Daisy Ridley has disclosed that she has been diagnosed with Graves’ disease.
In an interview featured in Women’s Health, the Star Wars star shared that she received her diagnosis last September. Ridley first noticed health issues while working on the thriller Magpie, which portrays a woman’s descent into turmoil amid a deteriorating relationship with her husband.
Initially, Ridley attributed her feelings of unease to the stress of her role. “I thought, ‘Well, I’ve just played a really stressful role; presumably that’s why I feel poorly,’” she reflected. Following her symptoms—including a racing heart, weight loss, fatigue, and tremors—her general practitioner recommended she see an endocrinologist.
During her consultation, the doctor explained that Graves’ disease can make a person feel “tired but wired,” which resonated with Ridley. “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 said.
Since her diagnosis, Ridley has implemented a regimen of daily medication along with various wellness practices such as infrared saunas, cryotherapy, massages, acupuncture, and baths. She has also chosen to follow a gluten-free diet to help manage inflammation, stating, “I am not super strict about it, but generally cutting down on gluten makes me feel better.”
The Mayo Clinic describes Graves’ disease as an autoimmune disorder that impacts the thyroid gland, resulting in excessive thyroid hormone production, known as hyperthyroidism, which can affect various organs. While anyone can develop Graves’ disease, it is more prevalent in women and individuals over the age of 30.
Ridley is not alone in her experience; in 2018, Wendy Williams also publicized her battle with Graves’ disease, which led her to take a three-week break from her talk show.