Carrie Fisher had to lose two-and-a-half stone for 'Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens'.

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher

Fisher will reprise her role as Princess Leia in the highly-anticipated film but insists the movie industry's emphasis on weight and looks is "messed up" and admits she had a tough time trying to shed 35lbs.

She said: "Nothing changes, it's an appearance-driven thing. I'm in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance.

"That is so messed up. They might as well say get younger, because that's how easy it is."

Carrie joked 'Star Wars' bosses only wanted to hire "three-quarters" of her, but admitted there was no secret to her weight loss - she simply ate less and exercised more.

But the star - who played Leia in 'Star Wars', 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi' from 1977 to 1983 - would much rather be larger in size and feel like herself.

She added to Good Housekeeping magazine: "When I do lose the weight I don't like that it makes me feel good about myself. It's not who I am. My problem is they talk to me like an actress but I hear them like a writer."

The full interview with Carrie appears in the January edition of Good Housekeeping magazine.