Carrie Fisher says that the original Star Wars cast looked "a little melted" when they met ahead of shooting on Episode VII.

The 57-year-old actress reprises her role as Princess Leia in the blockbuster sequel alongside alongside Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker who are also returning to the franchise. She admits it was reassuring to see that everyone's appearance had changed 37 years on from the original. When talking to an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales, she said, "We all look a little melted. It's good to see other melted people. And it is good to have us all in a room because it's unique. I mean, I don't suppose they have reunions for the Gone With The Wind gang."

Carrie played Princess Leia three times starting with the original 197 film, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and she believes her latest interpretation will be her best: "We are doing it over again so I can get Princess Leia right this time. I think less British. I looked a little pretentious faking the accent. It was sort of a viral accent - it came and went."

Filming began in Abu Dhabi earlier this month and is then expected to continue at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England.

The movie - which has a screenplay written by director J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasban - is due to open worldwide on December 18, 2015.