Daisy Ridley says she was recently diagnosed with Graves’ disease, and that she suffered from an increased heart rate, fatigue, weight loss, hand tremors and irritability while filming her upcoming movie “Magpie.”
The 32-year-old “Star Wars” actress was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder in September after she consulted an endocrinologist about persistent hot flashes and fatigue, she told Women’s Health in a new interview.
“I thought, ‘Well, I’ve just played a really stressful role; presumably that’s why I feel poorly,’” she told the outlet. “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 explained.
According to the National Institute of Health, Graves’ disease can cause hyperthyroidism, which can cause “many of your body’s functions to speed up.”
In response to her diagnosis, Ridley has made ajustments to her diet, including reducing gluten intake, which she says has significantly improved her health.
She also highlighted how women often struggle to get diagnosed properly. “We all read the stats about women being undiagnosed or underdiagnosed and sort of coming to terms with saying, ‘I really, actually don’t feel good’ and not going, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine’,” she said. “It’s just normalized to not feel good.”
In addition to Graves’ disease, Ridley has also been open about her struggles with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as severe anxiety, which led to the development of holes in her stomach wall during her time filming “Star Wars.”
The actress shot to fame in 2015 with her portrayal of Rey, the young Jedi protagonist in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy. She’s next expected to reprise her role in an upcoming untitled “Star Wars” film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
