her realize how much her mother was responsible for this happiness. She explained that this joy wouldn’t exist without her mother, and even though she’s no longer with us, her mother’s legacy lives on through these happy moments.

She shared that even though she’s still grieving, and her sadness manifests in different ways, she finds joy in watching her children spend time with their grandfather, especially on this anniversary.

As Billie pointed out, grief isn’t a single, unchanging emotion; it “could and will change shapes multiple times throughout this day.” She emphasized that “grief is never just one thing.”

“It’s a strange mix of sadness and happiness right now,” the Booksmart actress shared. “My mom always said, ‘Nothing truly ends, it just moves somewhere else.’ And that’s how I feel about my mom – her life isn’t over, it lives on in my children and in the happiness she brought to my life. Thank you, Mom. I’ll miss you forever.”

It’s been nearly ten years since Carrie Fisher passed away, and Billie has often talked about how she’s dealt with the loss. Now, she feels fortunate to be able to connect with others by sharing what she’s gone through.

She recently shared with TopMob News that discussing grief is one of the most rewarding parts of her work, explaining that it’s a topic people often avoid.

Honestly, before this happened to me, I felt so alone. I didn’t know anyone who got it, you know? That’s why it means the world to me to be able to talk about it, even though it’s messy and complicated. It’s just…important to be real about it, for myself and maybe for others who feel the same way.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen how important family connections are, and even when distance makes things difficult, love finds a way. Though Billie’s mother couldn’t meet her grandchildren personally, she made sure her influence and spirit lived on through them – and that’s a beautiful legacy to leave behind.

Billie recently showed her children Return of the Jedi for the first time, and they were initially puzzled. “They kept asking, ‘Is that my grandma?'” Billie told TopMob. “I had to explain it was Princess Leia, and that Carrie Fisher, their grandma, played the role.” Billie was deeply moved watching their reaction, and ended up crying while they enjoyed the film.

She described it as a really high-quality, personal film. Being able to include those moments and share them with her mother in the movies meant a lot to her.

For a look back at some of the sweetest moments Billie and Carrie shared, keep reading.

Billie shared an old photo in remembrance of her mother, who would have turned 61 today, ten months after her passing.

Billie posted this throwback photo on Mother’s Day 2017, the first Mother’s Day without Carrie.

The two share a sweet moment.

Billie poses with her mom and grandma Debbie Reynolds at her high school graduation.

Billie and Carrie attend the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which stars them both.

Billie poses with her mom and grandma Debbie Reynolds at the annual event.

Billie and her mother attended the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards in 2015.

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2025-12-28 21:17