Everyone's talking about new girl on the block Daisy Ridley and her role of a lifetime as Rey, the leading female in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. But how did this young British actress, who is due to appear on the big screen alongside Harrison Ford, become so sucessful?
The question comes after the actress, who plays a scavenger in the movie, was mobbed by fans as she arrived at the Jimmy Kimmel Live show on Monday. She told the chat show host that she was doing a play when she got the happy call while Adam - who plays Kylo - was shooting the HBO show Girls. She revealed that the felt so moved by the enormity of the role that when she first viewed the trailer for the film she burst into tears.
© Photo: Getty ImagesDaisy was mobbed by fans as she arrived for the Jimmy Kimmel Live show
Born in Westminster, London on 10 April 1992, Daisy Isobel Ridley is the youngest of five childen and comes from a long line of talented stars. One of her sisters is model Kika-Rose who is signed with Models 1, while her great uncle Arnold Ridley played Private Charles Godfrey in the British sitcom Dad's Army.
Daisy, 23, who is rumoured to be dating actor Charlie Hamblett, graduated from Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in 2010 and she wasted no time in beginning her career in TV as a short film actress. As well as starring in the popular show Mr Selfridge as Foxy Starlet, the brunette's most significant roles are as Hannah Kennedy in Silent Witness and Fran Bedingfield in Casualty.
© Photo: RexThe 23-year-old starred as Foxy Starlet on Mr Selfridge
This may be quite a surprising start for someone who is set to be a huge Hollywood star, but the fresh-faced beauty was lucky enough to have the right agent and a lot of talent on her side. Her teacher Miriam Juviler said: "Daisy was here for five years and left in 2010. She actually specialised in musical theatre. There are always a few students who have a bit of an extra spark in them. She was very much star material when she was here. Everybody here is delighted for her. She is a hard-working, bright young girl and very talented."
Her father, Christopher, 73, spoke of his delight that his daughter had been chosen to star in the blockbuster. He told the Daily Mail: "I’m very proud of her and very glad for her. There is no doubt she will be able to handle it. Emotionally she is very focused. She is an amazing and very inspiring person."
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe brunette actress plays Rey in the new Star Wars film
Excitement about the the much-anticipated Star Wars film has been so great that the stock value of Disney - who bought Lucasfilm in 2012 - was boosted by $2billion after the trailer was released.
The new film also sees original stars Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill resume their roles as Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in the ever-popular film franchise. Speaking at the film's celebration event in Anaheim, Mark said: "Over the years, all my entire life, I've felt such love from you," he said. "You're more than just fans. You're family."
Daisy has one more project in the pipelines for 2015 called Scrawl - an indie film about a boy that writes a comic book with his friends but it seems that the events in the comic are coming to life. We can't wait to see what the talented starlet has next in store for her new fans.
