Princess Leia’s top 20 bravest moments

From A New Hope (1977). Image is a screengrab via 20th Century Fox/Lucasfilm

19. Those times she throws shade at imperial leaders

Shortly after we meet Leia, she is caught by Darth Vader and his troops and imprisoned for interrogation. When Vader initially accuses her of operating in collusion with the Alliance, she boldly denies the claim and throws it back in his face.

Leia also throws shade where shade is due, always. Upon encountering Grand Moff Tarkin on the Death Star, she says, “I should’ve expected to find you holding Vader’s leash! I recognized your foul stench when I was brought onboard.” Wow, even a galactic governor isn’t safe from that barbed tongue.

In addition, he starts threatening her with an interrogation droid. According to fan sources and SW lore, these droids can cause debilitating pain or hallucinations that draw information out of prisoners. We don’t see what happens to her in the film, but according to the radio drama version, Vader tries several different tactics to get information from her, all to no avail — The Force is with her, and she won’t divulge any details about the Rebel base. Ultimately she is thrown in a cell, and there she stays until Luke Skywalker discovers her.

Upon Luke’s entry, Leia takes one look at him (disguised as an Empire trooper) and says dryly, “you’re awful short for a storm trooper.”