Billie Lourd

A deep dive into Billie Lourd’s life: early years, rise to screen, acting roles in Star Wars, Scream Queens, American Horror Story, personal struggles, and how she carries forward her famous lineage with her own voice.

Introduction

Billie Catherine Lourd (born July 17, 1992) is an American actress who has carved out her own identity in Hollywood, while embracing a remarkable legacy. She is best known for her roles in Scream Queens (as Chanel #3), the Star Wars sequel trilogy (as Lieutenant Connix), and many seasons of American Horror Story. As the only child of Carrie Fisher, Lourd’s journey is one of navigating inheritance, grief, and artistry—and she increasingly tells stories that reflect both her strength and sensitivity.

Early Life and Family

Billie Lourd was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 17, 1992. Her mother was the iconic actress Carrie Fisher, famed for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars. Her father is Bryan Lourd, a talent agent.

She is the granddaughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher, and niece to Todd Fisher, Joely Fisher, and Tricia Leigh Fisher. Lourd also has a half-sister, Ava, adopted by her father from a later marriage.

Growing up in Hollywood, Lourd was exposed to show business from an early stage. She attended Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. For college, she enrolled in New York University, where she designed her own major under the Gallatin School, combining her interests in art, business, and spiritual themes. She graduated in 2014.

Career & Breakthroughs

Entering Star Wars

Lourd’s first on-screen break came with the Star Wars sequel trilogy. She appeared as Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix in The Force Awakens (2015) and reprised the role in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). In The Rise of Skywalker, she even stood in as Leia in a flashback scene (with digital effects) following Fisher’s passing.

Interestingly, Lourd once auditioned for the lead role of Rey, though that went to Daisy Ridley.

Scream Queens and Horror Comedy Persona

Her more visible breakout was in the Fox horror-comedy series Scream Queens (2015–2016). Lourd played Chanel #3, a character known for her distinctive earmuffs—an homage to her mother’s iconic “cinnamon buns” hairstyle from the original Star Wars. She returned for the second season as well.

American Horror Story

From 2017 onward, Lourd has been a regular in the anthology series American Horror Story. Her roles include:

• Cult (2017) as Winter Anderson

• A guest role as Linda Kasabian (Manson family storyline)

• Apocalypse (2018) as Mallory

• 1984 (2019) as Montana Duke

• In later seasons as characters Lark Feldman and Dr. Hannah Wells

Her performances in American Horror Story have been important in letting her explore darker, more complex roles and in processing personal grief.

Other Film & Television Work

• Billionaire Boys Club (2018) — she played Rosanna in this crime drama.

• Booksmart (2019) — she played Gigi, earning positive attention for her comedic timing.

• Ticket to Paradise (2022) — she starred alongside Julia Roberts and George Clooney.

• In 2024, Lourd starred in The Last Showgirl, a film that connects with her personal heritage.

She has also done occasional producer work.

Style & Artistic Identity

Billie Lourd has often said she doesn’t just want to live in her mother’s shadow; she wants to build her own path. Her choices often lean toward roles that allow emotional complexity, ambiguity, or reflection of inner life.

In interviews, she has acknowledged the weight of legacy: balancing respect for her mother’s memory with the desire for autonomy. She has also expressed gratitude for creators like Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story), saying that the show gave her a way to “process emotions through characters” in the months after her mother’s death.

Her aesthetic is subtle rather than showy; she seems drawn to projects that let character and story matter. At the same time, she honors her mother through both choices of roles and public remembrances.

Personal Life, Loss & Legacy

Loss & Grief

In December 2016, Billie’s mother, Carrie Fisher, passed away. Fisher’s mother, Debbie Reynolds, died the next day. These losses had a profound emotional impact on Lourd.

She has spoken about experiencing varying waves of grief—anger, emptiness, guilt, numbness—and how time has changed her mourning. Accepting The Last Showgirl role, which deals with mothers and daughters, she said helped her feel a connection to her mother and grandmother.

In 2023, she accepted her mother’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a symbolic moment affirming both remembrance and honoring legacy.

Marriage & Children

Lourd began dating actor Austen Rydell in early 2016. They became engaged in June 2020. Their son, Kingston Fisher Lourd Rydell, was born in September 2020. They married on March 12, 2022, in Cabo San Lucas; the ceremony included a tribute to her mother (glitter thrown in the air) as homage to Fisher’s spirit. In December 2022, she had a daughter, giving her two children.

Public Presence & Activism

Though she is private about many aspects of her life, Lourd occasionally shares reflections on grief, identity, and motherhood in public interviews. She seeks to use her platform vulnerably rather than performatively.

In 2024, she spoke admirably of working with Pamela Anderson on The Last Showgirl, calling Anderson “one of the most hardworking, dedicated actresses” and expressing gratitude for the project’s resonance with family themes.

Selected Quotes & Reflections

• On her mother’s influence:

  “She told me to be true, and kind, and confident in yourself.”

• On legacy and personal identity:

  “I love being my mother’s daughter … but now I get to be just Billie.”

• On the role of American Horror Story in healing:

  “It kind of saved my life … it helped me process all of my emotions through these characters.”

• On working with Pamela Anderson:

  “She is one of the most hardworking, dedicated actresses ever … I just could not be more grateful…”

These reflections show her balance of gratitude, vulnerability, self-assertion, and creativity.

Lessons from Her Journey

1. Inheritance can be both gift and burden
   Being the daughter of a cultural icon comes with expectations and pressures—but also a source of strength and inspiration.

2. Growth often comes through roles that challenge
   Lourd’s willingness to take intense, complex roles (in American Horror Story, The Last Showgirl) suggests that art can be a way to grow emotionally, not just to perform.

3. Grief is non-linear
   Her public reflections about changing grief—anger, numbness, guilt—remind us it’s not a straight path.

4. Autonomy is created, not given
   Though she honors the legacy behind her, Lourd steadily defines her own voice and career trajectory.

5. Art and healing sometimes intersect
   Choosing roles that echo her inner life or persona can help transform personal loss into meaningful expression.

Conclusion

Billie Lourd stands at the intersection of legacy and reinvention. With a storied family background, she could have lived perpetually in others’ shadows—but instead she has built a career defined by sincerity, risk, and self-discovery. Whether in horror comedy, dark anthology, or emotionally resonant drama, she brings nuance and heart. Her life is still unfolding, and in many ways, she is becoming the steward not just of her mother’s memory, but of her own distinct artistic presence.