Daisy Ridley says she was recently diagnosed with Graves’ diseaseand that she suffered from increased heart rate, fatigue, weight loss, hand tremors and irritability while filming her upcoming film “Magpie.”
It was the 32-year-old “Star Wars” actress diagnosed with autoimmune disease in September after she consulted an endocrinologist about persistent hot flashes and fatigue, she told Women’s Health in a recent interview.
“I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ve just played a really stressful role; that’s probably why I’m sick,'” she told the outlet. “It was funny, I was like, ‘Oh, I thought I was just annoyed at the world,’ but it turns out everything works so fast that you can’t relax,” 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 adjustments to her diet, including reducing her gluten intake, which she says has greatly improved her health.
She also highlighted how women often struggle to get an accurate diagnosis. “We all read the statistics about women who are undiagnosed or underdiagnosed and in a way we come to terms with saying, ‘I’m really not well’ and not saying, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine “, she said. “It’s just normalized to not feel well.”
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 a hole in her stomach during her time filming “Star Wars. “
The actress rose to fame in 2015 with her portrayal of Rey, the young Jedi protagonist in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy. She is next expected to reprise her role in an upcoming untitled “Star Wars” film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.