When Daisy Ridley took on the role of Rey in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” it kicked off her career, turning her into a globally recognisable face overnight.
With it, however, also came the glare of scrutiny not just from the global media but also from “Star Wars” fandom – one that initially seemed to celebrate the release of the first of the sequel trilogy of films.
Then in 2016, she posted a message in support of victims affected by gun violence and received such backlash she quit social media for six years to protect her privacy.
The toxic side of the fandom had begun to emerge, and in the wake of the release of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, it was on full display with the months of online hate that Ridley’s co-star Kelly Marie Tran received on social media (which saw her leave those platforms).
To this day it will rear its head on occasion, such as with some of the vitriolic reaction actress Moses Ingram received for her role in the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” mini-series. That got bad enough her co-stars, like Ewan McGregor, issued video messages telling off the trolls.
Years removed from the franchise, Ridley appeared at Sundance this week where Variety asked her on any advice for female actors joining the “Star Wars” universe, such as Amandla Stenberg who is currently filming the “Star Wars: The Acolyte” series?
“The world is a crazy place. It’s important to tune out the stuff. Not just with ‘Star Wars,’ but with everything, you try and be in the moment and enjoy what it is because life moves quickly.
Amandla Stenberg can handle herself. She’s been working for a long time. I sat next to someone at the ‘Wakanda Forever’ premiere, an executive, and they said [‘The Acolyte’] is amazing.
Everyone knows how things are and how they can be. We’re all living in that, with people saying more than they need to and commenting more than they need to. It’s so individual. Find the good in it all and enjoy it.”
Ridley appears at Sundance this year with her film “Sometimes I Think About Dying” about a depressed cubicle worker inspired to change her life by a new office mate.
