Two years after the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, It's a bit crazy to think about how barely anyone used to know who Daisy Ridley was. Fast forward to 2017 and Ridley's star has blown up massively, having filmed roles in numerous upcoming A-list movies such as Ophelia, Murder on the Orient Express, and, of course, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Aside from her own talents, the all-consuming might of Star Wars deserves some credit for her rapid rise to prominence. The Force Awakens was a big get for Ridley and the film's director J.J. Abrams made sure that she was prepared for what was to come, telling the actress when she was considering taking the part,
Understand the scale. This is not a role in a movie. This is a religion for people. It changes things on a level that is inconceivable.
To say that people love Star Wars is a bit of an understatement. The franchise has long since risen above being a simple movie series as we've woven it into the DNA of our culture. As an actress who had never even been in a movie before, that's a pretty massive undertaking, which is exactly what Daisy Ridley had to deal with. In an in-depth interview with Vogue, Ridley admitted that she was not ready for how life-changing her casting in The Force Awakens was (who would be?). When she was first cast as Rey, J.J. Abrams warned Ridley about the scale of what she had just signed up for. Despite the fact that the movies basically had actual space teddy bears at one point, people tend to take Star Wars very seriously and Ridley soon found herself at the center of that scrutiny.
In the two years since Daisy Ridley first played the desert scavenger Rey, she's definitely seen a boon in her career. In less than a month, she's got Murder on the Orient Express releasing in theaters, in which she plays the governess Mary Debenham. The movie features an all-star cast that includes Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, Willem Dafoe, Penelope Cruz, and Johnny Depp. Ridley is also currently in the middle of shooting what could be the start of her second franchise, Chaos Walking. She stars in the sci-fi thriller alongside Spider-Man: Homecoming's Tom Holland, who also happens to know a thing or two about life-changing roles. Ridley has had no shortage of projects since she first made her mainstream debut.
Daisy Ridley will feed the Star Wars monster once again by starring in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, one of if not the most anticipated movie of the year, dare I say. The sequel will pick up where The Force Awakens left off, with Rey beginning her training under a reluctant Luke Skywalker, who has turned away from the galaxy following his failure to prevent his nephew from turning to the dark side. Hopefully, as the films move forward, the actress can continue to handle her massive fame with grace. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set to hit theaters on December 15, 2017, and you can pre-order your tickets right here. Until then, keep up to date with the movie with our comprehensive guide.
