We continue our latest series of examining some of the works outside the saga of some of our most beloved actors in a galaxy far, far away.
Today we continue with the leading lady of the sequel trilogy – Daisy Ridley.
Daisy Ridley was born on 10th April 1992 in Westminster, London. Whilst still in her childhood years, at the age of nine, Ridley won a scholarship for the Tring Academy of Performing Arts. While taking on minor roles in television and film, Ridley worked as a bartender for almost two years before finally being discovered for Star Wars. Ridley is married to actor Tom Bateman.
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Kenneth Branagh starred in the title role and also directed this big screen adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel. Branagh (who at one point could have been our prequel Obi-Wan) leads an impressive ensemble here with Judi Dench, Tom Bateman, Willem Dafoe, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi and Johnny Depp. The story follows world-renowned detective Poirot as he investigates a murder on the Orient Express. With the age of streaming now on the rise, in retrospect it’s easy to see that if this project were greenlit today, it most likely would have been an eight-episode streaming limited series. Having said this, however, it doesn’t take away from the production values, cinematography and the fun the cast is clearly having. Two sequels followed and this is perfect winter night viewing.
The Marsh King’s Daughter (2023)
This psychological thriller found handsome audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes and stars Daisy Ridley and fellow Star Wars alumnus Ben Mendelsohn as her father. The story follows that of Ridley who must venture deep into the Michigan wilderness to confront her father, the infamous Marsh King, who has recently escaped prison. Her father kept her captive for years in the wild and the two battle their inner turmoil and trauma to come to terms with each other. It’s part family drama, part thriller and works thanks to the two lead performances. Though the film stumbled at the box office, it did find a life on streaming and can be found on Amazon Prime now.
Sometimes I Think About Dying (2024)
In this small drama Ridley stars as Fran, a lonely office worker, who spends most of her free time thinking of death and especially her own death. This all changes, however, when a new co-worker changes her life. Ridley really pushed herself dramatically here with the sort of role that if she keeps going is worthy of big award nominations. The made its debut at Sundance in 2023 and was picked up for distribution globally in 2024. The film won rave reviews across the board and Ridley was hailed for having delivered the best performance of her career thus far. If you’re after a pallate cleanser from blockbuster after blockbuster then look no further.
Chaos Walking (2021)
What do you get if you put Rey, Spider-Man and Galen Erso in a film together? Well, you get this science fiction thriller called Chaos Walking. The story follows Tom Holland who lives in a dystopian world where there are no women, and all of the other men can ‘hear’ one’s thoughts through a stream of images of the mind. When Daisy Ridley’s character crash lands on the planet, it’s up to Holland’s character to save her. The film was pushed back from 2019 due to reshoots and then the covid lockdowns pushed it back even further. It found a home on streaming and if you enjoy the film, you can find the book series of the same name.
Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
Daisy Ridley also served as an executive producer in this true story that follows competitive swimmer, Gertrude Ederle, who became the first American woman to swim across the English Channel. The film was originally meant to be a straight to Disney+ feature but after positive test screenings from audiences the film had a limited theatrical release. The release tied into the summer Olympics held earlier this year and won wave reviews across the board with critics hailing Ridley’s performance as a masterclass and her finest to date. The film also holds an impressive 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and The New York Times marvelled that the film is ‘the way movies are supposed to be made.’
Ridley will next be seen in the survival thriller We Bury The Dead and the action thriller Cleaner, both set for release next year. If all rumours and reports are to be believed also, then Ridley’s future is very much in the Star Wars universe with her return as Rey set for multiple films from Lucasfilm.