This shouldn’t be a revelation, but sadly, it still seems to be. Women have a bigger uphill battle in Hollywood than their male counterparts. It’s just how it is, as stupid and wrong as it may be. So, when female actors and filmmakers get certain labels, such as “difficult,” then they know this could be a stigma that ruins the rest of their career. And with Daisy Ridley, even though she has become one of the biggest stars on the planet, she actually was concerned that a couple of unfortunate labels might have doomed her.
Speaking to Tatler Magazine (via US), Ridley explained that she’s constantly worried about being called “intimidating” and “aggressive” because of early conversations she’s had during her career. And she knows if people begin to think that, Ridley might not land roles.
“I’ve been told that I’m intimidating,” Ridley said. “That was on ‘Chaos Walking.’ I was having my hair done, having my wig put on. I remember thinking, ‘God, should I be smaller? Should I be quieter?’…I’ve been called aggressive, too; my energy is ‘quite aggressive.’ That was during a meeting with a director.”
She added, “I was thinking, ‘But why? Is it because I maintained eye contact? Is it because I’m passionate about what we’re talking about?’ I don’t know. You have that horrible sinking feeling of, ‘God, do I not come across the way I think I do?’”
Interestingly, by the time “Chaos Walking” was in production, Ridley had already starred as Rey in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and she had become one of the most sought-after young actresses almost overnight. But even with that sort of buzz, whispers of being labeled “intimidating” or “aggressive” still scared her.
And if you’re curious about “Chaos Walking,” which makes sense because the behind-the-scenes drama goes far beyond Daisy Ridley’s hair routine, the film is set to arrive on March 5, 2021.