Last year's "Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens" was a massive success, both critically and at the box office. Despite its success, the most important aspect of J.J. Abrams' film is that it shows audiences you don't need a big, tough man to lead blockbusters anymore. Up-and-coming actress Daisy Ridley's character, the lowly and innovative Rey, proves to moviegoers across the world that women can do just as much as action stars like Dwayne Johnson, Matt Damon, or any of those Marvel guys. Rey outshines her male costars, and her undeniable charm is part of what makes the movie so great. Outside of the "Star Wars" franchise, Daisy Ridley continues to set an important example not only for her fans, but also for the rest of Hollywood.
For anyone that follows Daisy Ridley on Facebook or Instagram, it's not a surprise to hear about how open she is with her followers. Ridley frequently posts photos with long captions ranging from how thankful she is to be receiving awards for her roles, how honored she is to be working on the projects she's heading into, how society needs to come together and stop the hate, and even her ongoing struggles with endometriosis. She's not afraid to speak her mind, be open with her struggles, or be honest about the things that upset her. She is the type of transparent and humble role model that people young and old are in desperate need of.
Aside from being a fresh face, a great actress, and a welcome addition to the "Star Wars" universe, her transparency and humility set her apart from the rest of Hollywood. In between posts about her daily life on and off set, Ridley makes sure to express her love for any community in need of change or support. There are not many public figures willing to be so open with their fanbase, and even fewer who are humble enough to be thankful for even the smallest amount of praise. Just this past weekend, Ridley won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout Star. She took to social media to thank everyone who voted, and then followed up with a second post about how lucky she is and how touched she was by the ceremony's tribute to victims of gun violence. The second post was much longer than the first, showing the world what really matters to Daisy Ridley: more than the awards, the people of Earth who got her to where she is today are what she is most thankful for and what she is most concerned about.
With the help of Daisy Ridley, I hope that we start to see more of this type of attitude from all people in the coming years.
