Daisy Ridley reveals she has been diagnosed with Graves’ disease

Daisy Ridley says nobody with health issues should be forced to ‘suffer through it’ as she opened up about her recent Graves’ disease diagnosis.

London-born actor Ridley, 32, rose to prominence in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens as hot-headed protagonist, Ray.

After starring in the sci-fi saga’s subsequent sequels, she has gone on to appear in Sometimes I Think About Dying, The Marsh King’s Daughter and sports biopic Young Woman and the Sea.

Following the triumphant release of the latter, Ridley has revealed she’s recently been diagnosed with Graves’ disease.

What is Graves’ disease?

Graves’ is an autoimmune disorder which can cause overactivity of the thyroid—commonly known as hyperthyroidism.

One in three people with the condition further develop an eye disease called Graves’ ophthalmopathy, while others may experience Graves’ dermopathy, where their skin becomes rough, reddish and thick.

When did Daisy Ridley get diagnosed with Graves’ disease?

Speaking about her experience with Graves’ disease, Ridley told Women’s Health she’d started experiencing hot flashes and fatigue after working on the psychological thriller Magpie.

However, she initially put her bout of illness down to her ‘stressful role’.

“I thought, ’Well, I’ve just played a really stressful role; presumably that’s why I feel poorly,’” she explained.

Ridley was encouraged by her general practitioner to see an endocrinologist, to whom she explained that she’d also been suffering from a rising heart rate, irritability and hand tremors.

“It was funny, I was like, ‘Oh, I just thought I was annoyed at the world,’ but turns out everything is functioning so quickly, you can’t chill out,” she said.

Following her Graves’ disease diagnosis in September 2023, Ridley claims she now tries to be ‘more well-being conscious’.

Daisy Ridley opened up about her struggles with Graves' disease. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for MAGPIE)

How has Daisy Ridley’s life changed since being diagnosed with Graves’ disease?

To combat autoimmune disease symptoms, the actress has begun to integrate infrared saunas, cryotherapy and acupuncture into her wellness routine.

She also revealed she carries around rose quartz with her to promote peace and self-love.

“I do a fair amount of the holistic stuff, but I also understand that it is a privilege to be able to do those things,” the Chaos Walking star continued.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s much less severe than what a lot of people go through.

“Even if you can deal with it, you shouldn’t have to. If there’s a problem, you shouldn’t have to just [suffer through it].”

The actor also suffers with PCOS and endometriosis. (Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)

Does Daisy Ridley have any existing health conditions?

Prior to revealing her Graves’ disease diagnosis, Ridley announced she’d been diagnosed with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Mayo Clinic states that PCOS is a hormone imbalance causing irregular periods, while endometriosis is a painful condition caused by tissue similar to the inner lining of the uterus growing outside the uterus.

She was informed of her endometriosis diagnosis in her teens and PCOS in her 20s.