We’re plonked in the Black Sea with the lovely Daisy Ridley. A cheeky pint, a modest Olympian, and an airport romance novel. Even a visit from Grogu!? …on an all-new SmartLess. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to new episodes ad-free and a whole week early.
Hey, Will, what's your middle name?
My middle name? Yeah, quick. It's Emerson.
That's right. You don't sound sure.
It is Emerson. No, no, no. I'm not. I just thought that you knew. I thought you knew everything about me.
No, I didn't. No, I don't. Sean, your middle name? Patrick. Patrick. Really? Oh, yeah, you're right.
Sean Patrick Hayes. Yeah. And JB, what's yours? Let me guess yours. It's something. It's something. It's very. It's like.
Hurtful.
No. Careful.
It's my dad's. It's my dad's first name. So if he's listening, careful.
Oh, missing?
No. No, I know what it is. I know what it is. That's Sean, you dick. My dad's name is Kent. Kent.
Kent. You can't ever forget it. So you're Kent Jason Bateman?
No, Jason Kent Bateman. Dumb fuck. Middle name.
All right. Welcome to Smart Lessons.
I never showed you this video. I have a video to show you. Hang on. Open the book.
Oh, wait.
Here it is. Oh, yeah. Have you seen this?
Is that you and Scotty? God, I hope that's you and Scotty. Yeah.
It is.
Is it? Yeah. Why? Where? When? Listener, we have Sean and Scotty in one of these self-propelled locomotives going down a track. It's called rail. Redwood Forest. Like a little paddle boat you'd ride in a lake on. It's through the forest. It's called rail biking. Where was that? Was that on Second Honeymoon?
That was up north, north of San Francisco.
We went last weekend, was it? Or two weekends ago or something like that. Why were you guys up there messing around on the trail?
Because I saw it like on Instagram or something, this rail bike that you just pedaled on the railroad tracks.
So you're like Scotty packing overnight bag? Yeah. We just went up there. We just did it. We got to do this? Yeah, it's amazing. I can't imagine being as spontaneous and happy-go-lucky as that. Well, it was planned a little bit. But it still came from just scrolling through Instagram. Like, hey, that looks fun. Hon, what are you doing next weekend? Why not?
I mean, there's a whole world out there. I just feel like it's so disruptive to pick up and leave the place there where you're settled. I just have zero wanderlust. I'm not proud of it, but... You don't, huh?
No. But you love the outdoors and stuff, don't you? It was so beautiful from the inside of an air-conditioned car.
I was saying to you when we were flying to New York, I was like, I pointed out the window, I go, there's a whole...
whole world out there yeah i want to get it i was saying to somebody yesterday i want to get into the world it's all i want to do wouldn't it be fun to all go the three of us and our significant others to go like do like an adventure like that just for like the weekend yeah but can it be higher end than than paddle boarding down a um rail it's not paddle boarding yes we can do something we can do something a little more significant you know you know one of the things
that we should talk about, but probably not on the podcast, but I'm gonna do it anyway, is Sean and I were talking with the ladies, i.e. your wife, JB, and my significant other, Alessandra, and the ladies. I think we can include Scotty in there as a significant other. Well, Scotty was there too, and then our other female friend who's an advisor to the podcast, who has a lot of opinions. Amanda.
No, no, no. Oh, that person, yes. And I said, you know, we ought to go to, because they want us to come, then we can talk to our buddy Mitch Rose. We ought to go to Australia at Christmas, which is their summer, which I've never done, and do the tour and do like Sydney Opera House. Yeah, and I've never been.
I would like to do that, but... Can we go... Can we do... We did skiing last year. Can we go beach this year?
So this is what I was going to say. We go there, and then we do the beach. They don't have any beaches in Australia. Are you crazy? No, it's all landlocked. And we go to, like, the Gold Coast somewhere, and we do, like, a week of, like, incredible beach.
Why do we have to be working when we're vacationing? We do a little bit of both. But my thing, but Will, my thing is you get the beach here on the West Coast, wouldn't you want to go somewhere different? Without the 17-hour flight. What beach? What beach? What do you mean? Have you looked at a map? It's all, we're on the edge of the water.
You mean the California beaches? I'm talking about tropical beaches. First of all, Sean, nice try. You might as well still live in Chicago. Okay? Because you go from your fucking house to fucking Larchmont, and that's it. Give me a fucking... You could live... It could be anywhere. You might as well move into a mall. I mean... Inside, okay?
Then you and Scotty can do the fucking laps to the food court. What I'm suggesting is... I'm so white, it's true. We go to Australia or somewhere like that and we go somewhere that we wouldn't normally go that's out of our comfort zone, that's why. And then we do a full beach experience. I actually would like that.
I've never been to Australia.
I love Australia. Like, I can't even tell you.
We do have to go somewhere. But guys, listen. I don't want to keep our fancy guest waiting. So rude to talk about in front of the guests. But you guys, she's sitting in there waiting from overseas. She's in the UK right now. What? Yes. But you'd never know with her flawless American accent that she does. She can act. She can sing. Boy, can she sing. Wow.
And in her most recent film. You wrote that part too. I'm writing. I wrote all of this.
Yeah. And in her most recent film, she can even swim the English channel, which I tried to watch last night, but the links they send you, I'm forgetting it. This effervescent young lady's middle name is Jazz. Remember we were just talking about our middle names? Annette Bening or Jodie Foster? Which one? Nope, it's not either.
And she's been a hot ticket in the film industry for almost a decade, starting when she joined one of the biggest movie franchises of all time. Apparently her Duolingo score in French is pretty impressive, too. It's the radiant Daisy Ridley.
Daisy Ridley!
I know Daisy a tiny bit.
Hi, Daisy.
Hi, guys.
Oh, my God. What time is it there?
It's 6.27. Oh, that's all right.
It's not that crazy. It's 6.27. Yeah. What do you think? She's on Mars? Daisy Ridley, welcome to Smart Listen Secrets. Thank you.
I'm so excited to talk to you and meet you. I'm a massive fan.
It's so weird. I've listened to it so much, and now I'm like, I'm here.
Have you really? No, you haven't.
Of course. I'm sorry. It's sounding a little bit like drive time radio this morning. We're a little too chatty.
Sorry.
We'll calm down.
Daisy, do you think we should go to Australia for Christmas with our families?
I got back from Australia 10 days ago, shooting a movie there. Had a great time. Can't recommend it enough.
Really? So what are you doing in England right now? Do you live there?
I live here, yeah.
And you grew up there. All right. So you're cozy at home right now?
I'm cozy at home. I grew up here. I've never actually lived anywhere else bar for work. I'm a real homebody.
So like, I love London. I always like... You find a nice place to stay there, Sean? I do know. The Whitby hotels are amazing. Right? Anybody? No? But London is great. I love it. I always wondered, like, what it would be. Like, do you appreciate it like we appreciate it? Or are you just like, oh, there's the Big Bang, there's the blah, blah, blah. You know, the history.
It's so old and beautiful and gorgeous.
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.
Have you ever desired to live somewhere else?
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.
Now, why were you going to try it on? Were you getting pressure from the adults in your life that say, can you please be closer to the studios? Mm-hmm.
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.
Right. And his name is Tom and his last name is? The best.
Bateman. Yeah. I mean, does that just not roll right off the tongue? Tom Bateman.
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.
So then what are you going to do? Are you going to join him or are you going to be busy on another project? How do you guys work all that stuff?
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.
He's so good on that. It is called Based on a True Story. I know Sean and Will is probably in your queue there. Go ahead and enjoy that. Thank you. It's on the Peacock.
And you've got no skit in the game on this one? Oh, yes, sure. No, sure I do. Oh, do you? Well, explain to us just for full disclosure.
Well, I get quite a bump if a couple more people start watching it. So we're just two away.
Wait, did you produce it? He's the executive producer. Oh, I didn't know that.
And I didn't, listen, this is your guest. I am not trying to, you know, get to my future.
No, we have to watch it. You kept winking at Daisy. That's a tick. Be sensitive.
That's a tick. Now listen, Daisy, tell us about growing up there because you, first of all, five girls in one family.
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.
That's a lot.
That's a lot.
And father was a photographer. Mother worked at a bank. Nobody else kind of had the bug to get into the business.
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?
What did she do with Friends?
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.
That show was so related because we all knew that thing of when your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA. You feel like you're always stuck in second gear. It hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year. Oh, my God.
Can we hold there for a second?
Yeah.
So, Will, you're familiar with those lyrics because you watched that show religiously?
No, that song is omnipresent. It was in the 90s. No, it's not. Inescapable.
No, no, no. It's only inescapable if you watch the show religiously. And this is a big, big thing I'm learning about you is that you're a closet Friends fan.
I want to say closet. I love Friends. I love the Friends. Daisy, you love Friends too, right?
Don't stop diverting.
I do love Friends, yeah. Yeah, no.
All the Brits love Friends. I love all the Friends, and I love the show, and I love our Friends. I haven't watched, I'm embarrassed to say, I haven't actually watched a ton of the show, but I know that song because it was everywhere.
But that's your ringtone, I guess.
No, but I have dropped that on the girls before. Yeah. I have done that to Jen and gone like, I know, I feel you, you know, your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA, and she's like, fuck off. Sorry, Daisy. Wait, wait, Daisy, let's go back. So your mom worked in publicity, maybe did some stuff for Channel 4 and things.
But so what was the moment you go, you're like, Mommy, I need to... Oh, my God. I can't do that nowadays. You did. You did. Mommy. Yeah, what was the first thing?
Well, I was... At primary school, I was slightly misbehaving. What? And we used to go because three girls.
Is this the Tring Park school or is this before Tring Park?
This is before Tring Park.
Guys, just so you know, Tring Park, it looks like Downton Abbey. It's like unbelievable. I can't believe you went to school there.
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.
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.
Wow.
So over the course of that time, fell in love with all of the performing arts.
That's amazing. Now, can I ask you what your flavor of misbehavior was?
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.
With humor or throwing shit at them? I don't know. Asking for a friend. I had a few different encouragements not to return, shall we say. And I kind of mixed it up quite a bit.
I went to boarding school and I was not kicked out. I make this distinction. I was asked not to return. Yeah.
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.
Yeah.
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.
Oh my God.
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.
Really? No, I don't believe that.
No, seriously. They were like, you bring nothing to this.
Were you good at working at the pub?
I actually was, yeah. Really?
Was that pouring the, doing the, what's it called? The draught.
Doing the pints, yes.
Doing that, and then you do the little haircut off the top of it?
A well-poured, actually, I shouldn't say that. I mean, pouring pints in London, you don't do that thing.
Oh, you just let it drip over.
I don't know.
A little cascade.
But you were good. If somebody wanted to come in for a cheeky pint, you could just serve them up nicely, right? And then send them on their way. Cheeky pint.
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.
Oh, wow.
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.
That's crazy. What's Bowie? David Bowie.
Oh, Bowie. Bowie.
I thought you said Bowie.
A lot of Brits say Bowie. Oh, I didn't hear that. I'm here to translate for you, Daisy.
Wait, so that's what I want to ask. Like, you dropped out of college, right, to take Star Wars, right? Yeah.
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.
You could do it online or something.
Yes.
But was there any hesitation at all? It wasn't Trump University, was it?
Because there is a class action suit you can get involved with. You can get a piece. You can wet your beak on it.
Was there any hesitation at all in accepting that role at such a young age because being in school or whatever for fear that it might, like, did you even think about it might change your way of life forever or were you more like, get me the hell out of here, I want to work? You know what I mean? Did you ever think about how much it would change your life?
But JJ is so convincing. You know, I mean, you get inside those eyes, that vortex there, JJ will talk you into anything. You melt.
I actually have a hilarious text from him.
The best.
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.
I was desperate for the role and had been waiting seven months from my first audition, so I was like, give me peace.
You auditioned seven months before you got the yes?
Yeah, I did a number of auditions over a seven-month period, yeah.
Oh, my God. And did you just tell the pub, I can't work anymore because I'm going to be doing Star Wars, see you guys later?
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.
Did they say, why are you speaking to us like a four-year-old? I have to make bye-byes.
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.
What part of town was that pub in, just in case they're listening?
It's the Union Tavern in Westbourne Park.
Union Tavern. Why, why? Do you know it? Are you going to go visit it?
I'm going to go there in two weeks.
When I go over there, I'm going to go say hi for Daisy.
By the way, it's a really gorgeous pub. It's right on the canal. It's right by Portobello.
Yeah. I love Portobello. On a Saturday? On a Saturday? One of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life was a guy, we were walking down Portobello Road on a Saturday. Who's we? Who's we? I guess it was Chappie and me probably. Yeah, there we go. Got it. Because he lives up in Queens Park. No, I know. Just need to get Chappie in one more time. I know. And so this is my friend, Mark Chappell.
They know he's a friend of the podcast. That's two. That's three. Yep. And so we're walking along, and we see a guy, beautiful Saturday, and we see a guy in like an orange, like an orange sherbet-colored Lamborghini with the top down. And you know that road is like so packed on a Saturday, right? And those stoplights, like just before you start getting down into Portobello Road.
And this guy comes along. He's at the stoplight in this orange thing, and everybody's looking, and then the light goes green, and he guns it like, and he's only got about 70 yards to go, and the next light is red. He has to stop, and everybody collectively laughed at this guy in his face. It was so good. It was so, so good. Anyway, Union Tavern. Okay.
We'll be right back. So you didn't tell your family when you first got it? Or you only told your family? Nobody else?
I only told my family.
Wow. And just because you didn't want what? Why didn't you tell the world, like, oh, my God, everybody, I got this fucking thing?
Oh, no, I wasn't allowed.
Oh.
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.
I mean, it completely changed your whole life. It's so exciting. Obviously, if you listen, and these guys are so sick of me, and you're probably so sick of talking about it, and I'm sorry, but she's a massive fan of the franchise and you.
No, of course, yeah.
Daisy, he wants to know, she's not too embarrassed to ask, which of the planets is real? LAUGHTER What's your favorite planet? Who is your favorite Slush Boulevard?
But wait, I'm excited for the new one. You're going to do one or three, or we don't know yet, but you're playing... I'm doing one for now. Can you tell us anything about it?
I can tell you I was surprised. I made a movie.
Well, that's not enough information. I want to know what happens.
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.
And for my sister Tracy, Kathy Kennedy produces those films.
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.
It will be quite a different feeling, I imagine.
Who's writing, who's directing?
Stephen Knight is writing.
Oh, nice.
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.
ah that's so cool you have to go to like a a secret vault to read the script
Um, I, no, I think I'm going to, uh, not a secret vault.
Maybe they'll just send it to you.
No, I think I'll have to go somewhere.
Will you send it to me after you read it?
Yeah.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
I'll take a picture of every script page. Please.
And then just, yeah, and a PDF, please.
So I'd imagine that you are somewhat kind of self-prepared for the, uh, for the, um, all of the attention, the profile after Star Wars came out, but did it match your preparation and expectations? Tell me how you dealt with being, you know, unable to walk down the street overnight.
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.
But people are very nice. And yeah, it sort of took its time to calm.
Yeah. But tell me like, I mean, I've said this before to other people, like, like other people who've been in the franchise, but like JJ or like not JJ, but other actors have been in Star Wars is like, like Adam Driver, whoever. What is it like to be, like, if it was me, I'd wake up every day going, I can't fucking believe I'm in this movie.
Like, how do you, at such a young age, cope with, or stuff you're excited, like, you can't show.
You'd have a tough time. They'd have a tough time shooting around your boner, I guess. No full shots. Wide angle. Guys, we're going to go a little tighter again. We're going to pick up all the whites at the end of the shoot, I guess. Fucking first six weeks are just coverage.
No, but like at such a young age, that's so funny. At such a young age where you just, I know you can't like, holy shit. And then John Williams, talk about that. Like writing, you have your own theme written by John Williams.
I mean, one of my favorite things ever is me and John Williams are pen pals.
Oh, wow. That's so cool.
Yeah, I really... That's crazy.
And what was it like to hear that for the first time?
That was crazy. I mean, so much of it was honestly overwhelmed at the beginning. I can't remember a large chunk of everything.
Oh, shit.
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...
J.J. 's okay. J.J. 's okay. Well, we don't want him to get too far over his skis because we know he's listening. He's just like, J.J., cool it, all right?
Just cool it. And then I was so, like, I was in awe, like, preparing for this to go through YouTube and hear your unbelievable singing voice. Like, I don't know that a lot of people know that, that you can sing so unbelievable. Like, how did you, when did you first realize that and why haven't we seen more of that?
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?
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.
I heard the house is crazy. Like there's a mall underneath the house. Like she has a shopping mall.
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.
You recorded? Yeah, they recorded at the ballet from a chorus line.
Yeah.
With Anne Hathaway. Huh.
Yeah.
It's a hard song to sing and you guys knocked it out of the park.
It was so overwhelming. And that weekend I also presented. That was one of the craziest things. The film had come out.
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
Yeah. No?
Really? No, we met on Murder on the Orange Express.
What do you think he was doing that weekend?
Yeah, I'll tell you what he was doing. Learning his lines based on a true story. You can see it on Peacock. You think before they wrote it, you think he was... Oh, of course. All Bateman's work ahead. So, Shawnee... Let's ask her about Murder on the Orient Express and if she can give us any tips about... Hang on. Cool it, Will. You're not on this trip.
Sean and I are going to go on the Orient Express at some point and we'd like a little bit of research from you.
Are you kidding? You guys won't even go to fucking La Cienega. You think you're going to go to the Orient Express? It's like five blocks away. If anybody's going, it's me. Go ahead.
Yeah, tell us about the Orient Express. And Patrick Doyle is a wonderful friend of mine. He did the music for that movie. Thanks for starting the interview for that. Thanks for the heads up.
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.
What did they say? I really want to do that. You're not coming.
I mean, it's unbelievable. You have to fully wear a suit to dinner or, you know, evening attire.
Sorry, Sean has a question. No, not tracksuit. Keep going, Dizzy.
Wait, for what?
You have to be fancy.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So wait, listen to this. So the first time I was ever in London, like, this is my last... Will's laughing.
Will's having a tough time. He's so kind of him to always prep us for every sentence. Each one.
Here we go. But speaking of that, the first time I was ever in London. There's another one.
What I just want to say is, but wait. Go ahead. But wait. I fucking love you. God damn it. I could do a whole day with you. This is all going to be good. Not two, just one. Keep going. In a fish market.
So listen. Here it is. Here's another one. So listen. Never mind. It's not going to be that great of a story. Don't key yourself up. Just say the thing. Okay. The first time I was in London, I had to go out to... God, you feel so naked without the... I'm sorry. We'll get back to your career, Daisy. We'll know what this is. Sorry. No, but take my dressing up.
The first time I went to London, I went to this restaurant and they required a jacket for you to go sit down. Like you're talking about the Art Express. And I didn't have one on. I had like a... No kidding. I don't know what I had. Like a dress shirt.
Should I take a guess what you had? Hoodie? hoodie and a Chicago Cubs t-shirt. Yeah, with a cardigan underneath it.
Exactly. And so I walk in and they're like, sorry, sir, we can't serve you without a jacket. And so they said, we have a closet full of jackets for you to choose from. And I was like, wait, what? And I'm like, the table we're sitting at is three feet away from us. It's right there. Can I just walk to the table and sit down, please? Like, no, you have to pick a jacket.
These jackets in storage for people who show up with no jacket. So I put like this oversized jacket, like from the 1980s or 90s. Completely ruining your outfit. It was a long way to go for that story. Sorry, Daisy.
Wait, so were you with Scotty? Yeah. Scotty had a jacket on? He did have a jacket on. You bet he did. Yeah. He knows how to read.
Anyway. Sorry, Daisy. Daisy, I'm so fucking sorry. This is just terrible. Let's start over. I want to know. Let's just start over.
So, Murder on the Orient Express, brilliant. I love that movie. Sometimes I think about dying. I saw that fucking great American accent, great character. So into you. I can take my eyes off you every scene.
Talk about the American accent, Daisy. When was the first time that you can remember doing it? Maybe not even in a role. Do you remember the first time you tried it?
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.
Yeah, that is accurate.
I met my dialect coach through Tom Holland, who has been a guest on this show.
Oh yes, we love Tom. Anytime a break comes on, we always talk about American accents because we're fascinated to hear ourselves. Yeah.
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.
Wow. Does it feel comfortable enough to you? You don't even have to think about it. You can just think about the acting.
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.
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...
So now you're lost kind of in between and sort of... Yeah, I'm like, who am I?
You could go into mime work maybe instead. Is that a fix?
Yeah. When you work on an accent, so do you do it, were you doing it kind of, well, obviously, like you said, you did during lockdown and then you kind of work on it as you're leading up and then work every day on that scene sort of as you're getting ready, working with the dialect coach?
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.
Daisy, do you lean on an acting coach or any acting kind of thing, person for each role? Or you're like, you know what? I got this. I did the work. I studied. I went to school for it. I know what I'm doing.
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.
No, because some actors do, some actors don't, you know.
And even those that use them might not need them. They just, they like the interface. Yes, exactly. They like that sort of partnership, I think. Yeah.
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.
Have you worked you haven't worked a time yet? Have you?
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
How early on in the film did you start to see the first spark? Walk us through it because I know Will loves a good rom-com. He just likes to know the meet-cutes and everything.
So just go slow for him. I love a meet-cute. Yeah.
Well, another of your guests, Penelope Cruz, sort of takes credit for us being together.
Does she? Really?
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.
Do it, try it right now.
Your connection was so strong. That's great. I'm so sorry for all the Spanish people.
That's really good.
Yeah, but we were best friends immediately.
Okay, so your best friend's on set. And there is... Do you get the sense that he is starting to feel like maybe things are maybe going to be better than friends? No, we're going to walk right through this. Yeah, we have to. Jesus Christ. Was the first declaration of like... Hey, I like, now you're talking to a guy, I've been married for 25 years. The last relationship, it was like school, right?
Where you're passing notes for Christ's sake. I don't know how this stuff happens. I like you. Yeah. You know, will you go with me? Or whatever the hell we used to say. Go with me, yeah. How did it happen? Did you pass him a note? Was it a little giggle after a take?
What are we doing here?
Accidentally brushing our hands? What are we doing? Yeah, let's get out of here. What's happening? Oh, my God. Do you want to share a ride to the hotel? Tell me what happens, Daisy.
If you don't kiss me right now. Was it that clear?
Daisy, come on. Oh, my God. I'll call Tom right now.
I'll get it from him. Or Daisy, how about this? Who asked who out first and what were the circumstances? Thank you, Sean.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Tracy does not need to know.
Tracy loves this. Are you kidding me? Wisconsin's on fire right now.
This is the only thing we've never had to explain to her. This is how much she loves it.
Oh, my God. I've literally read...
Now, it's very cute. All right, so let's just... We're going to fill in for you, okay? So we're going to assume that we're midway through the shoot. It's about a 30-day shoot, so we're in, you know, second week or whatever. And somebody's got a little issue with maybe a scene that's coming up. Maybe it's Daisy, and she says... Tom, would you ever want to work on this?
Maybe talk about it over coffee or dinner or something like that? Just with a straight face, like you could not care less, right? Because you're an actor, you're a professional liar. You're making him think like you couldn't care, like he's not your type. And then you guys get to the dinner, you're walking through the scene, you're running, you both brought your pages, whatever.
And then you just start laughing about growing up as kids and what a great last name he's got. Have you ever met him? Oh my gosh. You know, like, did it kind of go like that? I bet it did.
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?
He did. He did.
Of course he did. Good for him. Good for him.
We'll be right back. So I want to talk a little bit about Young Woman in the Sea, which I tried to watch and I couldn't. But tell me about the prep for that. And then I want to talk about like projects, like how do you choose what's important to you?
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.
You shot that in the Black Sea?
Yeah.
Off the coast of?
Bulgaria.
Bulgaria. Okay. Yeah. Does that track well? That tracks, yeah. No, Sophia's the capital. Keep going.
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.
Yeah, you think you're in shape until you start swimming, right? I mean, swimming is just the hardest thing to do. Yeah, I can't do it.
I can't do it. I run out of breath so quickly, even from one lap in the pool.
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.
Why did she not want to be known as an Olympian?
Because she's so sweet and so modest. What's her name? Siobhan Marie O'Connor.
Siobhan Marie O'Connor. If you see her on the street, approach her and congratulate her on the Olympics. Yeah. That's so cool. So when you're working out with somebody like that who is quite legitimate, like an Olympic swimmer who's won medals... Do you get motivated by how good she is? You're like, I'm exhausted, but I don't want to let her down, so I'm just going to keep going?
Yeah.
Yeah.
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.
Oh, wow.
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.
Sean got ill once swimming, but it's because he ate a pound of gummies too soon before he went in the pool.
Full pound.
Couldn't sleep that night either. Sour patch!
Hey, Daisy, what's it like just bobbing in the open ocean? Yeah, that's true. Having to do a bunch of work for days and days and days. Didn't you think the odds of you having a little bit of a nudge from a large fish were pretty big, right?
Well, I knew there were no sharks, but there are jellyfish.
How did you know that? Who told you?
What, are they calling sick or what?
The Black Sea specialists told me that there were no sharks, but there were actual unexploded mines, which was... Is that true?
There's no sharks in the Black Sea?
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.
Wow. I've been exploding mines for a long time. Oh, mines. M-I-N-E.
Got it, got it, got it, got it.
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.
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...
Yeah, me too. How did you not just pass on the movie, being that that's one of your fears?
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.
Were you scared of windows?
I'm terrified of cleaning windows.
I'm terrified of heights. There it is. Daisy, what were you calling it? You were calling it what?
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.
Yeah, yeah. I mean, were there moments where you're like, and I'm not kidding, were you like, how do I get out of this? Or were you never...
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.
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.
Oh, my God.
Well, I guess it's better to know after the fact. Yeah, but no, it was all pretty scary.
So you're looking for a nice sitcom right about now, yeah? Yeah, I'm looking for something more.
Yeah, sitting down, having a nice time.
And just the trajectory of your career is so impressive from that pub to getting Star Wars and now just working constantly with such impressive work and being around so many people that know what they're doing and top of their game.
Is there, of those people that you worked with so far, is there some kind of advice somebody gave you at one point where just like, wow, and it really stuck with you or something that kind of moved you in a way that you're like, I got to hang on to that?
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.
Yeah, so, quote, your career is interesting wasn't great advice. It was just a comment.
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.
That's interesting. Whatever you're doing, it's right. I mean, you're doing things that are challenging you. And, you know, we can't do anything about who's going to see something, who it's for, where it's going to be, when it's going to be released, all that stuff. We just got to do our job, right?
What speaks to you, yeah.
Feed us, yeah. So it sounds like you're making all the right decisions.
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?
As Jason Bateman said to me decades ago, none of this is up to you. And that stuck with me forever. You only have one part in it all. Yeah. Daisy Ridley, what is Daisy Ridley doing in between gigs? Because she works so much. What do you do with your time off?
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.
I want to see that. What is that? I haven't heard of that. Dev Patel, director, actor.
Director, star.
That's his first film he directed, right?
The action is sick. It's really an impressive film. Lots of hanging out. See my family a lot. See my nephews a lot.
Kids, a bigger family in the future for you? Well, maybe some kids. She's a really good person.
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.
How old are they?
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.
Well, Daisy, it's now much later in the UK. You've been such a joy to be here.
Thank you for doing this.
I know, you've been so generous.
Huge fan, like crazy fan. Sean, one Star Wars question. We'll let you have one.
You know what? Go wake up Scotty and tell him to get over here and ask a question.
Oh, don't worry. You beamed Scotty up a while ago. Ayo. Ayo.
No, I mean, I had tons of... Sorry, I was questioning.
Well, then let's hear one. Which is the best one.
Well, okay, let me just look.
Oh, my God, you really have them all written down.
I do, I wrote them down.
When you were on Endalore... Okay, so, no, I have a question about the test process, but you kind of talked about that.
I have a question about oh here's one it has a massive fan base Star Wars obviously I'm one of them with but how does it feel to be part of such a beloved franchise and like do you feel a responsibility towards you know the fans like did you feel the weight of that and were you a fan before?
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?
You were like, oh, this is everywhere. You're making Sean angry.
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.
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.
Did you know that he's not Baby Yoda? He's actually a different name, but everybody calls him Baby Yoda.
LAUGHTER By the way, can you see it?
LAUGHTER Have you got one on there?
Can you see him up there? In the back, up there?
Oh, sweet.
What's he called, Sean? His, oh God. Birth name.
Grogu.
Grogu, yeah. It's actually Grogu. I was put on the spot. I was so nervous. I know you are, Angel. Careful of your heart, okay? Can I ask you one more question? Where are the paddles? Can I ask you one more question about it? Please. We're so sorry, Daisy. After it came out, were you like, And the rush of it. Like, what was the downside after it?
Because the announcement of it, the announcement of the cast, and then the shooting of it, and then it came out, and all of it was so massive. And then you rapped. And then what is that moment like?
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.
But was there a sense of, like, what the hell am I going to do next? Like, what am I going to do now?
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.
must have just been like wow like the sets and the costumes like it's just amazing to me and then last one um can you give me anything at all that Kathy Kennedy told you about the movie I know you haven't read the script yet but any kind of nugget anything anything about Ray in the next movie
I'll be in it.
No. How about this? Would you be possibly open to, subject to the rules of the set and everything, of Sean and maybe me and Will. Stormtrooper. No, no. Showing up on set, doing a bit of a remote episode of a very special Star Wars smart list on set.
That's a great idea.
We interview you. Maybe JJ can pop by. I mean, whoever else. Yeah? Yeah.
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?
Because why, Sean?
And I just didn't think.
No, I get it. Because it's like, wait, you're Palpatine's granddaughter. Crazy moment.
Yeah. And I felt so riddled with guilt.
Riddled with guilt. Yeah. Yeah.
I was riddled with guilt. So now I'm so scared. I don't want to ruin anything for anyone.
Wait, no, but you can't say anything about Ray. Don't get her fired. But there's got to be something that doesn't give anything away. Look, I won't press.
Some time has passed.
Some time in the past. Wait, something in the past?
No, no, some time has passed.
Oh, some time has passed.
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.
Might film next year. Okay. We've got it.
That's enough. That's at least something.
But anyway, Daisy. Start laying out your outfit now, Sean.
I feel like she might. I think I have part of it on. I have underoos on. Star Wars underoos. Daisy, you're such a pleasure. Thank you for being here.
You really are. Thank you so much for doing this.
Such a joy. Please say hi to Tom.
Thank you. I will do.
Absolutely love you and love everything about you. Thanks, guys. Thanks, Daisy. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Bye. Bye. Oh, she's the sweetest. And I love how cute she was when we asked her about how they met and how her husband met.
Certain things are private, okay? Things are private. And then you get to just fill in the blanks, like I did, and we wrote our little airport romance novel.
We did pry, we did pry for sure. But yeah, it must be, I love watching what she's doing after, you know, ASW after Star Wars to create a career for herself. It doesn't need an acronym at all.
It's not a thing. Yeah. Okay.
But all of these movies that she's done is really kind of stretching her skills and it's awesome to see because she knocks it out of the park every time.
She's balancing like that big, huge, global commercial thing with like these great small independent films as well and the stuff in the middle. Like prestige films in between.
Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a way to do it.
Sweet girl. And maybe the best name in Hollywood, right?
Is Ridley.
That's a hard one to beat. Daisy Ridley.
It's so tremendous.
What a name.
Isn't it? Oh, by the way, you guys, Young Woman and the Sea is in theaters right now.
I'm excited for that. I do want to see that. I mean, I'm scared as well of that. open water even watching somebody like those films did you ever see the movie open water no what was the one that was that one from years ago below dead calm below deck on bravo oh it's below deck okay sorry it was a different show different show
About a guy I dated named Dick. All right, so, no, but Open Water, the movie, did you ever see the movie Open Water?
It's based on a true story about the scuba divers, and the scuba divers all go down, and they all come back up, and the boat counters like, okay, this couple's back, this couple's back, and the boat takes off, and they leave a couple in the ocean underneath snorkeling still or whatever, and they come up, and they fucking, they're in the middle of open water. Rude. It's just rude.
And what do they do? What happens, Sean? They get, of course, they meet their demise by sharks and everything.
Truly?
Yeah. I think it's based on a true story. How do they know?
How do they know what happened? Oh, how terrible. So you sit there, you watch them bobbing in the ocean for an hour and a half and then they get eaten and go ahead, roll credits?
Yes, but it's like, it's really intense. It's really scary.
Wow. Anyway. I could skip that.
How did they have the time to write the screenplay before they died? Yeah. Because if they say it's a true story, how the fuck do we know?
They had an iPhone. They had an iPhone. Nice try. Nice try. But thank God Daisy Ridley is all good from the Black Sea and nothing happened to her. Yeah. Right. But anyway.
So who's working on a buy? I mean, I think everybody's always working on it, but don't ask why. Everybody's working on a buy. Yeah. And then... Since the dawn of time, you know?
Sure.
Do you know where I read it? I read it in the... Bible.
Oh, nice. We've never used that.
Amen.
Bible. Bible.
Smart.
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