Daisy Ridley's Nervous First Time as Rey in Star Wars

The First Readthrough and Rehearsal

Daisy Ridley, known for her role as Rey in the sequel Star Wars trilogy, recently revealed details of the first script readthrough she did with Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. Ridley starred in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, and was the focal point of the entire sequel trilogy.

Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker

In a recent interview with AlloCiné while on a press tour for her upcoming movie Sometimes I Think About Dying, Ridley spoke about her first readthrough with the stars of the original trilogy and how she reacted to being around them. She also noted how nervous she was about the readthrough, the role, the secrecy of the film's announcement, and how those nerves affected her performance.

After the readthrough, me and John [Boyega] went to rehearse with J.J. [Abrams] because J.J. was like, 'that was not great.' So we literally had to go and rehearse straight away, because the nerves were so strong. But yes, I was very happy, just sat there between Harrison [Ford] and Carrie [Fisher].

Ridley laughed at remembering the readthrough and subsequent rehearsal, and as she said later in the interview, she enjoyed her time working on Star Wars: 'I loved making all three films, and I'm very happy to get to do it again.' Daisy Ridley had some fantastic moments as Rey in Star Wars, and while her initial nerves were justified, she clearly overcame them in time for her on-camera performance.

The Pressure of Playing Rey

Playing the lead role in a trilogy as huge and beloved as Star Wars is a daunting task, so Ridley's nervousness was certainly understandable. The monumental task of leading the franchise's first return to movies in a decade would be enough to make anyone nervous, but reading through the script in front of stars like Ford and Fisher would have made her nerves even worse. Even with their huge legacy, the three became close on set, and Ridley still thinks of them fondly.

Another source of anxiety while working on a Star Wars movie is how the most dedicated of fans will receive a new entry in the series. Ridley spoke about how the sequel trilogy and Rey's importance to the story received intense criticism from fans, which justified her nervousness even further. Ridley spoke about how she handled that backlash and the mental and emotional toll it took on her. She said that she was able to use the COVID-19 lockdown to process her emotions and be ready for her next Star Wars movie.

Ridley was understandably nervous during her initial Star Wars readthrough, as she was doing it in front of Han Solo and Leia Organa. While they took a toll on her initial performance, Ridley more than stepped up for her role as Rey in the sequel movies. The criticism she received for her time as Rey in Star Wars had an emotional impact on her, but she has shown that she is excited and ready to return to the galaxy far, far away.

Looking Forward to the Future

Daisy Ridley's nervousness during her initial Star Wars readthrough was understandable, considering the magnitude of the role and the presence of iconic stars. However, it's clear that she overcame her nerves and delivered a remarkable performance as Rey in the sequel trilogy. Her openness about the emotional toll of the criticism she received shows her resilience and determination. As she looks forward to reprising her role as Rey in the upcoming Star Wars: New Jedi Order movie, fans can expect to see her wield a lightsaber once again, with renewed confidence and enthusiasm.