Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley is an English actress who rose to international prominence by playing the role of Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy: "The Force Awakens," "The Last Jedi," and "The Rise of Skywalker." She has also featured as the title character of the romantic drama "Ophelia," appeared in the mystery film "Murder on the Orient Express," and lent her voice to the animated "Peter Rabbit." Beyond this, she has contributed her voice to video games, such as "Twelve Minutes," and was also involved in the theme park attraction, "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance" at Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2019.

Ridley began her career with minor roles in the television programs "Youngers," "Toast of London," "Silent Witness," "Mr Selfridge," and "Casualty." Ridley made her film debut in the 2015 British independent horror film "Scrawl." During her career, she has taken on various types of roles, including leading roles in the dystopian sci-fi "Chaos Walking," the independent drama "Sometimes I Think About Dying," and the psychological thriller "The Marsh King's Daughter." She also portrayed Gertrude Ederle in the 2024 biographical drama "Young Woman and the Sea."

In April 2014, the casting of Ridley as Rey, one of the lead characters in "The Force Awakens," was announced. At the time of her casting, she was, according to Rolling Stone, a "total unknown." Her choice by director J. J. Abrams was seen as a repeat of George Lucas' move of casting relatively unknown actors for the lead roles in the first Star Wars film in 1977. Ridley reprised her role as Rey in "The Rise of Skywalker" (2019), and it is reported that she will return to the role in an upcoming, untitled Star Wars film.

Ridley has been recognized with various award nominations, including the MTV Movie Awards, Saturn Awards, and Teen Choice Awards, and has won the Outstanding Acting Performance award at the Zed Fest Film Festival in 2015 and the Empire Awards for Best Female Newcomer in 2016.