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Daisy Ridley Recalls Director J.J. Abrams’ Advice After Star Wars Casting: “This Is a Religion for People”

Ridley battled intense anxiety during the release of 'The Last Jedi,' eventually leading to the development of holes in her gut.

Daisy Ridley recalled director J.J Abrams’ words of wisdom following her casting in 2015’s The Force Awakens, saying this week that he told her to “understand the scale” of the film franchise before accepting the lead role. Ridley played protagonist Rey in The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi(2017) and The Rise of Skywalker(2019), leading the Star Wars films through their first years following Disney’s acquisition of the George Lucas universe. Abrams, Ridley says, was right: Star Wars changed her life, launching her status as a celebrity and pushing her to the forefront of an extremely passionate fan base.

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