Daisy Ridley
Appearances
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
He used to say to me, your eyes are so big. So I was watching something I did last year and my eyes are so massive. in the thing I took a picture and sent it to him, and he's literally sent me a birthday text with just like my eyes everywhere. That's funny. There was zero hesitation, no.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I was desperate for the role and had been waiting seven months from my first audition, so I was like, give me peace.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I said, I've got a job, so I'm going to have to go bye-byes. Really? Yeah, but then I didn't tell.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
They were like, what's wrong with you? Yeah, no, I was just like, oh, I just got a job. I have to go. And no one knew what was going on for a few months anyway. I didn't tell anyone but my family.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
By the way, it's a really gorgeous pub. It's right on the canal. It's right by Portobello.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
No, no, I wasn't allowed. And I took that very seriously. Right. I know John Boyega said he got in a cab and told the cabbie straight away, but I was like so scared to say anything. No, I told him my dad was asleep when I told him and he went, Jesus Christ. And I told my mom and sister when I walked in. Yeah. Yeah, and then I kept it secret.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, I made a movie with my husband called Magpie. And I had one day off shooting. And I was invited to breakfast with Kathy Kennedy. And I was like, sure. Because we occasionally take a meal together.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yes, head of Lucasfilm. Thanks, Sean. There you go. That's my sister. And I thought we were just having breakfast. And my friend was like, oh, imagine if they're doing another Rey thing. And I was like, I doubt it. And halfway through breakfast, she said, we are. How do you feel? And I was surprised. So cool. Yeah, it's very cool. Different writer, different director.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
And directing is Charmaine Oboid-Chenoy, who has made some unbelievable documentaries. And it's very exciting. And I shall be reading a script soon-ish.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I didn't know what to expect and everyone had made it out to be crazy, crazy, crazy. And obviously, as you all know, when things come out, there's a flurry of activity and then things sort of calm down again. So it was confronting because it was strange initially for people to... want to chat because I'm not that chatty. So I'd be like, um, and then it sort of goes away again.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I mean, one of my favorite things ever is me and John Williams are pen pals.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
That was crazy. I mean, so much of it was honestly overwhelmed at the beginning. I can't remember a large chunk of everything.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
But, I mean, even with filming, I can't remember, like, specifics. But also I had a group of people to sort of hold on to. And JJ, as you all know, is amazing and...
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, I have had no shame in asking anyone to put me in a musical. Like literally no shame. I've done it on national TV. It's going to happen. It's not happened yet. It will. No, the Barbara Streisand thing, which is another crazy thing. Occasionally I'm like, oh my God, that was JJ. JJ introduced the two of us. And initially I met her because she was meant to be doing Gypsy. Like the movie?
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yeah. Oh, wow. Yeah, so there was a potential of testing to be in it. Oh, wow. I went to her house and that was insane.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yeah. But I mean, just sat with her, I was like, wow, you are Barbara Streisand. That is, that sort of, you know, effervescence and power from someone is... Did you have to sing in front of her? Well, we sang together.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
It was so overwhelming. And that weekend I also presented. That was one of the craziest things. The film had come out.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
um it was all nuts and then uh i presented at the oscars with uh dev patel which was wonderful but the day before i'd recorded with barbra streisand and that weekend was one of those what the fuck is going on this is insane yeah um that was one of those weekends i had old tommy bateman do through all that oh we went together then
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I wish I could tell you about the actual Orient Express. I got freebies, but I gave it to my parents. So they've been and had the most amazing time.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I mean, it's unbelievable. You have to fully wear a suit to dinner or, you know, evening attire.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
No, I mean, as Brits. the American accent one thinks of with LA is the like, oh my God, like that is the thing. But I actually met my- That's really accurate.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I met my dialect coach through Tom Holland, who has been a guest on this show.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, his was so good. I was doing an English accent in that film that in lockdown, I was like, well, I want to use my time wisely. So I started just doing American accent lessons. And it served me well because I did three films with an American accent right after each other.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, the strangest thing was that I don't really have a process as such and I want to be one of those people that does. But with an American accent, it sort of does give you that because I have to sit down and go through the whole thing and have someone with me making sure I sound right. So it does feel like a process in a way.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
But I did two films in an English accent last year and thought, I cannot remember how to do this. And then I just did a film in an American accent and thought, I cannot fucking remember how to do this. So it's...
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
No, because I, and I think that's a COVID thing. I've only done one film with a dialect coach on set and she was doing everyone. Right. So usually I prep on the Sunday and then I do the week as is sort of alone, I suppose. And then ADR is obviously helpful.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Um, I do not lean on anyone and I've not worked with an acting coach. That's not to say I think I... You don't need it. I mean, I'm sure I do need it.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I like to be very... Um, I do all my thinking and all my work. And then I like to come and I'm quite a I don't I take my work very seriously. I do not take myself very seriously. So I like to I'm quite a messer about on set, I suppose. But I'm never like interrupting anyone else. And obviously, there are times where we can't do that. But I like to really just have a great time on set.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
uh well just the film we met on uh yeah there's that oh yeah but we were not together then so that so uh no and then he wrote the film we made last year but he was filming based on a true story and we were filming here and i i think that would have been very difficult for him to have been on set because i was acting and he was writing and i was like oh my god i think that would have made me very uh self-conscious so you guys are doing the movie together
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, another of your guests, Penelope Cruz, sort of takes credit for us being together.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yeah. It was sort of we were like best friends. That's how it starts. And then we were together. And then when we came back together for the premiere... Penelope, I'm not even going to try and do her accent, but she said, your connection was so strong.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Your connection was so strong. That's great. I'm so sorry for all the Spanish people.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
The thing is, it's not that crazy. Oh my God. We were just best friends and then we were together and now we're married. Who made the first move?
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
The prep for Young Woman in the Sea was I could not swim a full length when I first started swim training. And then three months later, I was plonked in the Black Sea for nine days while we filmed the swim. In fact, the two attempts that Trudy made.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So two and a half months swimming prep and then a shoot, which obviously was not all swimming, but a lot of swimming. And then ending with those nine days. So I was pretty... Tired after that.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Is that right, Sean? Oh, yeah, I literally came up halfway and was the first time and said, I don't think I can do this. But my swimming coach is also an Olympian. She won silver at Rio. So the whole time I was like, and now because we're friends, I introduced her as an Olympian. And every time she's like, can you just not? But she's so amazing.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Because she's so sweet and so modest. What's her name? Siobhan Marie O'Connor.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Also, she retired early because she got ill, and she was still swimming with her illness, so that's like a double whammy of unbelievable.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yes, and also I knew, you know, you get to set and you're like, well, this is what I signed up for. So I also didn't want to let anyone else down and I wanted to be able to do the thing.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
The Black Sea specialists told me that there were no sharks, but there were actual unexploded mines, which was... Is that true?
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
No, but there are jellyfish and there are mines. And we were told that where we were, the mines had been exploded. And that was not comforting.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
And each time it was really cold and very overwhelming because you're fighting against the current. And then I had to keep pace with the follow boat that's in the film. And then I had to keep pace with the camera boat that's on the other side. And also I was afraid of open water. It's Jerry Bruckheimer that produced the film.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
And I did say to the producers and the writer and director, I am afraid of open water. And I think they thought I was joking. But, like, I wasn't joking. So each time I got in, I had to...
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Because I really wanted to do the movie. Yeah, I mean, I did a film just before Christmas where I am a window cleaner. We were calling it Dyshark.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Diehard. Diehard. That's so good. What does that mean? Well, I have to fight my way into the building and save the day, a la Diehard. But yeah, I'm afraid of heights. And at that point, I thought, why do I keep doing this? But the roles are so good, you know? And it's a great time to overcome something. Yeah, I love that.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yeah, there were. And then, I mean, the scariest moment of Young Woman in the Sea was when we were flying home after wrap and the director, Joachim, said, so basically I would, after the shot was over, I would have to get on like a life raft and then the safety boat would grab the life raft and pull me to safety, essentially.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
And Joachim said, oh, there was a time where your leg was dragging right under the propeller and I thought your leg was going to be cut off.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, I guess it's better to know after the fact. Yeah, but no, it was all pretty scary.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I had a dinner with someone who's quite big in the film world. And he goes, your career is so interesting. And I was like... And at the time I thought, is that a good thing? But actually I am not someone who has planned things out. I just know what I like and I go with what's available and that I like. So I am sort of, I'm trying not to look sideways and doing my own thing.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, it was a comment, but it made me think, oh, I mean, should I be more strategic? And actually, I thought, no, because the stuff I've got to do has been very wide-ranging. Like sometimes I think about dying, we made an... 23 days with a tiny budget. And it was as enriching as Star Wars, which is, you know, many, many, many times that, both budget and filming wise.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
And actually, Ben Mendelsohn said something because I used to feel more, I suppose... Like it was my fault how something was going to perform or not. And Ben was like, we just do the work we do and then, you know, what more can you do?
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
This week I'm going to see, though it's supposed to be a surprise, Sarah Snook in Dorian Gray on Thursday. We won't tell her. We won't tell her. Okay, wow. I read, watch movies. We went to go see Monkey Man on… Oh, I want to see that.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
The action is sick. It's really an impressive film. Lots of hanging out. See my family a lot. See my nephews a lot.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Maybe. I know. I'm like, well, how am I thinking about that? I don't know. Just ask him. I'm obsessed with my nephews. Like, love them so much.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
They are, the little ones are two and a half and six months. And they're just delightful little squishy boys. I love that. So fun.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I would not have called myself a fan from before. No, I had seen some of them. And then when I was auditioning, I was like, oh, this is everywhere. And it was one of those things of suddenly there was... So you didn't know that before?
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
No, no, it was, I mean, I was aware of it. But you know, when you're auditioning for something, it is very present in your world. that it's there and you want the thing. And I remember seeing a Princess Leia t-shirt. I thought, oh, okay. And then every book I read, there was a reference. In every film I watched, there was a reference. So it was one of those things and then the love grew.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
But also I think that was good because I was… It's just, like, I was so wondrously happy to be there, but because I didn't quite understand how far-reaching it was.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I mean, the rap at the very end was... Someone has it recorded somewhere. I was crying so much, it was hilarious. I couldn't speak. I was going... I'm... I'm having such a good time. Like, I was one of those wailing people that was looking around at these wondrous people that had been there, you know, for 18 months of my life. Oh, my God. That was very emotional.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Because that January after we were all, oh, yeah. Yeah. The January after they were all done, it just felt so quiet. Like, you know, you just spend all your time with, and particularly on press tours when you're with people all hours of the day. That was very strange. And then we went into lockdown. So that was all like a very strange experience of having to sit quietly.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I mean, I feel really bad because the only person I ever had... Oh, morning, Mr. McPie. I had visit in... A friend through Workway was Josh Gad. And he came the day... the scene was that I was Palpatine's granddaughter. And he literally said, you ruined my fucking life. It was like, why did you bring me today?
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I was riddled with guilt. So now I'm so scared. I don't want to ruin anything for anyone.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yes, and you said some time in the past. I think it is in the past. Oh, really? And I think we might film next year.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I got back from Australia 10 days ago, shooting a movie there. Had a great time. Can't recommend it enough.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I'm cozy at home. I grew up here. I've never actually lived anywhere else bar for work. I'm a real homebody.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Yeah. Every time I go past the Houses of Parliament, I'm like, oh. And then I walk into town. Parks are beautiful. I mean, summer in London is really nice. Yeah. So I'm very happy to be here right now.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Me and my husband were going to move to LA for a few months just before lockdown. So we had like a place booked and everything. We were just going to see what it was like for a few months. Try it on. And then lockdown.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
No, not at all. It was just, I guess, a curiosity. And then we, it didn't happen. And then we didn't. But my husband, who is in, based on a true story.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
So because of that show, he's now lived there. Well, he's about to live there for the second time. So it's best of both worlds.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
We do what we can. And that's pretty nice. We do our best. That's pretty nice because Young Women in the Sea now wonderfully has a theatrical release. So I get to do some work for that in LA. So we'll be there together. That's so nice. And then, yeah. Yeah. But we work it out pretty well.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Oh, yes, but my two half-sisters are a lot older because there's an age gap with my parents. So we didn't grow up with them. But three of us was still a lot.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, my mom actually worked in pitch publicity for a long time. I think worked on Friends. She worked on some really cool stuff. Oh, really?
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, she was the picture publicist at Channel 4. So when all those big shows were going on and she was doing the pictures, I had a great time.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, I was... At primary school, I was slightly misbehaving. What? And we used to go because three girls.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Oh, yeah, it was literally... And I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. It was literally... Same. Yeah, I love it. I was quite naughty at school as a child. And then my mom, to keep us busy in the summer holidays, used to send us to this music thing where kids would go and... I guess sort of like camp for you guys. And I had a friend there who went to boarding school.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I was like, boarding school sounds amazing. And she thought if I was busy, I would behave better. And so I auditioned for this... performing arts school, having never really done performing arts, and then ended up staying there from nine till 18.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
So over the course of that time, fell in love with all of the performing arts.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Well, I mean, it could have been that bad if I was fairly young, but just if I wasn't busy enough, I would start distracting other kids and that sort of stuff.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
Very good. That's what they're like. My first ever job actually, I was asked not to return for the second week. It was this, it was honestly fucking soul crushing. Really? Wait, wait, wait. What happened? What happened? Well, the worst thing was it was like a, it was a workshop thing to do a play. It wasn't even a play. It was like a table read or whatever. It wasn't even recorded.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
What? Yeah. So we were doing the workshop for two weeks and on the Friday they were like, you don't need to come back next week.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
It was hideous. And obviously like I had taken time off. out of my job, because at the time I was working at a pub and I thought, oh my god, because I was terrible, honestly.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
A well-poured, actually, I shouldn't say that. I mean, pouring pints in London, you don't do that thing.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I actually had a very strange thing recently where I was in the, I mean, the like 11th arrondissement of, in a hotel doing some press for a tiny movie I made a couple years ago. And a guy at breakfast comes over and he goes, are you Daisy? I was like, yeah, you're so familiar. I used to serve him at the pub.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
And he's a photographer, did a book on Bowie. and was there promoting the book. And he was like, literally, the last time I saw you, you were pouring me a pint saying, oh, I have this audition, hopefully. It will go well. And it was Star Wars. And that was the last time I saw him.
SmartLess
"Daisy Ridley"
I dropped out of university, yeah. But I mean, it wasn't like you had to be enrolled and be on campus sort of thing. Right.