Daisy Ridley: Graves’ Disease Diagnosis, Career & Life

When Daisy Ridley stepped into the role of Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, she became a household name overnight. But behind the scenes, the actress has been navigating a very different kind of challenge: a Graves’ disease diagnosis (People) that reshaped her health and daily life. This article brings together verified medical context, career milestones, and what her disclosure means for young women managing similar conditions.

Born: 10 April 1992 · Nationality: English · Known for: Rey in Star Wars sequel trilogy · Diagnosis: Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism) · Instagram followers: 563K

What is Daisy Ridley diagnosed with?

What is Graves’ disease?

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce excess thyroid hormone. The condition is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States and primarily affects women under 50, according to the BBC News (tier-1 health reporting).

Symptoms include rapid heart rate, hand tremors, weight loss, heat intolerance, and a characteristic “tired but wired” feeling. Daisy Ridley described her own symptoms as hot flashes, fatigue, and a racing heart during an interview with ABC News (GMA segment).

How is hyperthyroidism treated?

Treatment options fall into three main categories: antithyroid medications (such as methimazole), radioactive iodine to shrink the thyroid, and surgical removal of the gland. The choice depends on patient age, severity, and personal preference. Ridley reportedly takes daily medication and has made dietary adjustments, including periods of gluten-free eating and a vegan diet, as documented by People (tier-2 celebrity health coverage).

She also integrates wellness practices — acupuncture, massage, infrared saunas, and cryotherapy — into her routine, and emphasizes rest and self-care.

The pattern: Ridley’s treatment approach blends conventional medicine with complementary therapies, reflecting a growing trend among patients seeking holistic management of autoimmune diseases.

What is Daisy Ridley’s ethnicity and nationality?

Is Daisy Ridley Irish?

No. Daisy Ridley is English by nationality, born in London on 10 April 1992. Her mother, Louise Fawkner-Corbett, works in communications; her father, Christopher Ridley, is a photographer. Through her father’s side, she has some Irish ancestry, but she has always identified as British. This clarification is important because Wikipedia (biographical reference) lists her nationality as English, and neither she nor her representatives have claimed Irish citizenship.

What is Daisy Ridley’s background?

She grew up in Westminster and attended the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire. Her acting career began with minor TV roles before she landed the career-defining part of Rey at age 22. Her mixed ancestry includes English and some Scottish and Irish roots, but culturally and legally she is English.

What has happened to Daisy Ridley?

Daisy Ridley health disclosure

In August 2024, Ridley publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease in September 2023. The news broke via a Women’s Health interview, picked up by multiple outlets including People and BBC News. She said the diagnosis came after filming her psychological thriller Magpie and while working on Young Woman and the Sea — a period when symptoms were at their peak.

Recent career developments

Despite the diagnosis, Ridley has remained active in film. She starred in Magpie (2024) and took on physical roles in the action film Cleaner, slated for 2025. An ABC News segment in 2025 highlighted her performing demanding stunts, underscoring that her condition is managed well enough to sustain a high-intensity career. Additional projects include a Star Wars tie-in media and independent films through 2026.

• 2024: Magpie premiere
• 2025: Cleaner release
• 2026: Additional film projects announced

The catch: Ridley’s continued workload raises questions about the long-term sustainability of an action-heavy career while managing an autoimmune condition. For now, she reports feeling better with treatment.

Is Keira Knightley related to Daisy Ridley?

No. Keira Knightley and Daisy Ridley are not related. They are both English actresses but there is no familial connection between them. Wikipedia (Keira Knightley biography) lists her family separately, and no source links the two.

What is the life expectancy of someone with hyperthyroidism?

Long-term outlook for Graves’ disease

With appropriate medical treatment, the life expectancy of someone with hyperthyroidism — including Graves’ disease — is normal. The American Thyroid Association (medical authority) states that patients who maintain stable thyroid hormone levels through medication or definitive therapy face no increased mortality risk.

Untreated hyperthyroidism, however, can lead to serious complications: atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis, and thyroid storm — a life-threatening crisis. This is why early diagnosis is critical.

Daisy Ridley’s prognosis

Ridley’s own case appears well-controlled. She uses daily medication and has made dietary adjustments. She told BBC News that her condition is “much less severe than what a lot of people go through.” Her continued active film career — including stunt work in Cleaner — further suggests effective management.

What are Daisy Ridley’s movies and personal life?

Daisy Ridley filmography

Daisy Ridley rose to global fame as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy: The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). She has also appeared in Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Chaos Walking (2021), Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023), and the upcoming Magpie (2024) and Cleaner (2025). A full list is maintained on Wikipedia (filmography page).

Daisy Ridley husband and children

She married actor Tom Bateman in 2023. The wedding was private, with no public photos released. As of 2025, the couple has no children. Ridley has spoken about valuing privacy in her personal life, consistent with her low-key social media presence (563K Instagram followers).

Daisy Ridley net worth and height

Her net worth is estimated at approximately $10 million, accumulated primarily from Star Wars salaries and subsequent film roles. She stands 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall. Both figures come from Wikipedia (verified biographical data) and multiple entertainment finance sources.

The implication: Ridley’s net worth and height are typical for a working Hollywood actress of her stature — neither exceptionally high nor low — and her personal choices, such as a private marriage and no children, reflect a deliberate separation of public persona from private life.

Daisy Ridley’s story is not rare — it represents the thousands of young women diagnosed with Graves’ disease each year. But her platform gives the condition a visible face, and her proactive management offers a blueprint. For women experiencing symptoms like persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, or a racing heartbeat, the takeaway is clear: see your doctor, test your thyroid, and know that treatment allows a full, active life — including starring in a galaxy far, far away.