The unlikely story of how Carrie Fisher and James Blunt moved in together and became 'best friends'
23 October 2023, 13:53
James Blunt has opened up on his years living with Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
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James Blunt has revealed he lived with legendary Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher in the early 2000s.
The incredible story details how to pair met by chance and ended up living together in LA, where James moved to record his first album.
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The living situation happened before James Blunt was famous and was just getting started in the world of showbiz.
Speaking to The Guardian Blunt told the incredible story of how he met Carrie Fisher and how to actress became his 'best, best friend.'
"This wild rollercoaster ride began in 2003 when I was invited to the restaurant 192 in Notting Hill. I was going out with a girl whose parents were family friends of Carrie’s and I sat beside her at lunch.
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"I had just got a record deal and was moving to LA. Carrie’s first question was: 'What do you do?' I said: 'I’ve left the army to go to make an album in LA.'
"Question number two was: 'Where are you going to live?' I said I didn’t know.
"Her reply – the third thing she ever said to me – was: 'Well, you’re going to live with me.' So I did just that."
James Blunt then went on to say how the incredible story panned out, and what it was like living with Fisher and her superstar mum, Debbie Reynolds.
"For the first month, I didn’t see her," he recalls.
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"I’d get up and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, would shout: 'Hey Charlie – you wanna drink?' and I’d say: 'No, I’m James, thanks very much,' then head to the studio," he said, where he was writing and recording what would become his 2004 hit debut album, Back To Bedlam.
"A month later, I started to see Carrie more. I came home one night and sat on the end of her bed and we talked until morning.
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"After that, whenever I got back from the studio I’d go into her room to talk, no matter if it was 11pm or 3am. She became my best, best friend," the You're Beautiful singer revealed.
Carrie Fisher passed away on December 27, 2016 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest at age 60, just months after reprising her role for Star Wars' eagerly anticipated comeback with The Force Awakens.
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"I’ve got a song on my new album called 'Dark Thought', describing the moment when I went back to her house after she had died," Blunt says. "I put my hand on her gate and started crying."
"Moments after, one of the open-top Star Map vans that drive tourists around LA turned up," he says.
"Over the PA, the guide said: 'On your left, you’ll find the late, great Carrie Fisher’s house … As you can see, some fans are still deeply moved by her passing.'
"That was me. I wanted to tell them to f*** off, but eventually found it funny."
James Blunt's seventh album, Who We Used To Be, will be released on October 27.
