8. Princess Leia
One of the founding members of the Rebel Alliance and later the Chief of State of the New Republic, Princess Leia played in essential role in the destruction of the first Death Star and participated in the Battle of Endor. She later married Han Solo and became Chief of State while developing her latent Jedi abilities, eventually becoming a very well respected member of the Jedi Order. Even though she was a bit of a heartless jerk for the first movie and a half, Princess Leia is easily one of the most memorable characters in the original series. She is the central character in the Rebel Alliance and holds her own in verbal spats with the one and only Han Solo. Finally, who can forget her scenes in Jabba's Palace, proof that George Lucas is undoubtedly a visionary of the highest order.