Daisy Ridley
English actress known for playing Rey in Star Wars.
Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley is an English actress who gained international recognition for her portrayal of Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy from 2015 to 2019. She has since appeared in films such as Murder on the Orient Express, Chaos Walking, and Young Woman and the Sea.
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley
- Born
- 10 April 1992
- Birthplace
- London, England
- Occupation
- Actress
- Years active
- 2013–present
- Spouse
- Tom Bateman
- Relatives
- Arnold Ridley (great-uncle)
Facts from the source article.
Early life
Daisy Ridley, the youngest of three sisters, was born on 10 April 1992 in Westminster, London, and raised in Maida Vale. Her father Christopher is a photographer, and her mother Louise works in bank internal communications. Her mother’s family, the Fawkner-Corbetts, were landed gentry with military and medical ties, and her great-uncle Arnold Ridley was a playwright and actor. As a child, her favorite film was Matilda, and she followed the Harry Potter series. She earned a scholarship to Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, attending from ages nine to eighteen. She later studied classical civilisation at Birkbeck, University of London, but left to pursue acting. Before landing her role in Star Wars, she spent over a year bartending at two London pubs. In 2016, she began an online BA in social science with the Open University.
Career
Ridley began her career with minor roles in television programmes including Youngers, Toast of London, Silent Witness, Mr Selfridge, and Casualty. She appeared in the short film Blue Season and played the lead in film three of Lifesaver, an interactive film nominated for a BAFTA Award. She also appeared in the music video for Wiley's song 'Lights On'. Her film debut was in the 2015 horror film Scrawl, after her scenes from The Inbetweeners 2 were removed. In April 2014, her casting as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was announced; she had been cast in February 2014. At the time, she was described as a 'total unknown'. She began filming in May 2014 at Pinewood Studios. The film became the highest-grossing film of 2015 with over $2 billion in international revenues. Her performance received critical acclaim. She became executive producer of the documentary The Eagle Huntress in January 2016 and recorded narration for its wide release. She performed on Barbra Streisand's 2016 album Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway, singing 'At the Ballet' with Anne Hathaway and Streisand.
Personal life
Daisy Ridley lives in Primrose Hill, London. She has been with actor Tom Bateman since they met while filming Murder on the Orient Express in 2017, and she confirmed their marriage in January 2023. At age fifteen, Ridley was diagnosed with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, which led to several laparoscopic surgeries; she has said the resulting acne hurt her self-confidence. In 2023, she learned she has Graves’ disease, experiencing a fast heartbeat, weight loss, and tiredness. She has been vegan since at least 2017 and cut out gluten after the Graves’ diagnosis. After posting an anti-gun violence message following the 2016 Teen Choice Awards, she faced criticism over violence in her Star Wars roles, deleted her social media accounts, and later called social media “highly unhealthy for people’s mental health.” She returned to Instagram in April 2022 with a post about self-care, calling it her “Year of Yes.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Daisy Ridley born?
Daisy Ridley was born on 10 April 1992 in London, England.
When was Daisy Ridley active?
Daisy Ridley has been active since 2013.
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