Daisy Ridley, renowned for her iconic role as Rey in the "Star Wars" franchise, attributes her successful acting career to the unwavering encouragement of her mother. The 32-year-old actress, currently starring as Olympic swimmer Gertrude Ederle in the biopic "Young Woman and the Sea," reveals that her mother, Louise, instilled in her the importance of pursuing one's dreams, even when facing uncertainty.
"Trudy is a true role model," Ridley shared with OK! Magazine, acknowledging the inspiring figure she portrays in the film. Reflecting on her own upbringing, she emphasizes the influence of her mother's balanced approach to life, juggling work and family commitments while always supporting her daughters' aspirations.
"I grew up in a household with a mother who always balanced work and family," Ridley explains. "She had her own life, but was a committed parent. She never deterred me or my sisters from what we were doing. It was, 'OK! If you want to try it, sure.'"
Ridley credits her mother's unwavering support for her determination to pursue acting, despite her initial lack of knowledge about the industry. "She's forever committed to all of us," she says. "I think part of my determination in wanting to be an actor is because I had a mum saying, 'Well, try.' I didn't know about agents. There was so much I didn't know."
Drawing parallels between her own journey and Ederle's, Ridley highlights their shared determination and willingness to embrace challenges. "And with Trudy, there's so much she didn't really know, too. How's she going to get to swim the Channel? She just knows it's what she wants," she explains. "I would draw comparisons in the determination of being allowed to have a dream and try things out."
For the film, Ridley even performed her own stunts in the water, despite a personal fear of open water. "At the beginning, I told [producer] Jerry Bruckheimer and [director] Joachim Rønning that I had a bit of a fear of open water," she admits. "That was underselling it, because I actually don't go in the sea beyond where I can see the floor. I knew there weren't sharks where we were filming in the Black Sea, but I was like, 'Am I going to get eaten by a shark?' It was an obstacle, mentally."
Through her own experience, Daisy Ridley exemplifies the power of parental encouragement and the importance of embracing challenges to achieve one's dreams. Her journey, inspired by her mother's unwavering support, serves as a testament to the transformative potential of pursuing one's passions, even in the face of fear and uncertainty.
