Daisy Ridleyis best known for playing Rey Skywalker in theStar Warssequel trilogy, but she’s also an acclaimed actor who’s starred in a variety of great movies that weren’t set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.Star Warsmovieshave, for better or worse, defined Ridley’s career.Star Wars: The Force Awakenswas Ridley’s big break in Hollywood, and she’s now returning to the franchise in theupcoming movieNew Jedi Order. Rey Skywalker is a major part of her acting career, but it’s far from the only part of it.
Since 2019’sStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Ridley has starred in 13 movies, video games, and even a Podcast series.Ridley’s post-Rise of Skywalkercareerhas been incredibly impressive, and she’s managed to establish herself as much more than Rey in that time. Some ofDaisy Ridley’s best movieshaven’t even mentioned lightsabers or the Force, and she’s taken on some of her best roles in genres very far removed from science fiction. These 10 roles are Ridley’s very best outsideStar Wars, and they all highlight something that makes her such a tremendous actor.
10Chaos Walking - Viola
Though Chaos Walking Flopped At The Box Office, Ridley Gave A Great Performance
Since it was released in 2021,Chaos Walkinghas mostly been known for being a massive box office flop. It made just $26 million against a budget of at least $100 million (viaBox Office Mojo), and it never came close to adapting the next two books in the trilogy. It’s not a terrible movie, however, and most of theflaws that led toChaos Walkingbeing a failureweren’t Daisy Ridley’s fault.Viola was a complex character, the sole survivor of an extraplanetary expedition and the only woman on a world filled with men, and Ridley did a great job of capturing every side of her.
Chaos Walking
Cast
Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley star in Chaos Walking, a film adaptation of the dystopian thriller novel series by Patrick Ness. Todd Hewitt has been brought up to believe that a viral germ has killed all the women in a colony world and unleashed Noise, the unique ability to read people’s and animals' minds. Later, he comes upon a patch of silence and soon discovers its source: a mysterious woman named Viola Eade - beginning the discovery of the truth of the new world’s history.
In fact, Ridley did such a good job as Viola that she’s one of the few things most critics and viewers agreeChaos Walkinggot right.Her chemistry with Todd (Tom Holland) is undeniable, and the two manage to navigate some awkward scenes with incredible amounts of poise. She also excelled in action-packed scenes, something her time as Rey likely helped with, and just generally helped turnChaos Walkingfrom a complete mess into a mostly enjoyable watch.Chaos Walkingis far from the best movie of 2021, but it could have been a lot worse without Ridley.
9Peter Rabbit - Cotton-Tail
Ridley’s Vocal Performance As Cotton-Tail Was Charming & Fun
Most of Daisy Ridley’s most well-known films are live-action, but she actually has a fairly extensive filmography as a voice actor as well. One of her best voice acting roles was inPeter Rabbit, where she voiced Cotton-Tail.Ridley herself described Cotton-Tail as a “loose cannon,” “a little bit mental,” and “awesome,” and her assessment was correct.Peter Rabbitis far from Ridley’s most serious or acclaimed film, but it’s endlessly fun. Cotton-Tail’s antics are a big reason the film is as entertaining as it is, and Ridley’s vocal performance only made her funnier.
Being a talented actor is about more than just being able to deliver moving displays of emotion and support dramatic tension, and Ridley’s performance inPeter Rabbitproves that. It’s often not easy for dramatic actors to do comedic roles well, but Ridley is more than capable of it.Her delivery, timing, cadence, and almost everything that makes a joke work is on point, and Cotton-Tail was one of the highlights ofPeter Rabbitbecause of her. It’s actually a bit of a shame that her filming schedule forThe Rise of Skywalkerconflicted withPeter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.
8The Marsh King’s Daughter - Helena
Ridley’s Performance As Helena Carried The Marsh King’s Daughter Through An Underwhelming Ending
ThoughThe Marsh King’s Daughterunderwhelmed critics - it has 40% onRotten Tomatoes- it wasn’t due to Ridley’s role as Helena. In fact,Helena is one of the best things aboutThe Marsh King’s Daughter, and one of its most common sources of praise.Kevin Maher of the Timeseven praised Ridley for delivering “her strongest post-Star Wars turn,” and it’s clear to see why he thought that. Ridley expertly managed all the stress and tension Helena faced throughoutThe Marsh King’s Daughter, and it was largely because of her lead that the film managed to thrill at all.
The Marsh King’s Daughter Review: Ridley & Mendelsohn Uplift Tense, Slow-Burn Drama
With strong performances, the dawdling pace prevents the narrative from fully being realized, but it manages to maintain interest until the very end.
Aside from carrying the movie, Ridley accomplished quite a bit inThe Marsh King’s Daughter.Her chemistry withRogue One: A Star Wars Storyalum Ben Mendelsohn was impressive, and their father-daughter relationship provided a lot of the movie’s charm. There were also plenty of times where Ridley got to display just how well she could balance between emotions - usually pure anxiety and total surrender - which is a very impressive skill.
7Murder On The Orient Express - Miss Mary Debenham
In Murder On The Orient Express' Ensemble Cast, Ridley Still Managed To Stand Out
Daisy Ridley made two movies between her outings as Rey Skywalker: the first was 2016’sMurder on the Orient Express, where she played Miss Mary Debenham, and it was a resounding success.Murder on the Orient Expressis an adaptation of one of Agatha Christie’s most famous mystery novels, and it spawned aseries of Hercule Poirot movies led by Kenneth Branagh.Murder on the Orient Expressalso stands as one of thebest murder-mystery moviesout there, and it’s in part due to Ridley’s performance and the way she meshed with her co-stars.
Murder on the Orient Express
Based on the novel and series by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express is a mystery-drama film that follows a legendary detective known as Hercule Poirot as he finds himself in the middle of a major mystery. A lavish train ride unfolds into a stylish and suspenseful mystery; the film tells the story of thirteen stranded strangers forced to confront one another amidst rising tensions. in a whodunnit that will force Poirot to race to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.
With regard to Daisy Ridley, the most impressive thing about her performance inMurder on the Orient Expressis how well she stood out among such a talented ensemble cast. Thecast ofMurder on the Orient Expressfeatured massive stars like Johnny Depp, Dame Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, and many more.They easily could have outshone Ridley, who was still an emerging star at the time, but she still managed to stand out and make the movie a memorable part of her filmography. With such tough competition, that’s no simple feat.
6The Inventor - Marguerite
Ridley’s Role As Marguerite Gave Her A Chance To Show Off Her Singing Talents
Another of Ridley’s voice acting roles, as Princess Marguerite inThe Inventor, is one of her most underrated performances.The Inventordidn’t make very big waves when it was released in 2023, but it was a great part of that year. From its unique blend of 2D animation and stop-motion to its charming take on the story of Leonardo da Vinci,The Inventoris still worth a watch.Another big reason to watchThe Inventoris because it features a rare singing role for Daisy Ridley, who has a surprisingly good musical voice.
The Inventor
Based on the later life of famed inventor Leonardo da Vinci, The Inventor is an animated biographical adventure film by writer-director Jim Capobianco. The film loosely recounts Leonardo’s journey into the heart of life by leaving his home in Italy to join the French court to continue his inventions together with the aid of Princess Marguerite de Nevarre.
While Ridley’s singing abilities are a highlight ofThe Inventor, they’re not the only reason Marguerite is one of her best roles. Leonardo da Vinci (Stephen Fry) is the main draw ofThe Inventor, and most people have likely never even heard of Princess Marguerite before.Despite playing a historical figure who is mostly known for patronizing another historical figure, Ridley made Marguerite her own. Her voice acting lent itself beautifully toThe Inventor, and she elevated Marguerite into just as compelling of a character as da Vinci himself.
5Magpie - Annette
Daisy Ridley Is The Driving Force Behind Magpie’s Intense Thrills & Psychological Story
InMagpie, Daisy Ridley plays Annette, a mother and wife who begins to suspect that her husband, Ben (Shazad Latif), is about to start an affair with an actress. It’s a thriller with a heavy focus on the psychological, and most of that falls to Ridley’s character to convey.Luckily, Ridley more than delivered: she stunned as Annette, and she acts as the foundation of a film that was able to become a very compelling and suspenseful story. Without Ridley,Magpiewould have been a forgettable thriller instead of the acclaimed film it is.
Magpie Review: Daisy Ridley Stuns In Compelling, Intoxicating Psychological Thriller
The thriller is engrossing, its slow-burn buildup feeding the fire that burns brightly towards an immensely satisfying final act.
Annette is also a special character for Ridley because she has so much range. Over the course ofMagpie, Annette goes from depressed to fully enraged and back again.Ridley handles every mood Annette feels with extreme care, and she manages to make the film’s quieter moments just as gripping as the intense scenes. Even without a lightsaber, Ridley managed to makeMagpieinto a thrilling and suspenseful experience.
4Ophelia - Ophelia
Bringing One Of Shakespeare’s Greatest Characters To Life Was Not Easy, But Ridley More Than Succeeded
Playing a character created by William Shakespeare is often a proverbial Holy Grail for actors, and Daisy Ridley’s chance to do that was special in its own way.Ridley played the eponymous character in 2018’sOphelia, a reimagining of Shakespeare’sHamlettold from the perspective of Hamlet’s love interest. InHamlet, Ophelia eventually goes mad and dies by drowning, so Ridley had a difficult task from the start when her film decided to dive deeper into Ophelia’s decline. Despite the challenge,Opheliais one of Ridley’s best movies, and one of her best roles.
Ophelia
Ophelia is a reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet from the perspective of Ophelia, played by Daisy Ridley. Set in the Danish court, the film explores Ophelia’s life, love, and struggles amidst the political and familial intrigue that drives the tragedy. Featuring Naomi Watts and Clive Owen, the story is directed by Claire McCarthy and is based on the novel by Lisa Klein.
Opheliaalso stands out among Daisy Ridley’s filmography for being one of her most daring roles.Reinterpreting Shakespeare is nothing new, but fundamentally changing a play as beloved asHamletwas far from a safe bet.Opheliaactually suffered from comparisons toHamlet- it has 58% onRotten Tomatoes- but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t impressive of Ridley to play the part.
3Only Yesterday - Taeko
Ridley’s Strongest Voice Acting Role Was In A Studio Ghibli Classic
The best moment in Daisy Ridley’s voice acting career came in 2016, when the English-language dub of Studio Ghibli’sOnly Yesterdaywas finally released. InOnly Yesterday, Ridley voices Taeko, a woman who goes to the countryside to reminisce about her childhood and reassess her work-dominated adult life. It’s both an unusual Studio Ghibli film - in that it doesn’t feature supernatural or fantastic elements - and an unusual Daisy Ridley role. Aside from being animated, Taeko is also one of Ridley’s most nuanced and contemplative characters, and she did a tremendous job of conveying all the melancholy and wistfulness Taeko experienced while revisiting her childhood.
only yesterday
A twenty-seven-year-old worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.
Another reasonOnly Yesterdayis such an achievement for Ridley is simply by nature of being a dub. Voicing over existing animation that was specifically made for the Japanese language is not easy. A voice actor often has to change their usual speaking tempo to fit the scene and the original actor’s speed in a language that is often delivered more swiftly than English is.Ridley, however, made it seem like it wasn’t even a challenge, and the English dub ofOnly Yesterdayalmost feels like it was designed to be in English. That’s a sign of how talented Ridley is in the recording booth.
2Sometimes I Think About Dying - Fran
Ridley’s Role In Sometimes I Think About Dying Was Somber & Exceptionally Nuanced
Sometimes I Think About Dyingis very different from the rest of Daisy Ridley’s filmography, and that turned out to be an exceptionally good thing.InSometimes I Think About Dying, Ridley plays Fran, a woman who often fantasizes about her own death, even as she starts a relationship with Robert (Dave Merheje). It’s a quiet, offbeat, and contemplative movie with a very dark and somber sense of humor, but it’s also so curiously endearing because of how Ridley approached her role. Throughout the movie, it’s clear that Ridley took the time to learn every corner of Fran’s mind, which paid off in dividends.
Sometimes I Think About Dying
Sometimes I Think About Dying is a romantic drama/comedy based on the short film by Stefanie Abel Horowitz. Daisy Ridley stars as Fran, an awkward, introverted office worker who spends her idle time daydreaming about death. When Robert (Dave Merheje) arrives at the company, starts working, and begins to force his kindly nature onto Fran, she finds her bubble slowly being breached - and may even find romantic potential in him.
Dark comedy, especially with a tone as melancholic and morbid asSometimes I Think About Dying’s, is never easy to pull off.It would have been very easy for Ridley’s performance as Fran to come across as overly sad or unnerving, but she more than managed to make Fran into a sympathetic lead. It also would have been easy for Fran’s straight-faced bits of humor to come across as simply odd, but Ridley expertly walks the line between too serious and too joking.Sometimes I Think About Dyingput Ridley in a role she had never come close to before, and she thoroughly nailed it.
1Young Woman and the Sea - Trudy Ederle
Ridley’s Portrayal Of Trudy Ederle Was Uplifting & Triumphant
Though she’s played a wide assortment of interesting fictional characters, Daisy Ridley’s best role outsideStar Warswas as a real person. InYoung Woman and the Sea, Ridley played Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel.Young Woman and the Seacharts Ederle’s journey to the massive athletic accomplishment, and Ridley does a fantastic job of conveying all the challenges and triumphs such an undertaking entails. Playing a real person and conveying all their nuances and historical feats is never an easy feat, but Ridley did it masterfully.
Young Woman and the Sea
Daisy Ridley stars as the accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement – a 21-mile trek from France to England.
Aside from playing a real person,Young Woman and the Seawas an impressive performance from Ridley for a variety of other reasons. There were plenty of opportunities for Ridley to command a scene and convey boatloads of emotion silently, a skill she’s becoming known for.There’s also more fiery displays of passion, and all the swimming Trudy did inYoung Woman and the Seaforced Ridley to give an impressive and physically demanding performance.Young Woman and the Seamay not be as iconic asStar Wars, but it’s one ofDaisy Ridley’s very best.
