From Struggling Actress to Galactic Hero

Prior to being cast in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley (born April 1992) was a relative unknown in the acting world. Growing up in London with performer roots (her great-uncle was Arnold Ridley of Dad’s Army fame), Ridley attended performing arts boarding school and studied classical civilization at university before dropping out to pursue acting.

For years, Ridley supported herself working as a barmaid while scoring minor TV roles in shows like Youngers, Toast of London, and Mr. Selfridge. Film-wise, she appeared in shorts like Blue Season and Lifesaver, the latter earning a BAFTA nomination. Her first lead role came in the 2013 indie horror Scrawl, which won Ridley industry awards.

While Ridley had steady work, she hadn’t gotten her big break before auditioning for The Force Awakens’ heroine Rey. Against the odds, she was cast and immediately shot into stardom when the film smashed box office records in 2015.

Becoming the Face of Star Wars

The Force Awakens earned over $2 billion globally, kickstarting Disney’s Star Wars reign and cementing Ridley as Hollywood’s newest A-lister. Her emotional performance won critical acclaim plus MTV Movie and Teen Choice awards.

Reprising her heroine role in 2017’s The Last Jedi and 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, Ridley led the sequel trilogy as it grossed almost $5 billion total. While fan reactions were mixed regarding Rey’s arc resolution in The Rise of Skywalker, most agreed Ridley’s portrayals carried genuine heart.

Proof of Concept in Murder on the Orient Express

Between sequel trilogy films, Ridley began demonstrating her talent’s scope by voicing lead character Cottontail in 2018’s animated Peter Rabbit film adaptation. She also made her first post-Star Wars live-action film appearance in 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express.

While a supporting role, Ridley’s turn as governess Mary Debenham drew positive reviews, and Murder’s box office haul of over $350 million on a $55 million budget proved her commercial appeal beyond Star Wars.

Quiet Period and Comeback

With Rey’s story concluded in The Rise of Skywalker, Ridley entered a quiet 2020. In interviews, she spoke honestly about her struggles finding her next roles. However, with grit and patience, she made her comeback in 2021.

Reprising Cottontail in Peter Rabbit 2, Ridley also launched the sci-fi podcast The Lost Sister. Most significantly, she landed leading roles in two films due for 2022 release: young adult dystopian tale Chaos Walking and drama Daddio.

Future Projects Confirm Her Staying Power

If early reactions to footage are any indication, Chaos Walking and Daddio may prove Ridley’s first post-Star Wars hits. They certainly seem unlikely to be her last roles.

In 2022, Ridley signed on for multiple Netflix projects, including sci-fi thriller Mind Fall and fantasy adventure feature Super-Normal with Josh Gad. She also joined the cast of Wes Anderson’s next film Asteroid City.

Further demonstrating her range, Ridley will voice the title role in The Inventor, an animated steampunk adventure from Sony Pictures Animation.

With an estimated net worth of $9 million that will surely grow, Daisy Ridley has the resources to be selective with roles. By branching into indie films, voice acting, and streaming while maintaining star power, she is strategically building staying power for life after Star Wars. Only in her 30s, Ridley’s screen presence and career promise continue to shine bright. I sincerely hope you like reading this “Daisy Ridley 2024 Net Worth? How Much Has the Star Wars Icon Amassed?” article.

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