Daisy Ridley: Graves’ Disease, Career, and Keira Knightley

Few first roles announce a career as loudly as Daisy Ridley’s turn as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But years after saving the galaxy on screen, the English actress quietly faced a very different kind of battle: a diagnosis of Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid. This article traces her journey from breakout stardom to public health disclosure, while clearing up persistent rumors about her ethnicity and family ties.

Born: 10 April 1992 · Place of birth: London, England · Known for: Rey in Star Wars sequel trilogy · Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) · Diagnosis: Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism), announced 2023 · Instagram followers: 558K

10 key facts, one picture: from birth details to career milestones and a major health disclosure.

What is Daisy Ridley diagnosed with?

What is Graves’ disease?

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone, leading to hyperthyroidism. The Los Angeles Times (news outlet) explains that the immune system attacks the thyroid, triggering overproduction. Ridley first felt something was wrong after filming the psychological thriller Magpie, as she told Women’s Health (lifestyle magazine).

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism

• Hot flashes and fatigue, which prompted her GP to refer her to an endocrinologist (Women’s Health)
• Weight loss, tremors, rapid heart rate, and irritability (Los Angeles Times)

How is hyperthyroidism treated?

Ridley adopted daily medication after her diagnosis and became more mindful about diet, going gluten-free. She was already vegan before the diagnosis, according to the Los Angeles Times. She also integrated infrared saunas, cryotherapy, massages, and acupuncture into her routine (Women’s Health).

“I was trying to be more well-being conscious rather than only health conscious.”— Daisy Ridley, Women’s Health

The implication: proactive health management has become a non-negotiable part of her post-diagnosis life.

Is Daisy Ridley related to Keira Knightley?

Why do people think they are related?

The confusion likely stems from the shared surname “Knightley” and the fact that both are English actresses who rose to fame around the same era. Daisy Ridley and Keira Knightley are not related.

Daisy Ridley’s family background

Ridley was born to Chris Ridley, a photographer, and Louise Fawkner-Corbett, who has a background in banking. Her mother has English and Scottish roots; her father is English (Wikipedia).

Keira Knightley’s family background

Keira Knightley was born to actors Will Knightley and Sharman Macdonald. She has dyslexia, a condition unrelated to Ridley’s health. No familial connection exists between the two families.

The pattern: public confusion often comes from surface similarities, not actual connections.

What has happened to Daisy Ridley?

Health announcement in 2023

Ridley revealed her Graves’ disease diagnosis in a September 2023 cover story for Women’s Health. She had previously disclosed in a 2016 Instagram post that she was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 15, and she has also been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to the Los Angeles Times.

Career updates after Star Wars

After completing the Star Wars sequel trilogy in 2019, Ridley moved to independent films. She starred in Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023) and portrayed Gertrude Ederle in Young Woman and the Sea (2024) (Wikipedia).

Personal life changes

Ridley reportedly married actor Tom Bateman in a private ceremony, though the details have not been officially confirmed by representatives. She has kept her personal life largely out of the public eye.

What this means: Ridley’s career trajectory reflects a calculated shift toward artistic credibility over franchise security.

What ethnicity is Daisy Ridley?

Ancestral origins

Ridley is of English and Scottish descent, with possibly other European ancestry (Wikipedia).

Parents’ backgrounds

Her mother, Louise, has English and Scottish roots; her father, Chris, is English. Both sides have British heritage spanning generations.

Public discussions

Ridley has spoken about being proud of her mixed heritage, though she has not publicly specified further details about her ancestry.

The catch: despite persistent online speculation, her ancestry is firmly rooted in British Isles heritage, not mixed-race as sometimes assumed.

What are Daisy Ridley’s most famous movies?

Star Wars sequel trilogy

Ridley’s breakthrough role came as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), followed by The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) (Wikipedia).

Other notable films

She appeared in Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and played Ophelia in the romantic drama Ophelia (2018) (Wikipedia). In 2023 she starred in the indie Sometimes I Think About Dying and in 2024 portrayed swimmer Gertrude Ederle in Young Woman and the Sea (Wikipedia).

Upcoming projects

Ridley has an upcoming psychological thriller titled Magpie, and further independent film roles are expected (Wikipedia).

After revealing Daisy Ridleys Graves disease diagnosis, the actress has helped raise awareness about the autoimmune condition and its symptoms.

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