5 reasons we love Daisy Ridley aka Rey
By Buckie Wells
On April 10, Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley turns 26. From her choice in music to her sense of humor, here are a couple of reasons why we love her.
Although it’s hard to imagine that it’s been about three years since Star Wars: The Force Awakens took over pop culture, Hollywood has been a lot more interesting since Daisy Ridley came around. After Star Wars, she’s starred in Murder on the Orient Express in addition to voicing characters in both Peter Rabbit and Only Yesterday.
Now that it’s her birthday and we can’t celebrate with her in person, we’ve come up with a few reasons why we love her.
1. She’s funny
Perhaps one of the best interviews of all time (that could probably be attributed to delirium caused from lack of sleep anyway), it seems like the cast of Murder on the Orient Express had a lot of fun on set. Sitting alongside comedian Josh Gad, Ridley showed us her funny side throughout the entire press tour.
Since her other two big press tours centered around The Force Awakens (before people really caught on) and The Last Jedi (which didn’t have the same tone), it was nice to see a lighter side of her. Plus, the combination of Gad and Ridley makes us really excited for their Netflix film, too.
2. She sees the good in people
During Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘s press tour, Daisy Ridley spoke about the challenges Rey may face in the new film. When the interviewer asked Ridley about some of Rey’s flaws, she responded:
"I don’t think of people in terms of flaws. […] People go to the hairdresser to get their hair done. They go to the gym to get their bodies done. You can always work on your stuff, just if you can’t see it. You can work on jealousy or anger. Or whatever it is. So, I don’t think that’s a flaw. I think it’s ‘room for growth.’"
Everybody has something they can work on. However, most people consider things like that as negative traits. As far as Ridley is concerned, that would only be so if you let it worsen instead of trying to work on it. Obviously, we should all try to adopt this positive outlook as well to help brighten our lives.
3. She’s smart and quick-witted
Smart people are some of the best people. And though Daisy Ridley probably doesn’t consider herself a major nerd by any means, she does love a good book. During her Vogue cover shoot, she revealed she was reading Elena Ferrante. Additionally, she also said she was reading through all the classics, thanks to a little help from her mom.
To show off even more, Ridley isn’t relying on Star Wars fame or money for the rest of her life. In fact, she re-enrolled in school. According to the Guardian, “she has also enrolled on a social sciences degree and has spoken about her interest in psychology and ccounseling”
4. She’s an advocate for mental health
In the age of technology, it’s really easy to get swept up in the craziness of social media. After all, social media platforms are the easiest way for people to stay connected. However, it can also be detrimental to anyone who puts pressure on themselves to present their lives in a certain way.
In an interview with the Radio Times, she explained:
"I don’t do social any more. I came off it last September and I will never get back on. The more I read about teenage anxiety, the more I think it’s highly unhealthy for people’s mental health. It’s such a weird thing for young people to look at distorted images of things they should be."
Plus, she remains pretty open about the pressures of being in the Star Wars spotlight. She also told Vanity Fair that she started going to therapy to deal with anxiety. Like any of us, Ridley understands the importance of taking time for yourself, too.
5. She’s got a great taste in music
While she can rap Eminem and loves Rhianna’s personal style, Daisy Ridley has a great taste in music across the board.
She already lives under the Disney umbrella as a Star Wars star. But she also loves a good Disney soundtrack. In order to get herself ready for shooting, she listens to “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan.
"I just really love that song, and it makes me feel empowered. There are days when you feel tired and you need to get the energy up, and that’s when I would listen to it."
Obviously, Rey and Mulan may have a lot in common, especially when it comes to doing the right thing.
And if that’s not cool enough, she’s also a singer herself. Last year, she joined Barbra Streisand on Anne Hathaway on “At the Ballet,” a cover of the iconic song from the musical, A Chorus Line.
Next: Women to Admire: Daisy Ridley
So, those are just a few reasons to love Daisy Ridley. And believe us, there’s plenty more! What are some of the things you really love about the actress? Let us know in the comments below.
And, of course, happy birthday to Daisy Ridley!