Star Wars turned Harrison Ford into a major star, but Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher struggled to emerge from Luke and Leia's towering shadows.

Appearing in the intergalactic space saga has been a blessing for some, and a curse for others. With "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" due in theaters worldwide next week, the following are briefs about some of the actors who have featured in the blockbuster franchise:

Harrison Ford

Ford, who portrays the seductive, intrepid smuggler Han Solo, rocketed to fame after the initial film and is arguably the franchise's biggest star.

Shortly after first piloting the Millennium Falcon, the 73-year-old actor -- a pilot in real life -- fronted another massive franchise, the Indiana Jones films, and starred in sci-fi hit "Blade Runner."

Other career highlights for the Hollywood A-lister include two turns as Tom Clancy's hero Jack Ryan in "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger." He earned an Oscar nomination for best actor in 1986 for "Witness."

Carrie Fisher
Fisher, the daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher, was only 20 years old when "Star Wars" hit movie screens, making her an international star as Princess Leia.

After her turn in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, the 59-year-old actress notably appeared in Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "When Harry Met Sally."

Fisher, who struggled with addiction, didn't score roles on a par with her turn as Leia. She wrote a semi-autobiographical novel, "Postcards From The Edge," as well as a screenplay for the film version starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine.

Mark Hamill

Hamill, also known as the valiant Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, has built a successful career mainly as a voice actor for animated films and video games, including a turn as The Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series."

As for Fisher, the success of "Star Wars" did not translate into decades of fame for the now 64-year-old actor.

James Earl Jones
Jones is perhaps best known for providing the deep, menacing voice of the villainous Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy.

The 84-year-old stage and screen actor, who was nominated for a best actor Oscar in 1971 for "The Great White Hope," has since made dozens of film and television appearances.

The Tony and Emmy award winner is currently starring on Broadway opposite Cicely Tyson in a revival of "The Gin Game."

Natalie Portman

Portman, who made her debut in Luc Besson's 1994 film "The Professional," had already worked for directors Woody Allen, Michael Mann and Tim Burton before taking on the role of Queen Amidala / Padme in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" in 1999.

She has since become a Hollywood heavyweight, winning an Oscar for best actress in 2011 for her turn as a troubled ballerina in "Black Swan." She has branched into directing, with this year's "A Tale of Love and Darkness."

Ewan McGregor

The 44-year-old Scot made a name for himself with "Trainspotting" and "Velvet Goldmine" when he was tapped to play a young Obi-Wan Kenobi -- a role first played by Alec Guinness -- in "The Phantom Menace."

He won acclaim for his turn opposite Nicole Kidman in Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge" and has since notably starred in "Beginners" and "The Impossible" about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

He has just directed his first film, "American Pastoral," an adaptation of a Philip Roth novel.

Liam Neeson

Neeson had already achieved international renown as the star of "Schindler's List" when he was tapped to play Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn in "The Phantom Menace."

The 63-year-old from Northern Ireland has since transformed himself into an action film star, with the "Taken" series, "The Grey" and "Non-Stop."

Jake Lloyd

Lloyd, now 26, seemed destined for greater things when he was chosen to play young Anakin Skywalker (the future Darth Vader) in "The Phantom Menace."

But his career stalled, apart from a role a decade ago in the little-seen feature film "Madison" and some voice work for "Star Wars" video games. He has complained in interviews of being bullied in school over his childhood fame.

Lloyd had a run-in with the law earlier this year, when he was arrested in South Carolina after leading police on a wild high-speed car chase. He was charged with reckless driving, failure to stop and resisting arrest.
Source: AFP