Daisy Ridley, Rey in the Star Wars sequels, graces the cover of the latest issue of Women’s Health Magazine and in it she shares how she’s learnt to slow down, listen to her body, and look after herself after being diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disorder that involves overactivity of the thyroid.
“It’s the first time I’ve shared that [Graves’],” she says, moving her hands along the glass. She was diagnosed in September 2023, after her general practitioner encouraged her to see an endocrinologist following bouts of hot flashes and fatigue. (She doesn’t know if all three of her diagnoses are related, but the symptoms for all can be similar.)
The star had started feeling terrible following the filming of Magpie, a psychological thriller in which she plays Anette, a wife and mother dealing with her rocky relationship. “I thought, Well, I’ve just played a really stressful role; presumably that’s why I feel poorly,” she says. When she described to her endocrinologist her symptoms, which included a racing heart rate, weight loss, fatigue, and hand tremors, the doctor mentioned that the feeling of Graves’ is often referred to as “tired but wired”—and Daisy realized she felt super irritable. “It was funny, I was like, ‘Oh, I just thought I was annoyed at the world,’ but turns out everything is functioning so quickly, you can’t chill out.”
With the diagnosis, Daisy experienced some sadness, but also—if she’s being honest—irritation as well. As someone who takes good care of herself physically, it felt to her like a random blow. On the silver linings side, the disease led Daisy to a more routine pattern of daily medication and a more mindful diet. She’s been vegan for years but decided to go gluten-free following her diagnosis. “I am not super strict about it, but generally cutting down on gluten makes me feel better,” she says, noting it is said to help with inflammation for those predisposed to it (like Daisy).
The 32-year-old is still working to find balance. Soon after she started implementing the lifestyle changes, she woke up and found herself listening to the birds and noticing the color of the sky and how it was so blue. “I didn’t realize how bad I felt before. Then I looked back and thought, How did I do that?”
The diagnosis has also led Daisy to a renewed sense of body awareness and reminded her that not everything can be anticipated. “I’ve always been health conscious, and now I’m trying to be more well-being conscious,” she says. She’s working to pay attention to her body, slow down, and rest when she needs to. And she’s integrating things like infrared saunas, cryotherapy, massages, and acupuncture into her routine, along with her beloved bath time. She’s into crystals, too, and carries around rose quartz with her everywhere she goes; it’s said to promote emotional balance, self-love, and peace. “I do a fair amount of the holistic stuff, but I also understand that it is a privilege to be able to do those things.”
Read the article in full here. Ridley is reprising her role of Rey in a film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chino, set 15 years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Stream the sequel trilogy on Disney+ now.
Image: Jonny Marlow
