Daisy Ridley Biography 2026: Age, Height, Husband Tom Bateman, Rey, Young Woman and the Sea & Net Worth
Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley (born April 10, 1992) is an English actress who became an international star overnight as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019). Before that role, she was a working actress with small television credits and two London pub jobs.
She has since moved between franchise work and independent film, including Sometimes I Think About Dying, The Marsh King’s Daughter, and the 2024 Disney biopic Young Woman and the Sea. In 2023 it was announced she will return as Rey in a new Star Wars film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Here is everything to know about her age, husband, health, career, and net worth.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley |
| Nick Name | Daisy |
| Profession | Actress, producer, narrator |
| Birth Date | April 10, 1992 |
| Age | 34 years 7 months old |
| Birth Place | Westminster, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Known For | Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy; Young Woman and the Sea; Sometimes I Think About Dying |
| Ethnicity | White British |
| Zodiac | Aries |
| Height | About 5 ft 5 in to 5 ft 7 in (165–170 cm) — reported |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Eye Color | Blue-green |
| Qualification | Tring Park School for the Performing Arts; Birkbeck, University of London (left to act) |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Tom Bateman (m. 2023), an actor |
| Relationships | Dating Bateman since 2017; married in January 2023 |
| Children | Not publicly disclosed |
| Family Tree | Youngest of three daughters of Chris Ridley (photographer) and Louise Fawkner-Corbett; two older sisters and two older half-sisters |
| Hobbies | Singing, dancing, fitness, reading |
| Current Work | Actress and producer; The Last Resort (2027) |
| Years Active | 2013–present |
| Net Worth | Estimated $4–6 million |
Fans who follow Daisy Ridley often also search for Tom Bateman, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Gertrude Ederle, and Rey — her husband, her Star Wars co-stars, her returning director, and her most famous character.
Early Life & Education
Daisy Ridley was born on April 10, 1992, in the London borough of Westminster and grew up in Maida Vale. She is the youngest of three daughters of Christopher Ridley, a photographer, and Louise (née Fawkner-Corbett), who works for a bank. She has two older sisters, Kika Rose and Poppy Sophia, as well as two older half-sisters.
Her mother’s family, the Fawkner-Corbetts, were landed gentry with a military and medical background, and her great-uncle Arnold Ridley was a playwright and actor best known for playing Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army. Growing up, her favourite film was Matilda (1996), and she has said she saw the title character as a role model.
She won a scholarship to Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire, attending from age nine to eighteen. She then studied classical civilisation at Birkbeck, University of London before dropping out to focus on acting. Before landing Star Wars, she worked as a bartender at two different London pubs — a period she has spoken about without embarrassment. In 2016 she began a BA in social science through the Open University.
Career Journey
Early Roles and Star Wars (2013–2015)
Ridley began with small television roles in Youngers, Toast of London, Silent Witness, Mr Selfridge, and Casualty, as well as short films including Blue Season and the BAFTA-nominated interactive film Lifesaver. She appeared in Wiley’s “Lights On” music video and made her film debut in the 2015 horror film Scrawl.
In April 2014, it was announced she had been cast as Rey, one of the leads in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. At the time, Rolling Stone described her as a “total unknown,” and the choice echoed George Lucas’s casting of relatively unknown actors in the original 1977 film. Filming began in May 2014 at Pinewood Studios.
The film opened in December 2015, earned more than $2 billion worldwide, and was the highest-grossing film of 2015. Her performance drew critical praise, and she was already attached to the sequel before the first film opened.
The Sequel Trilogy and Expanding Roles (2016–2020)
She became executive producer of the documentary The Eagle Huntress in January 2016, which premiered at Sundance, and also recorded narration for its wide release. That August she appeared alongside Anne Hathaway on Barbra Streisand’s album Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway, performing “At the Ballet” from A Chorus Line.
In 2017 she played Mary Debenham in Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express and reprised Rey in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The following year she starred as Ophelia in the film of the same name, voiced Cottontail in Peter Rabbit, and returned as Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), the final film of the sequel trilogy.
Her 2021 Chaos Walking, opposite Tom Holland, was delayed by reshoots and the pandemic and was a critical and commercial disappointment. She also voiced a character in the well-reviewed video game Twelve Minutes, alongside James McAvoy and Willem Dafoe, and made a cameo in Judd Apatow’s The Bubble (2022).
Independent Film and Returning as Rey (2023–Present)
2023 was a turning point. Ridley starred in and produced Sometimes I Think About Dying, an independent drama that earned her widespread critical praise and showed her range well outside Star Wars. She also played the lead in the psychological thriller The Marsh King’s Daughter.
In 2024 she portrayed Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel, in Disney’s Young Woman and the Sea, a performance that required extensive open-water swimming and was widely praised. She also starred in Magpie, a noir thriller written by her partner Tom Bateman from her original story idea.
At Star Wars Celebration in April 2023, it was announced she would reprise Rey in an upcoming film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. In April 2025, production began on The Last Resort, a romantic comedy co-starring Alden Ehrenreich.
Career Stats
- Breakthrough: Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Sequel Trilogy: 2015, 2017, 2019
- Box Office: The Force Awakens grossed over $2 billion worldwide
- Notable Independent Work: Sometimes I Think About Dying, Magpie
- Biopic: Young Woman and the Sea (2024) as Gertrude Ederle
- Return to Star Wars: Untitled Rey film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
- Upcoming: The Last Resort (2027)
Personal Life
- Husband: Tom Bateman, an actor. They met on the set of Murder on the Orient Express in 2017, began dating that year, and married in January 2023 — a fact she confirmed publicly during the Sometimes I Think About Dying press cycle.
- Home: Primrose Hill, London.
- Health: Diagnosed with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome at fifteen, requiring multiple laparoscopic surgeries. In 2023 she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, which caused a racing heart, weight loss, and fatigue.
- Diet: She has followed a vegan diet since at least 2017 and removed gluten after the Graves’ diagnosis.
- Social Media: She deleted her accounts in 2016 after an anti-gun post drew backlash and said social media was harmful to her mental health. She returned to Instagram in 2022 after a six-year break, calling it her “Year of Yes.”
Dating History and Affairs
Ridley’s only publicly confirmed long-term relationship is with Tom Bateman, whom she met while filming Murder on the Orient Express in 2017. The couple kept their relationship largely private before confirming their marriage in January 2023. They have since collaborated professionally: he wrote Magpie from her story idea, and they have appeared together in interviews.
There have been no reported affairs, breakups, or relationship scandals. Her earlier years were dominated by auditions and pub shifts rather than celebrity dating, and she has spoken about how unprepared she felt for the attention that Star Wars brought.
Controversies
Ridley has avoided major personal controversy, though her relationship with fame has been turbulent.
- Anti-gun post backlash (2016): After a tribute to gun-violence victims at the Teen Choice Awards, she posted against gun violence on Instagram and Facebook. She was accused of hypocrisy because of the violence in Star Wars, and she deleted her accounts soon after.
- Social media absence: Her six-year break from social media drew repeated speculation, which she later explained as a decision to protect her mental health.
- Franchise pressure: As the lead of a global franchise at 23, she faced intense scrutiny about her appearance and performance, which she has said contributed to her anxiety.
- Health disclosures: Her openness about endometriosis and Graves’ disease drew praise but also invasive commentary about her body and diet.
Awards & Achievements
- Cast as the lead of the Star Wars sequel trilogy at age 22
- The Force Awakens — one of the highest-grossing films in history
- Executive producer of the Sundance documentary The Eagle Huntress
- Breakout performance in Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023)
- Portrayed Gertrude Ederle in Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
- Announced return as Rey in a new Star Wars film (2023)
- Chosen to voice Cottontail in the family film Peter Rabbit
Physical Statistics
- Height: About 5 ft 5 in to 5 ft 7 in (165–170 cm) — reported
- Weight: Not publicly disclosed
- Hair Color: Dark brown
- Eye Color: Blue-green
- Build: Petite and athletic; she trained extensively for Young Woman and the Sea
- Style: Red-carpet minimalism and structured tailoring
Quotes
“I’m not going to apologize for being a woman who has a voice.”
Daisy Ridley, interview
Favorites
- Film: Matilda (1996), which she watched as a child and saw as a model of resilience
- Character: Rey, whom she has said taught her about survival
- Stage: Independent drama — Sometimes I Think About Dying marked her producing debut
- Cause: Women’s health, through her openness about endometriosis and Graves’ disease
- Food, Travel, Music: Not publicly disclosed
Earnings
Ridley’s net worth is estimated between $4 million and $6 million, built from franchise salaries, independent film work, producing credits, and endorsements.
- Star Wars salaries across three films, with backend participation
- Independent film fees, generally lower than franchise pay
- Producing credits on The Eagle Huntress and Sometimes I Think About Dying
- Voice work, including Peter Rabbit and Twelve Minutes
- Documentary and television appearances
Her exact net worth is not public. The range reflects franchise pay supplemented by lower-paid independent work.
Interesting Facts
- She worked as a bartender in two London pubs before being cast in Star Wars.
- She attended a performing-arts boarding school from age nine on a scholarship.
- Her great-uncle Arnold Ridley played Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army.
- Her favourite childhood film was Matilda.
- She dropped out of Birkbeck, University of London to pursue acting.
- She began a social-science degree with the Open University in 2016.
- She deleted her social media accounts in 2016 and returned in 2022.
- She trained in open-water swimming for Young Woman and the Sea.
Did You Know Already?
- She was a “total unknown” when cast in The Force Awakens.
- She voiced Cottontail in Peter Rabbit and a character in Twelve Minutes.
- She narrated the Sundance documentary The Eagle Huntress and produced it.
- She performed on a Barbra Streisand album with Anne Hathaway.
- She will return as Rey in a film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
- She kept her marriage private until confirming it during a 2023 press tour.
Social Media Links
- Instagram: @daisyridley
- IMDb: Daisy Ridley at IMDb
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Daisy Ridley?
She was born on April 10, 1992, which makes her 34 years old as of November 2026.
Who is Daisy Ridley’s husband?
Tom Bateman, an English actor. They met on the set of Murder on the Orient Express in 2017 and married in January 2023.
Is Daisy Ridley returning as Rey?
Yes. She will reprise Rey in an upcoming Star Wars film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2023.
What illness does Daisy Ridley have?
She has endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, diagnosed at fifteen, and Graves’ disease, diagnosed in 2023. She has spoken publicly about all three.
What is Daisy Ridley’s net worth?
Estimated between $4 million and $6 million, from Star Wars, independent films, producing, and voice work.
What was Daisy Ridley’s first movie?
Her first feature film was Scrawl (2015), a British independent horror film. She had earlier appeared in short films, and her scenes in The Inbetweeners 2 were cut.
Conclusion
Daisy Ridley went from pulling pints in London pubs to carrying one of the biggest film franchises ever — and then deliberately stepped away from the noise. Her return to Rey, alongside a growing slate of independent work, suggests an actress more interested in the next role than the last headline. If you found this biography helpful, please share it with other fans!
