Princess Leia Organa is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. Introduced in the original Star Wars film (1977) and its novelization (1976), Leia is a princess of the planet Alderaan, a member of the Imperial Senate, and an agent of the Rebel Alliance. She thwarts the Sith Lord Darth Vader and helps bring about the destruction of the Empire's superweapon, the Death Star.