© 2026 ABC News

2 - She Was Relatively Unknown Before 'Star Wars'

Ridley's IMDB credits only date back to 2013. She had a small role in \"Mr Selfridge\" in 2014 and was in the film \"Scrawl\" the following year. Ridley was cast as Rey back in April 2014. Here she is with fellow newcomer and co-star John Boyega, who also steals the show in \"The Force Awakens.\"

FORCE FRIDAY!!! #forcefriday #starwars #theforceawakens @john_boyega thank you so much to all the amazing staff at @disneystore Oxford Street for making tonight so amazing!!!

A video posted by @daisyridley on Sep 3, 2015 at 4:56pm PDT

3 - She's Got a Great Voice

According to co-stars John Boyega and Oscar Isaac, Ridley sang the entire time the cast was on set. Fans got a taste two weeks ago when the 23-year-old posted a sweet duet with Isaac.

That time Oscar and I duetted... #dreamy

A video posted by @daisyridley on Dec 4, 2015 at 9:34pm PST

4 - Gym Rat

Ridley is not afraid to show off her hard work at the gym. On Instagram, she posted a montage video of her at the gym working abs, shoulders and her core.

No one ever said marching through the sands of Jakku was easy.

#motivationalmonday cause #fitnessfriday hasn't happened for a bit and today's workout was LEDGE! #gainz #swoldier #swolearmy #girlswholift #gymbants #topbants @gravzy12

A video posted by @daisyridley on Nov 30, 2015 at 9:50am PST

I was struggling today; there was a lot of 'I can't breathe, I'm gonna die' but @gravzy12 got me there in the end... #beastmode #gainzzzzzz #fitnessfriday #swole

A video posted by @daisyridley on Nov 6, 2015 at 4:14am PST

@gravzy12 wasn't available to train me today so I sorted out my own little lifting session #dench #gainz #fitnessfriday And if anyone is wondering the BEST burgers in London (I'll admit I haven't tried all of them, so let's say my FAVOURITE burgers in London are @honestburgers and no I haven't been paid to say that ??????)

A video posted by @daisyridley on Sep 18, 2015 at 9:50am PDT

5 - She's Definitely Grateful for 'Star Wars'

By now, everyone has seen the amazing video of Ridley breaking down when one of the movie's trailers. But let's take a look again, shall we?

Staying in a little b'n'b with my friend... Set an alarm to watch the trailer... My friend filmed my reaction. Totally emotional seeing it for the first time and so so so incredibly awed to be part of this incredible legacy #starwars #theforceawakens

A video posted by @daisyridley on Oct 19, 2015 at 8:06pm PDT

Also how have I never seen this before?! SO COOL! And for those of you asking, I know as much as you do! And I'm hoping for a trailer as much as you are EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'LL BE IN IT ?????? while you wait there's so much incredible cinema out and on the way; I saw Sicario a couple nights ago which was SO TENSE and brilliant (though not for children!!!) Macbeth, Carol, Suffragette, the list goes on of things I'm hoping to see soon. Anyone seen any good films lately that you can recommend?

A photo posted by @daisyridley on Oct 15, 2015 at 2:28pm PDT

I'm a stamp!!! ???????????????? #starwars #theforceawakens #johnhashtaggedoctober20thsoimguessingthatswhentheseareavailable ... THANKS ROYAL MAIL THIS IS SO COOL!!! ????????????

A photo posted by @daisyridley on Sep 12, 2015 at 1:22am PDT

\"Star Wars: The Force Awakens\" is produced by Lucasfilm, a subsidiary of Disney, which is the parent company of ABC News.

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/daisy-ridley-things-star-wars-force-awakens-star/story?id=35888216","legacySlug":"/culture/story/daisy-ridley-things-star-wars-force-awakens-star-35888216","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"16:58","publishDate":"12-21-2015","updatedTime":"17:54","updatedDate":"12-21-2015","socialImage":{"alt":"Daisy Ridley as Rey in \"Star Wars: The Force Awakens.\" ","credit":"Lucasfilm ","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/HT_Star_Wars_ridley_mm_151221_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"12/21/2015 16:58:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":35888216,"headline":"5 Things to Know About 'Star Wars' Daisy Ridley","mediaAssetTitle":"rothman_ridley_151221","description":"Everything you need to know about the rising star.","duration":"0:58","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/12/151202_gma_speed_feed_0749_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132306053","132266872","132055565"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 23, 2026","headline":"Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","section":"News","slug":"/video/132306053","id":"132306053","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 22, 2026","headline":"Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","section":"News","slug":"/video/132266872","id":"132266872","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"5 Things to Know About 'Star Wars' Daisy Ridley","description":"Everything you need to know about the rising star.","duration":"0:58","uploadDate":"12-21-2015","publication":"12-21-2015","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/12/151202_gma_speed_feed_0749_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2015/12/151202_gma_speed_feed_0749_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/daisy-ridley-things-star-wars-force-awakens-star-35888216"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132281378","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132283010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132273278","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132231169","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132206748","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132200241","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"5 Things to Know About 'Star Wars' Daisy Ridley","pubTime":"11:58","pubDate":"12-21-2015","modTime":"12:54","modDate":"12-21-2015","taxonomyTags":"none","id":35888216,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"5 Things to Know About 'Star Wars' Daisy Ridley","mediaAssetTitle":"rothman_ridley_151221","videoId":35888216,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/culture/story/daisy-ridley-things-star-wars-force-awakens-star-35888216"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/35888216","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/35888216","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};