Daisy Ridley reveals she developed a 'leaky gut' due to the 'stress' of her sudden Star Wars fame

Daisy Ridley has opened up about how her career success affected her health after she shot to fame with her starring role in the Star Wars franchise. 

The British actress, 32, made her big screen debut in 2015 as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 

However, the star has now admitted that she felt significant anxiety and stress after becoming the face of the major film project which led her to develop a 'leaky gut'. 

In a new interview with The Times, the actress shared some insight into her experience at the time and discussed how high levels of anxiety led to stomach ulcers. 

She said: 'Essentially, it was a leaky gut,' before noting that she was just 'knackered' from filming. 

Daisy Ridley has opened up about how her career success affected her health after she shot to fame with her starring role in the Star Wars franchise

The British actress, 32, made her big screen debut in 2015 as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

'I’d never travelled that much, or done press junkets, and my body deals with stress in a very physical way, so my gut was manifesting an emotional reaction to travelling around the world, people saying hello to me in the street. And me going, "What’s going on?" And worrying.'

The star also revealed that she worried about whether or not she was the right pick for the role and claimed it took a long time for her to feel fully confident. 

It comes after it was revealed in January that Daisy would reprise the role of Rey for a new Star Wars movie. 

And Star Wars director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, 45, is set to become the first woman and the first person of colour to direct a feature film for the franchise. 

Sharmeen made her name as an Oscar-winning documentarian before going on to direct two episodes of the Ms Marvel series.

Throughout her career, she has received two Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awards and a Knight International Journalism Award. 

Now the filmmaker is directing the next Star Wars film, Star Wars: New Jedi Order which is set to begin filming this year. 

Speaking to CNN on New Year's Eve, Sharmeen said: 'I'm very thrilled about the project because I feel what we're about to create is something very special.

However, the star has now admitted that she felt significant anxiety and stress after becoming the face of the major film project which led her to develop a 'leaky gut'

'We're in 2024 now, and it's about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.'

The film has been written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and it has been confirmed that Daisy Ridley will return to play Rey. 

While it is unknown who else from the cast will be returning, such as John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Kelly Marie Tran, the film is reportedly set 15 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.

CNN reported the film is set to be released in 2026 after Sharmeen hinted filming will be beginning soon. 

It was announced at a Star Wars Celebration event in London in April last year that Sharmeen would be taking the role of director.

Excitedly posting on Instagram she wrote: 'It has been quite a day in London....The news is OUT! I am so very excited to be directing the next Star Wars movie and bringing @daisyridley back to the galaxy...

'I have always been attracted to the hero's journey and the world definitely needs more heroes! - the blueprints of the heroes we see on screen are rooted in reality - I’ve spent my life meeting real-life heroes, who have overcome the most oppressive empires and battled impossible odds and that to me is the heart of Star Wars...which is why I was attracted to the promise of a new Jedi Order…

'And why I'm particularly excited about being immersed inside a Jedi Academy with a powerful Jedi Master...' 

Fans were delighted for Sharmeen as they took to the comments to share their support. 

It comes after Star Wars director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, 45, (pictured in 2022) is set to become the first woman and the first person of colour to direct a feature film for the franchise 

Filming for Star Wars: New Jedi Order is set to begin filming this year and it has been confirmed that Daisy Ridley will return to play Rey (pictured)

One wrote: 'Huge Congratulations @sharmeenobaidchinoy ‘May the Force be with You!'

Another added: 'I am so excited to see what you cook up! Not just to see Rey again but also to see the kind of story you and the writers will tell! Super super excited!'

Another commented: 'Congratulations @sharmeenobaidchinoy. A woman who has constantly been breaking barriers for women of Pakistan. What a proud moment !'

It was also announced that James Mangold will be directing a film based on the first Jedi to discover 'the Force', set 25,000 years before the original trilogy.

Dave Filoni, the director of the forthcoming Star Wars series Ahsoka who has been involved in numerous Star Wars projects, will be directing a new film set between episodes six and seven.

The movie will draw upon elements of the old Expanded Universe, and serve as the endpoint for story threads in several Star Wars series, including The Mandalorian.

Sharmeen, pictured with Daisy in April 2023, said: 'What we're about to create is something very special. We're in 2024 now, and it's about time that we had a woman come forward'

It comes after It was announced at a Star Wars Celebration event in London in April last year that Sharmeen would be taking the role as director