<\/p>\n Billie Lourd<\/strong><\/a> has shared how working on Gia Coppola\u2019s<\/strong> new movie, The Last Showgirl<\/i>, made her feel closer to her late mother Carrie Fisher<\/strong> <\/a>and grandmother Debbie Reynolds<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n Taking to the stage alongside costars Pamela Anderson<\/strong> and Jamie Lee Curtis<\/strong> at The Last Showgirl<\/em>\u2019s premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on Friday, September 7, Lourd revealed just how much the experience meant to her.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just sobbing backstage so excuse me in advance,\u201d an emotional Lourd, 32, said, as per Entertainment Weekly<\/i><\/a>. \u201cThis movie was deeply meaningful to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Lourd credited Coppola with providing the opportunity for such a positive experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I met with Gia, I spoke about my mom and grandma\u2019s relationship. Getting to play this character was extremely cathartic for me because it felt like [Anderson\u2019s character] Shelley was my grandma and I got to be my mom,\u201d Lourd said.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cI got to understand my mom on a deeper level than I ever had and it was a beautiful experience.\u201d<\/p>\n The Last Showgirl<\/i> stars Anderson as Las Vegas entertainer Shelley, who must reconcile with her new reality after her show unexpectedly closes after 30 years.<\/p>\n Lourd portrays Shelley\u2019s daughter, Hannah. Meanwhile, Curtis plays Shelley\u2019s former colleague, showgirl-turned-waitress, Annette.<\/p>\n Fisher was most well known for her iconic role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars<\/i> films while Reynolds shot to fame in Hollywood\u2019s golden age, performing in classics such as Singin\u2019 In The Rain<\/i> (1952) and How the West Was Won <\/i>(1962).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fisher died in December 2016<\/a> at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack. One day later, her mother, Reynolds, died of a stroke<\/a>.<\/p>\n Over the years, Lourd has spoken candidly about her feelings over losing her mother and grandmother.<\/p>\n In December 2021, the actress admitted in a post shared via Instagram that dealing with grief<\/a> is \u201cnever simple\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in a different stage of grief in each moment of every day,\u201d she wrote via Instagram. \u201cMy grief is a multi-course meal with many complicated ingredients. An amuse bouche of bargaining followed by an anger appetizer with a side of depression, acceptance for the entree and of course a little denial for dessert.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Billie Lourd.<\/span> (Photo by Geoff Robins \/ AFP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Debbie](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/billie-lourd-says-the-last-showgirl-was-carthartic-after-death-of-carrie-fisher-and-debbie-reynolds-462198536.jpg?w=1000&quality=70&strip=all\")
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\n Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher.<\/span> (Photo by Getty)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n