Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley Battles Graves’ Disease – You Won’t Believe Her Symptoms!

Known for her role in “Star Wars,” Daisy Ridley recently revealed her personal battle with Graves’ disease during the filming of “Young Woman and the Sea.” This was her first public disclosure of the health condition.

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid. Ridley shared this information in an interview with Women’s Health that was published on Tuesday.

Over the years, Ridley has been candid about her health challenges. In a 2016 Instagram post cited by Teen Vogue, she had disclosed that she was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 15. This medical condition involves the growth of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus outside the uterus, as explained by the Office on Women’s Health. In addition to this, Ridley was also diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that causes hormonal imbalances and metabolism issues, potentially affecting overall health and appearance.

In her interview with Women’s Health, Ridley stated that she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in September 2023. She started experiencing significant discomfort after filming “Magpie,” where she played a dissatisfied wife. At first, she attributed her poor health to the role she was playing. Her symptoms included weight loss, fatigue, tremors, a rapid heart rate, and irritability.

Ridley, who is 32, humorously remarked that she initially thought her irritability was due to general annoyance with the world. However, she later realized that the rapid functioning of her body due to Graves’ disease was preventing her from relaxing.

In addition to acting, Ridley also served as an executive producer for the film about Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel. Both of these roles did not allow her any respite. Despite her busy schedule, especially during the swimming scenes in “Young Woman and the Sea,” her diagnosis forced her to pay more attention to her diet, lifestyle, and overall health. Ridley, who is already a vegan, said she is now “cutting down on gluten.” She confessed that she did not realize the extent of her ill-health until her diagnosis.

Ridley discussed the common issue of women often being undiagnosed or underdiagnosed. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging when one isn’t feeling well, instead of persistently insisting that everything is fine, a behavior that is often normalized.

She concluded by stating, “I’ve always been health-conscious and now I’m trying to be more well-being conscious.”