Entertainment

Daisy Ridley says she is ‘not a royalist’

The actress plays Rey in the new Star Wars films.
The actress plays Rey in the new Star Wars films. The actress plays Rey in the new Star Wars films.

Daisy Ridley has said she is “not a royalist” and described Buckingham Palace as an “unused building”.

The Star Wars actress told British GQ magazine: “I’m going to tell you something so shocking for Americans but not Brits: I don’t massively care about the royal family.

“I am not a royalist. Buckingham Palace is great, but it’s an unused building, isn’t it?

“The other day, there was a story that the Queen uses six rooms in the palace. Six. How is that a good thing? It’s prime real estate.”

Ridley also shared her feelings on the end of the current Star Wars trilogy, which will draw to a conclusion later this month with The Rise Of Skywalker.

Describing filming her final scene, she said: “The scene was me being very sad.

“Let’s just say it was not hard to be upset in that scene..

“I did this embarrassing speech that I can’t remember. It was so sad.”

Discussing reprising her role as Rey in the future, she said: “It felt like an end… I can’t actually imagine it right now… I don’t know what’ll happen in however many years.”

Her debut in the role in The Force Awakens in 2015 rocketed her to global stardom, which has brought with it unwelcome attention.

She has previously spoken about her experience with a stalker and said: “I was followed home by someone in a van, this f****** paparazzi person.”

Daisy Ridley in Star Wars
Daisy Ridley in Star Wars Daisy Ridley in Star Wars (Disney)

When told that experience seems preferable to being trailed by a stalker, she replied: “But is it? Is it better? Is it even different? I was still by myself and being followed wherever I went and they now have the number plate of the car I was in…

“That’s where it’s more scary as a woman. I have to be so vigilant with security and keeping myself safe. It’s horrid.”

The full feature in the January/February 2020 issue of British GQ, available via digital download and newsstands on December 6.