Daisy Ridley Opens Up About Graves' Disease Diagnosis: "I Didn't Realize How Bad I Felt"

Daisy Ridley, known for her role in the "Star Wars" franchise, has revealed that she was diagnosed with Graves' disease in September 2023. The actress, 32, shared her experience with the autoimmune disorder in the cover story for the September/October issue of *Women's Health*, published on Tuesday, 6 August.

Ridley previously disclosed her struggles with endometriosis and polycystic ovaries, but this is the first time she has publicly discussed her Graves' disease diagnosis.

"It’s the first time I’ve shared that [Graves’]," she stated, explaining that she had initially attributed her symptoms – hot flashes and fatigue – to the stress of filming her psychological thriller *Magpie*.

Graves' disease is an immune system condition affecting the thyroid gland, according to the Mayo Clinic. It causes the body to produce excessive thyroid hormone.

After her initial consultation with her GP, Ridley was referred to an endocrinologist. The specialist identified characteristic symptoms of Graves' disease, including hand tremors, an elevated heart rate, and weight loss, commonly described as feeling "tired but wired."

This resonated with Ridley, who remarked, "It was funny, I was like, ‘Oh, I just thought I was annoyed at the world,’ but turns out everything is functioning so quickly, you can’t chill out."

While there is no cure for Graves' disease, treatments can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. For Ridley, this has included adopting a more mindful diet, including going gluten-free to help manage inflammation, alongside daily medication.

"I am not super strict about it, but generally cutting down on gluten makes me feel better,” she said, adding that she has been vegan for several years.

Ridley also prioritises self-care, incorporating regular exercise, acupuncture, massages, infrared saunas, and cryotherapy into her routine.

"I’ve always been health conscious, and now I’m trying to be more well-being conscious," she explained. Reflecting on the positive impact of these changes, Ridley remarked, "I didn’t realize how bad I felt before. Then I looked back and thought, 'How did I do that?'"

The actress, who currently stars as famed American swimmer Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle in *Young Woman and the Sea*, has learned the importance of listening to her body through this experience. She encourages others to do the same, highlighting the commonality of women being undiagnosed or underdiagnosed.

"We all read the stats about women being undiagnosed or underdiagnosed and sort of coming to terms with saying, ‘I really, actually don’t feel good’ and not going, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine.’ It’s just normalized to not feel good,” she said.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s much less severe than what a lot of people go through,” she added. “[But] even if you can deal with it, you shouldn’t have to. If there’s a problem, you shouldn’t have to just [suffer through it]."