Daisy Ridley is known for her role as Rey in the Star Wars franchise.
And now, the British actress, 31, has revealed she suffered so much anxiety while filming some of the films, on top of stress and exhaustion, that she developed holes in her stomach wall.
The star, who also suffers from endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, told Inverse that when she was first cast in the role for 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, director J. J. Abrams told her to “understand the scale” of the film franchise.
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“This is not a role in a movie. This is a religion for people. It changes things on a level that is inconceivable,” he reportedly told her.
“When all of the craziness was going on, I was like, ‘I’m good. I’m good. I’m coping fine. Everything’s fine.’ And I was fine, for the most part. But I think what I was really grappling with was that it was my normal, but it was not normal to other people,” she explained.
She reportedly developed holes in her stomach wall by the time The Last Jedi came out in 2017.
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Ridley said that having a short break before filming The Rise of Skywalker and then the covid-19 lockdowns hit, helped her immensely.
“After the last Star Wars came out and everything was quiet, I was like, ‘What the f–k?’… I was grieving.”
She added: “I realised there was a lot that I hadn’t processed properly.”
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Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is set to direct a new Star Wars film, which will reportedly be released in 2026, and Ridley will reprise her role as Rey.
She told Variety that she’s looking forward to working on the film.
“I’m excited to do the job, but not because Sharmeen is a woman. Her documentaries are amazing. Her idea for the story is cool as s–t,” she explained.
“No spoilers, but she gave me a rundown of the entire story. If it weren’t amazing, I would have been like, “OK, call me in five years.” But it’s worthwhile.”
Ridley meanwhile, has previously been open about her experience with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in the hope that she can educate others.
The actress has urged her followers to take responsibility for their own health.
“To any of you who are suffering with anything, go to a doctor,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Keep on top of how your body is feeling and don’t worry about sounding like a hypochondriac. From your head to the tips of your toes we only have one body, let us all make sure ours are working in tip top condition, and take help if it’s needed.”
Ridley is also known for Peter Rabbit and Ophelia.