Daisy Ridley’s rise to fame has been extraordinary. From her breakout role as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy to her work in indie dramas and voice acting, the 34-year-old has consistently demonstrated an ability to combine intensity with charm.
Yet despite having been a notable face on the film circuit for the past 12 years, Ridley’s upcoming project, The Last Resort, a romantic comedy, no less, slated for 2027, marks what might be considered a new chapter.
The film explores themes of isolation, resilience, and unexpected human connection, and Ridley has described her role as one of the most challenging and rewarding she’s taken on to date.
STRIPLV: What’s the premise behind The Last Resort? RIDLEY: I travel to the Philippines for a resort location scouting. When I get there, I meet an airline pilot called Ben, who is played by the brilliant Alden Ehrenreich. What then develops is a romantic tussle and the concept of sliding doors, do people grasp love, or does the moment pass them by? It’s a romcom at heart, but it’s cleverly done, and there was a lot in the story that I really like and, to a certain extent, resonated with me. STRIPLV: This seems like a very different kind of story for you. What drew you to this project? RIDLEY: Aside from the brilliant script, it hit me on a human level. We all want to fall in love and find the right person, and it should be a celebration, because it’s special. So special. STRIPLV: What’s your favorite romantic comedy? RIDLEY: For me, Love Actually is the ultimate. I still watch it every Christmas without fail. I remember the first time I saw it, I was about 11 or 12, and it felt like the most grown-up film in the world because you’ve got all these different threads of love stories and heartbreak, and yet it’s so warm and funny. And every time I watch it now, I notice something new. Like the quiet heartbreak of Emma Thompson’s character listening to Joni Mitchell, or the absolute joy of Bill Nighy doing that ridiculous Christmas single. It’s all those little moments stitched together. I’ll happily admit I cry every single time Andrew Lincoln turns up with the cue cards at Keira Knightley’s door, it’s become almost a ritual at this point. So stepping into The Last Resort was surreal in a way, because I kept thinking, “Oh my God, I actually get to be part of the kind of film I’ve been watching on repeat for years.” It was terrifying because romcoms rely so much on charm and chemistry, but it was also a dream. The best romcoms, like Love Actually, balance humor with something a little raw and real, and that’s what we tried to capture, too. STRIPLV: Regardless of it being a romantic comedy, how does it feel returning to drama after projects like Star Wars? RIDLEY: It’s refreshing. Star Wars was incredible and taught me a lot about film production at a massive scale, but smaller, character-driven projects allow for a different kind of exploration. You can linger in moments, take risks, and explore the nuances that sometimes get lost in bigger productions. STRIPLV: How do you balance the demands of a global acting career with personal life? RIDLEY: It’s a constant juggling act, but I try to maintain routines and protect private time. I am a normal person – I like cooking, reading, spending time with close friends and family. That helps me stay centered. I’m lucky that I’m not one of those actors that the press are absolutely obsessed with, and that works for me! They only seem interested in me to an extent. I think what works for me is that I’ll come in, do some work, and disappear off again for a while. I don’t like to court press attention, and I live quite a simple, honest life. I’m not trying to endorse products here and there, and I’d rather stay away from photographers rather than parade around in front of them. I tend to find the more you invite it, the more it invites itself, and that’s not really me.
STRIPLV: What work are you most proud of so far? RIDLEY: I think the quality of your work, ultimately, is for others to judge. I know that sounds strange, but it is the public who really and truly decides if something is good or not. On a personal level, I was in a film version of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet called Ophelia, which focuses on the rebellious, motherless child, who is taken in by Queen Gertrude. When I was filming it, my parents were on set, and it was the scene where Ophelia finds her father, Polonius, dying. Because my dad was there at the time, I found that quite weird. They were also on the set of Chaos Walking, where I was filming another scene, and this time, you’ve guessed it, I was talking about the death of both of my parents. That was really upsetting when I was thinking about it, as it obviously would be. But they cut it out, and I felt that it was the best acting that I had ever done, because it was almost method acting. The funniest thing is that my dad was happy to see some “proper acting”, which confused me a little! My mum hadn’t even stayed around in Prague during the Ophelia filming; she had gone back to the hotel. STRIPLV: How has fame changed the way you approach your career? RIDLEY: Fame wasn’t something I was remotely prepared for. One day, I was living in London, doing auditions and part-time jobs, and then suddenly I was Rey. Overnight, people were asking me to carry this huge cultural legacy. That was both thrilling and daunting, but you almost go into a state of autopilot. I remember my friends asking me if I was still going to be mates with them because my life was taking off in this strange way, and that seemed like a weird thing to ask, because they will always be my friends, but it was like a cultural change of everything I had ever known to be true. So fame hasn’t changed who I am; what it has done, though, is make me more careful about the choices I make. Early on, I probably said yes to things just because they were there, because I thought, “This is what you’re meant to do now.” But I’ve realized visibility is not the same as longevity, and for me it’s more important to feel challenged and excited by a role than to simply stay in the spotlight. Working on smaller, more intimate projects after Star Wars reminded me why I love acting in the first place – it’s for the storytelling, the craft, the community. So fame has sharpened my instincts, I suppose, and forced me to be more deliberate about what matters. STRIPLV: How do you maintain authenticity in interviews and public appearances? RIDLEY: Honestly, I’ve made mistakes. In the beginning, I tried very hard to say the ‘right’ things, because I was terrified of upsetting people or being misunderstood. And of course, the internet has a way of magnifying any misstep. At some point, though, I realized audiences are much more forgiving if you’re simply yourself. I remember doing a press junket on a panel for whatever film, and I got completely flustered and rambled on about something silly, and afterward a fan came up to me and said, “That was my favorite part, because it was so real.” That really stuck with me. So now, I try not to overthink it. If I’m nervous, I’ll say I’m nervous. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll admit it. People can smell inauthenticity a mile away, and I’d rather be awkward and genuine than polished and false. STRIPLV: Looking back at your journey from London to global recognition, what stands out most? RIDLEY: It’s the little moments, not the big premieres or magazine covers. I think back to my first day walking onto the Star Wars set, I was in Abu Dhabi, standing in the desert, surrounded by a crew that seemed to number in the hundreds. I remember feeling absolutely tiny, but also a rush of “Okay, I’m meant to be here.” It’s that sense of being part of something massive yet deeply personal that has stayed with me. Growing up in London, I never imagined this trajectory. I went to a performing arts school but assumed I’d be auditioning for theatre, maybe the odd TV role. The fact that one audition turned into a global franchise is surreal, and it’s taught me to stay humble because so much of this business is timing and luck. And honestly, what stands out most are the people I’ve met along the way, friends, mentors, crew members, the relationships are what last, long after the press tours are over. STRIPLV: Looking ahead, what sorts of roles are you hoping to explore? RIDLEY: I want to keep surprising myself. I’ve done big-scale sci-fi and action, and I’ve dipped into intimate indie dramas, but there’s so much I haven’t explored yet. Comedy, for instance, that’s why The Last Resort has been so much a breath of fresh air, the chance to switch to other romcom projects, maybe. It’s fun to make a fool of yourself from time to time as well; in fact, it’s important to! And theater has always been at the back of my mind. The immediacy of being on stage, with no safety net, is terrifying and exciting. I’m also fascinated by stories that are morally complex, and I will always be, I think, so maybe that’s a route to look further into.
THREE TIMES RIDLEY REUNITED WITH STAR WARS LEGENDS For Daisy Ridley, the galaxy is one that keeps coming back
ONE - Working with Mark Hamill again in the animated series Star Wars: Forces of Destiny.
TWO - Voicing Rey alongside Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) in various Lego Star Wars specials.
THREE - Re-teaming with Adam Driver on press circuits and campaigns that showcased their enduring on-screen chemistry. The pair are known close pals who have been seen eating and shopping together.