Daisy Ridley ‘overwhelmed’ by lead role in Star Wars
British actress Daisy Ridley, 23, is set to enjoy galactic success as the breakout star in the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which has just opened. Here, Ridley answers a few questions.
How do you feel now that the new Star Wars is finally out and that you are set to become a mega star?
I’m feeling very odd. I’m nervous for people to see it. I’m excited for people to see it. I feel many many things.
I’ll never be used to that type of phenomenon. And yes it can be overwhelming, this is a huge part of my life now.
I am making sure that what is important in my life stays important.
One of my favourite things is to walk around London. Maybe three people have recognised me in the street in the past year, so we’re all good. I understand that I’ll be more recognisable but people in London have their own stuff going on.
Do you understand the StarWars phenomenon?
Not really no. You could say it’s the themes, it’s the force it’s the lightsaber. There’s just something in this that touches people and I don’t think you can summarise that. Whatever it is that George Lucas did, it made magic.
How difficult was it to maintain the secret around the new movie?
I told my mum, ‘you can’t tell anyone else because I haven’t told anyone else’.
That was difficult, because for three months I couldn’t tell anyone I was cast. I had been working in a pub and I had stopped. So people were like, ‘What are you doing every day?’, or, ‘Why are you so muscly?’. My family and friends aren’t huge fans, so they don’t ask anything.
Whatever I say will not describe the amazing visual storytelling that The Force Awakens is.
Do you recall when you first met Star Wars director J.J. Abrams?
I auditioned five times over several months. My first few auditions I felt like I was not good at all. The last one I had just a day to learn five scenes.
It was the first time the scenes they gave me were from the film, and something clicked.
It went fantastic. At the end of that week, he told me I was chosen and I started training.