Actress Daisy Ridley revealed in a recent interview that last year she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid.
Ridley, 32, who gained fame from her leading role in the latest Star Wars trilogy, has previously discussed struggles with endometriosis and polycystic ovaries. But after filming the 2023 thriller Magpie, Ridley felt exceptionally tired and irritable, she told Women’s Health in an article published Tuesday.
She said she initially ignored her symptoms, which also included weight loss and hand tremors, but the intensity of the role set in. “I thought, ‘Well, I’ve just played a really stressful role; that’s probably why I’m feeling bad,'” she said.
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But after discussing the symptoms with a doctor, she was eventually diagnosed with Graves’ disease.
According to the European Thyroid Association, Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, and women are more likely to be affected than men.
Other celebrities suffering from it include rapper Missy Elliott and former US First Lady Barbara Bush.
“We all read the statistics about women being undiagnosed or underdiagnosed, and we start to say, ‘I really don’t feel well,'” Ridley said.
Already a vegan, Ridley revealed she has cut out her gluten intake since her diagnosis, among other lifestyle changes.
The last Star Wars trilogy ended in 2019 with Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Since then, Disney has promised three new feature films about the sci-fi universe created by George Lucas, one of which will feature Ridley again as her character Rey. AFP
