The ‘New Siren Of Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley Conveys Feminism In Sci-Fi
Up until the particulars of the Star War: The Force Awakens films were made made public, actress Daisy Ridley was rather an unknown actress in Hollywood. In fact, according to Bustle, not only is this Ridley’s first big-time role in a major motion picture, but her character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens is also her first “actual role.”
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“We were told about this scorpion in Abu Dhabi that, if it stabbed you, you needed treatment within half an hour. There was this bit where I was lying in the sand, and if a scorpion got me, the nearest hospital was an hour away. So I was like, I could die right now. I could be dead in half an hour.”
According to Elle, Daisy also has no problem being tight-lipped about J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars 7 masterpiece and has also made herself well prepared for the part. Also, there’s her readiness to be a “new kind of role model.” She was also cited by Abrams that she could be the “new face of Star Wars,” and also, according to Bustle, “a symbol for the Star Wars franchise’s feminist growth.”
It’s also to noted that Ridley was told by the original Star Wars franchise’s own Carrie Fisher not to concern herself with wearing the slave Leia outfit, according to the Hollywood Reporter. In fact, Fisher looks to have coached Daisy in regard to dealing with being a possible sex symbol and advises her on how to keep from being “merchandisable”.
“I want you and I to go to Vegas with all the [merchandise] and act like we’re normal people carrying Star Wars suitcases that they just sent me — hats, dresses,” Fisher told the young actress. “We will be put in a mental asylum, but it will be a very popular one after we get there.”
Elle, who spoke with Ridley about being a role model, seems to know her character, Rey, pretty well. In the Star Wars teasers and trailers, she’s seen as a personality that’s rather tough and seemingly handling herself in the action-packed scenes. Daisy also makes note that there is no need for her character to be sexualized because of her attire.
“[Rey is] so strong. She’s cool and smart and she can look after herself. Young girls can look at her and know that they can wear trousers if they want to. That they don’t have to show off their bodies.”
Another spin, according to Entertainment Weekly, is on the female-led villain role or antagonist in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Captain Phasma, who is being played by Game of Throne’s Gwendoline Christie, is the First Order officer in Star Wars. Christie acknowledges that she thinks that she draws attention from fans due in part to Phasma being a “progressive female character.” Apparently, she thinks people associate the flesh with characters in film, an impression due in part to the media.
“We see Captain Phasma, and we see the costume from head to toe, and we know that it is a woman. But we are used to, in our media, connecting to female characters via the way that they look, from the way they are made flesh.”
Looking at her First Order armor in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there’s not one inch of skin being shown. It seems it’s by her swagger, mannerisms, and other non-verbal forms of communication that allows her character to emanate who she is outside of the more recognizable methods detecting femininity.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, is set to open in theaters come Dec. 18.
[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Entertainment]
