FRESH AS A DAISY
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia|March 2020
With her breakout role as Rey in the latest ‘Star Wars’ saga, British actress Daisy Ridley is hailed as the generation’s feminist icon, and with good reason. Having gone from working on a minimum wage in a London pub, to one of science fiction’s greatest heroines, to producing BAFTA-nominated documentaries, the 27-year-old actress is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
Amy Yasmine
FRESH AS A DAISY
Imagine waking up to an e-mail sent by none other than Daisy Ridley (she of J.J. Abrams's most recent Star Wars epic saga) at 7.30am, all blurry-eyed while your iPhone’s face recognition tried to detect a sense of familiarity through its 12MP lens. As surreal as it seems, that’s exactly what happened to me as I fell asleep not too long ago while our team in London wrapped up this March issue’s cover shoot. Call it the plight of a trans-continental collaborative effort, but such is the beauty of a borderless world these days.

While it had only been a few months since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker had showed in cinemas, the British actress’s portrayal of Rey has long left an indelible mark on the film industry. As the first Jedi heroine in the cult franchise, the 27-year-old actress has propelled herself into superstardom, as well as becoming the new face of feminism in the 21st century. For yours truly, it’s even more dream-like considering the fact that I had grown up watching the sci-fiepic as a child, but left many questions unanswered. Among them: “why were there hardly any female Jedis around?” It was a debate that legions of Star Wars female fans discussed, but it wasn’t until the arrival of Rey which changed that perception.

Cast from complete obscurity, Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley, the youngest of five sisters, had suddenly been thrust into the spotlight, leaving her former days as a young actress making the rounds at a London pub (on minimum wage, no less) in a galaxy far, far away. After several years traversing the cosmos, the London native had proven to be more than just a lightsaber-wielding paladin—going on to star in the Claire McCarthy-directed Ophelia as the film’s titular role, as well as Mary Debenham in 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express by award-winning director, Kenneth Branagh.

This story is from the March 2020 edition of Harper's Bazaar Malaysia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2020 edition of Harper's Bazaar Malaysia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HARPER'S BAZAAR MALAYSIAView All
SkyHIGH
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

SkyHIGH

Crystal Woo takes a city sojourn at the new Inter-Continental Bangkok Sukhumvit.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
The Grandmaster OF ROMANCE
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

The Grandmaster OF ROMANCE

No one captures the language of love as achingly beautiful as filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
Winner's CIRCLE
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

Winner's CIRCLE

Meet the five laureates of the 2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
My life, my style
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

My life, my style

Romantic details and playful accents abound in the elegant Edinburgh home of the cult accessories designer Leeanne Hundleby.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
Going GREEN
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

Going GREEN

TAG Heuer continues to lead the world of smartwatches, now with the latest Connected Calibre E4 in a fresh new hue.

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024
Fathoms ABOVE
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

Fathoms ABOVE

Last year's successful Blancpain X Swatch collab now welcomes a new addition, in honour of an ocean of the celestial kind.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Endless SUMMER
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

Endless SUMMER

Richard Mille offers a colourful new collection inspired by the breezy yet rebellious spirit of Memphis Design.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
THE WAU FACTOR
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

THE WAU FACTOR

From golden hibiscus to anyaman motifs, Cartier injects notes of Malaysiana into its newly reopened store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
BEAUTY queen
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

BEAUTY queen

South Korean actor Han So-Hee unveils her 2024 goals and favourite Dior Beauty picks.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Trend of LIPS
Harper's Bazaar Malaysia

Trend of LIPS

We're in an era of wellness that focuses on healthy beauty. Before colour came the importance of nourishing and embracing the natural beauty of the lips.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024