Daisy Ridley Says She Had to Make 'the First Two “Star Wars” Films to Feel Worthy' of Being in Franchise

Ridley plays the role of Rey in the 'Star Wars' franchise

Daisy Ridley is opening up about being in the Star Wars movie franchise.

The actress, 31, who played Rey in the sequel trilogy's The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, revealed ahead of her new Star Wars movie that she only felt worthy of being in the franchise after the first two installments.

Asked if it would feel weird to appear in Star Wars without costars Adam Driver, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac, Ridley told Variety, “No, because I don’t know what is what or who is who [in the new movie].”

“So much has happened for me [since the Skywalker saga]. I feel like a grown-up now,” she added. “When I first started, I was, like, 20. I was the youngest on set. It took me the first two Star Wars films to feel worthy of being there.”

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“Now I’m in my 30s. The whole thing feels quite different,” Ridley told the outlet. “I’ve been able to work with other filmmakers, and hopefully, I’ve got better as a performer.”

First announced in April 2023 during the Star Wars Celebration in London, the new movie will follow the events of 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker with Ridley reprising her role as Rey as she builds a new Jedi Order.

The untitled film will be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel).

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“I’m excited to do the job, but not because Sharmeen is a woman,” Ridley told Variety after she was asked about the film franchise’s first female filmmaker. (The upcoming Acolyte series was created by director Leslye Headland while Bryce Dallas Howard and Deborah Chow have helmed various episodes of the growing number of live-action Star Wars TV shows.)

“Her documentaries are amazing. Her idea for the story is cool as s---,” Ridley continued, while teasing that the director “gave me a rundown of the entire story.” The actress then quipped, “If it weren’t amazing, I would have been like, ‘OK, call me in five years.’ But it’s worthwhile.”

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