Daisy Ridley, star of the latest trilogy in the now Disney-owned Star Wars universe, recalls a warning from director J.J. Abrams before accepting the role in 2015. Abrams prepared her for the potential passionate fans’ vitriol, saying, “This is a religion for people.”

Ridley played protagonist Rey (Palpatine/Skywalker) in The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), all of which positioned her in the crosshairs of an incredibly fervent fanbase. Targeted with intense hate and criticism for the role, Ridley dealt with crippling anxiety and struggled with an increasingly warped “reality” that muddled her likeness.

Her stress continued, eventually manifesting physically during the release of The Last Jedi. Holes had developed in her gut wall, and the then 25-year-old actress was not taking in any nutrients. As she stated to GQ in 2019, “I was just a little skeleton, and I was just so tired. I was becoming a ghost.”

A six-month break before filming The Rise of Skywalker, paired with a multi-year hiatus during the pandemic, allowed Ridley to fully process the turmoil of being the star of Star Wars. At the Star Wars Celebration 2023 opening, Disney announced three new standalone films, with Ridley poised to return as Rey in one of the projects.

While popular opinion is often harsh in the immediate, consensus changes with time. Hated early on, Hayden Christensen (and his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker) has become one of the most beloved contributors to the massive franchise. All it took was the maturation of a new generation of Star Wars fans.