The Unforgettable Moments of Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars

Rey's Witty Comeback on the Millennium Falcon

One of Daisy Ridley's best lines comes at the expense of a very familiar ship. As she and Finn flee Jakku with BB-8, they are redirected from a smaller, sleeker-looking ship that gets destroyed to the Millennium Falcon, and Ridley's delivery of the line is perfect. Finn points to the Falcon as an option, and Rey says the ship is 'garbage.' When it becomes their only option, however, Rey changes her tune and says, 'The garbage will do.' Rey is still pretty new to the audience at this point in the film, and she's spoken very little; this is a great peek at her personality, which is charmingly dry.

Rey, Finn, and BB-8 in The Force Awakens

Rey's tag team with Finn on the Millennium Falcon showcases her playful and charmingly dry personality, setting the stage for her remarkable journey as a Jedi.

Finn in The Force Awakens

Rey's Hilarious Frustration on the Millennium Falcon

In a delightful scene on the Millennium Falcon, Rey directs Finn to different tools she needs, but he is completely lost. Rey gets increasingly frustrated with him, shouting, 'No! No! The one I'm pointing to. No! No!' It's a precious moment between the two, and it's one of Rey's funnier scenes.

Rey Frustrated With Finn

Rey's frustration with Finn on the Millennium Falcon highlights her endearing and humorous interactions, adding depth to her character.

Rey Frustrated

Rey's Comedic Interactions with the Ahch-To Caretakers

Throughout her stay on the island, Rey accidentally does damage to the Caretakers' home, causing them increasing annoyance. It's a much-needed comedic break in the otherwise heavier movie.

Rey in The Last Jedi

Rey's constant irritation of the Ahch-To Caretakers provides a lighthearted touch to the darker tone of The Last Jedi, showcasing her relatable and playful nature.

Kylo Ren and Rey touch Hands in The Last Jedi

Rey's Emotional Connection with Kylo Ren

As well as Daisy Ridley does dry humor, she does emotionally-charged scenes even better. One of the best examples of this comes in The Last Jedi, during Rey and Kylo's Force bond. Rey expresses that she has never felt so alone, and Kylo replies, 'You're not alone.' The two then share a silent but meaningful moment, reaching out through their bond to touch hands.

Kylo and Rey Hands

Rey's connection with Kylo Ren in the Ahch-To hut reveals the complexity of their relationship and showcases Daisy Ridley's ability to convey deep emotions with authenticity.

Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi

Rey's Fearless Display of Force Powers

On Kylo Ren's ship, Rey is restrained and subjected to Kylo's mind-probing Force abilities. Although she has had minimal contact with this type of evil, she responds to the terrifying situation with bravery and bite. Daisy Ridley executes this perfectly in her delivery of the line, 'You're afraid... that you'll never be as strong as Darth Vader.' This is a great moment, not only because it shows Ridley's (and Rey's) ferocity, but also because it reveals a deep truth about Kylo Ren.

Kylo and Rey Hands Close Up

Daisy Ridley's ferocious portrayal of Rey's fearless display of Force powers in The Force Awakens highlights her strength and determination, setting the stage for her remarkable journey as a Jedi.

Rey in The Force Awakens

Rey's Courageous Battle Cry

Having certainly stepped up her confidence at this point in the trilogy, in The Last Jedi, Rey engages the Elite Praetorian Guard in a battle alongside Kylo Ren after he kills his master, Snoke. Before charging one guard in particular, Daisy Ridley releases a feral growl that shows a very different side of Rey.

Leia and Rey in The Rise of Skywalker

Rey's battle cry when fighting the Elite Praetorian Guard showcases her courage and determination, adding depth to her character and leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

Rey and Leia in The Rise of Skywalker

Rey and Kylo Ren's Dynamic Team-Up

Perhaps the best scene between Kylo Ren and Rey throughout the trilogy takes place in Snoke's throne room, the same one where Daisy Ridley releases that guttural snarl. After Ren kills Snoke, the two jump into action, literally fighting back-to-back, and it's the first real lightsaber action Daisy Ridley gets to show off.

Leia Hugs Rey in The Rise of Skywalker

Rey's tag team with Kylo Ren in Snoke's throne room showcases her dynamic and intense partnership with Kylo, adding complexity to their relationship and leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Leia in The Rise of Skywalker

The Enigmatic Sith Rey

Of all the unused concepts in the sequel trilogy, the brief glimpse of Sith Rey, rather than her full realization, is perhaps the most disappointing. Dark Rey at first appears almost calm but then begins fighting with Rey, literally baring her (fanged) teeth. Daisy Ridley's performance as a Sith makes the sting of not getting more of this version of her even more painful.

Sith Rey The Rise of Skywalker

The enigmatic Sith Rey cameo in The Rise of Skywalker showcases Daisy Ridley's versatility and depth as an actress, leaving a lasting impression on the audience and igniting curiosity about the character's untapped potential.

Sith Rey and Jedi Rey

Daisy Ridley's Emotional Performance Opposite Carrie Fisher

To address what would have been a massive gap in the plot had Leia suddenly been absent in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker due to Fisher's death, Star Wars made the choice to use previously filmed clips and a few digital tricks to incorporate her as much as possible into the plot. The bulk of those scenes required Daisy Ridley to interact with a Leia who either wasn't there or was portrayed by someone else; this couldn't have been easy for Ridley in terms of acting or emotions.

Leia and Rey in The Rise of Skywalker

Daisy Ridley's emotional performance opposite an absent Carrie Fisher showcases her skill and dedication as an actress, adding depth and emotional resonance to the scenes and honoring Fisher's legacy.

Sith Rey with her red lightsaber in The Rise of Skywalker

Rey's Promising Return to Star Wars: New Jedi Order

Given the at times unpleasant treatment Daisy Ridley experienced after portraying Rey in Star Wars, her best moment as Rey to date is her willingness to return, reprise her role, and continue the Skywalker legacy. Her new film, New Jedi Order, is sure to show off even more of her strengths and perhaps knock some of these moments out of the running.

Rey Hugs Leia in The Rise of Skywalker

Rey's promising return to Star Wars in New Jedi Order showcases Daisy Ridley's resilience and commitment to the franchise, setting the stage for her future appearances and reigniting excitement among fans.