‘Didn’t Realize How Bad I Felt’: Star Wars Actress Daisy Ridley Reveals Her Graves’ Disease Diagnosis

As a fervent admirer of Daisy Ridley’s exceptional acting talent, I have always been captivated by her journey both on and off-screen. Her latest revelation about her Graves disease diagnosis is a testament to her resilience and courage.


Actress Daisy Ridley (from Star Wars) talked openly about her Graves’ disease diagnosis in an interview for Women’s Health magazine’s September/October issue, which was released on August 6th. In the conversation, she shared details about living with this autoimmune condition, mentioning that this is the first time she has spoken publicly about it.

According to Mayo Clinic, an autoimmune disorder impacts the thyroid gland, causing it to produce too much Thyroid hormone. Prior to being diagnosed with Graves’ disease, Ridley had previously dealt with endometriosis and polycystic ovaries. Following the shooting of her psychological thriller Magpie, the actress encountered periods of hot flashes and fatigue, prompting a visit to her primary care physician for an examination.

In her own thoughts, she linked her health issues to the intense character she portrayed on Magpie, reasoning, “I guess it’s because I took on a very stressful role that I don’t feel well.” However, she was later diagnosed with Graves’ disease, which turned out to be the real cause of her symptoms.

When the doctor referred to those with the disease as “tired yet wired,” Ridley found it amusing and recognizable. She commented, “I thought I was just irritated with the world, but it seems everything is operating so rapidly that you can’t relax.”

Although Gravis’ disease has no permanent cure, medications can be used to reduce the risk and manage the symptoms better. What worked best for Ridley was a lifestyle “a routine pattern of daily medication and a more mindful diet.”

She switched to a gluten-free diet as it improves her wellbeing, and she also incorporated self-care and regular exercise into her daily routine. As she shared, “It’s an hour dedicated solely to me, a time for me to focus on what I need to do to feel my best.”

Through acupuncture sessions, massages, infrared sauna use, and cryotherapy treatments, Ridley found relief in her healing process. As she embraced these lifestyle adjustments, she became aware of how poor she had felt beforehand. Reflecting on the past, she marveled, “I didn’t know just how poorly I felt. Now I wonder, ‘How did I manage that?'”

Ridley elaborated on her approach to listening to her body, stating that regardless of the issue’s smallness, acknowledging and addressing discomfort is crucial. She emphasized that although one might be able to endure it, they should not have to. If there’s an underlying problem, one should not need to bear through it unnecessarily.

The Chaos Walking actress is currently starring as famed American swimmer Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Ederle in Young Woman and the Sea. 

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2024-08-06 21:08