Who Plays Rey in Star Wars
Daisy Ridley is the actress who portrays Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. She was cast in 2014 after a global search by Lucasfilm, and she first appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. Ridley reprised the role in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), making her the central protagonist across three films. Lucasfilm, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, led the casting process and worked with director J.J. Abrams to select Ridley from thousands of audition tapes.
Ridley signed on for the trilogy after a competitive audition process that included multiple screen tests with potential co-stars. Her casting was announced by Lucasfilm in April 2014, and the studio kept her role secret until the first trailer for The Force Awakens premiered in November 2014. The decision to cast a relatively unknown British actress was part of a deliberate strategy by Lucasfilm to introduce a fresh lead distinct from the original trilogy cast.
Daisy Ridley Career and Earnings
Before Star Wars, Ridley had no major film credits and was primarily known for British television roles. Her casting in The Force Awakens launched her to international fame, and she subsequently appeared in films such as Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and Chaos Walking (2021). According to industry reports, Ridley earned a base salary of around $100,000 for The Force Awakens, with backend participation increasing her total compensation for the trilogy to an estimated several million dollars. Her earnings were structured through standard studio contracts managed by Lucasfilm and its parent company, Disney.
Ridley has spoken publicly about the financial and personal impact of the Star Wars franchise on her career. She has balanced Star Wars work with independent film projects and stage performances, including a West End production in London. Her net worth has been estimated by outlets such as Forbes to be in the range of $10 million to $20 million, driven primarily by Star Wars salaries and subsequent acting roles.
Rey Character and Franchise Impact
Rey is a scavenger from the desert planet Jakku who discovers Force sensitivity and becomes a key figure in the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order. The character was designed to be a self-taught hero without prior Jedi training, distinguishing her from previous Star Wars protagonists. Rey's arc spans the sequel trilogy, where she confronts the legacy of Emperor Palpatine and ultimately rejects the dark side, becoming a Jedi in The Rise of Skywalker.
The character's popularity has made Rey a central figure in Star Wars merchandise, theme park attractions, and expanded media. Lucasfilm has integrated Rey into its broader franchise strategy, including appearances in video games, novels, and theme park experiences at Disney parks. The sequel trilogy grossed over $4.4 billion worldwide, with Rey's storyline driving significant audience engagement and box office performance across all three films.