TMC
12-09-2022, 09:43 PM
https://www.looper.com/1131095/how-carrie-fisher-brought-depth-to-family-guys-angela/
BY NIKKI MUNOZ/DEC. 8, 2022 12:10 PM EST
The late actress Carrie Fisher (https://www.nickiswift.com/35503/things-didnt-know-carrie-fisher/) is, of course, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films — she starred in the original trilogy, from 1977 to 1983, before reprising the role for 2015's "The Force Awakens" and its follow-up films. Fisher also appeared in plenty of other notable roles outside of the "Star Wars" films (https://www.looper.com/76346/every-star-wars-movie-ranked-worst-best/), having racked up over 90 on screen acting credits before her death in 2016 (via IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000402/)).
One of Fisher's longest running projects was "Family Guy," (https://www.looper.com/901893/every-season-of-family-guy-ranked-worst-to-best/) on which she voiced the character of Angela from 2005 until her death. Angela is Peter's (Seth MacFarlane) boss at the Pawtucket Brewery. Angela and Peter have somewhat of an up-and-down relationship, with Peter initially trying to befriend Angela, to failed attempts as Angela prefers Peter's co-worker Opie (Mark Hentemann). Fisher's death was ultimately written into the show: Angela's final appearance is in Season 16 Episode 9 and, in a later episode, it's revealed that Angela died after swimming within twenty minutes of eating, getting a stomach cramp and dying.
Fisher was a beloved member of the cast as well as a fan favorite character, and those who worked with her had nothing but praise for the late actress. Here's what executive producer Steve Callaghan has to say about how Fisher elevated the role.
Callaghan said Fisher made Angela more than a one note character
In a November 2017 interview, ahead of Angela's last appearance in "Family Guy," executive producer Steve Callaghan spoke with Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/tv/2017/11/03/family-guy-carrie-fisher-last-episodes/) about what Carrie Fisher brought to the role and to the series. Callaghan and interviewer Dan Snierson noted that the character was no easy one to take on, seeing as Angela has an intense loneliness. Callaghan then praised Fisher for bringing a depth to Angela that wasn't on the page.
Callaghan said, "It would be easy for a less capable actress to make that character kind of one-note, gruff and yelling all the time. But Carrie brought to it a depth that I don't think just anyone could have. And it enabled us to do some of the types of episodes that I was talking about, where we got to know her on a deeper level. Anyone knows their boss in their one context, and there's a full person behind that that they, for the most part, don't get to know." The producer continued by noting that, with Fisher's performance, they were able to explore Angela's life outside of the office and explore the character further. He added that being able to do that was something that the writers enjoyed, thanks to Fisher.
Callaghan continued, "We're incredibly grateful to her for that, and we all feel the loss of that now that we're writing episodes that don't have Angela in them."
BY NIKKI MUNOZ/DEC. 8, 2022 12:10 PM EST
The late actress Carrie Fisher (https://www.nickiswift.com/35503/things-didnt-know-carrie-fisher/) is, of course, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films — she starred in the original trilogy, from 1977 to 1983, before reprising the role for 2015's "The Force Awakens" and its follow-up films. Fisher also appeared in plenty of other notable roles outside of the "Star Wars" films (https://www.looper.com/76346/every-star-wars-movie-ranked-worst-best/), having racked up over 90 on screen acting credits before her death in 2016 (via IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000402/)).
One of Fisher's longest running projects was "Family Guy," (https://www.looper.com/901893/every-season-of-family-guy-ranked-worst-to-best/) on which she voiced the character of Angela from 2005 until her death. Angela is Peter's (Seth MacFarlane) boss at the Pawtucket Brewery. Angela and Peter have somewhat of an up-and-down relationship, with Peter initially trying to befriend Angela, to failed attempts as Angela prefers Peter's co-worker Opie (Mark Hentemann). Fisher's death was ultimately written into the show: Angela's final appearance is in Season 16 Episode 9 and, in a later episode, it's revealed that Angela died after swimming within twenty minutes of eating, getting a stomach cramp and dying.
Fisher was a beloved member of the cast as well as a fan favorite character, and those who worked with her had nothing but praise for the late actress. Here's what executive producer Steve Callaghan has to say about how Fisher elevated the role.
Callaghan said Fisher made Angela more than a one note character
In a November 2017 interview, ahead of Angela's last appearance in "Family Guy," executive producer Steve Callaghan spoke with Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/tv/2017/11/03/family-guy-carrie-fisher-last-episodes/) about what Carrie Fisher brought to the role and to the series. Callaghan and interviewer Dan Snierson noted that the character was no easy one to take on, seeing as Angela has an intense loneliness. Callaghan then praised Fisher for bringing a depth to Angela that wasn't on the page.
Callaghan said, "It would be easy for a less capable actress to make that character kind of one-note, gruff and yelling all the time. But Carrie brought to it a depth that I don't think just anyone could have. And it enabled us to do some of the types of episodes that I was talking about, where we got to know her on a deeper level. Anyone knows their boss in their one context, and there's a full person behind that that they, for the most part, don't get to know." The producer continued by noting that, with Fisher's performance, they were able to explore Angela's life outside of the office and explore the character further. He added that being able to do that was something that the writers enjoyed, thanks to Fisher.
Callaghan continued, "We're incredibly grateful to her for that, and we all feel the loss of that now that we're writing episodes that don't have Angela in them."