Before she played Rey in the Star Wars sequel film trilogy, Daisy Ridley was a theater-loving teen with a vivid imagination. She once told classmates she played Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter. One of her favorite childhood films was the 1996 fantasy comedy Matilda, starring Mara Wilson.
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That lifelong fandom paid off in March 2021, when Ridley appeared on Stir Crazy with Josh Horowitz to promote her new film with Tom Holland, the dystopian action feature Chaos Walking. During the playful segment, she was surprised with a guest appearance by Mara Wilson herself—an encounter that lit up her face and highlighted Ridley’s down-to-earth, fangirl charm.
Daisy Ridley was excited to meet Matilda star Mara Wilson while appearing on Stir Crazy with Josh Horowitz (Credit: Comedy Central)
Mara Wilson then challenged Keira Knightley’s lookalike to finish famous Matilda quotes. Ridley rose to the occasion—correctly answering two and nearly nailing a third—revealing her deep affection for the childhood classic.
Beyond this delightful onscreen exchange, Ridley’s geeky side has long been part of her charm. As a teen, she was deeply obsessed with the Harry Potter series—a passion that followed her into her acting career.
Daisy Ridley stuns in a pleated emerald-green Oscar de la Renta gown with a sheer asymmetric cape detail at the 73rd BAFTAs After Party, held at Grosvenor House in London on February 2, 2020 (Credit: Daniel Deme / WENN / Avalon / David Mepham)
Daisy Ridley Pretended to Play Moaning Myrtle at Her Performing Arts Boarding School
Like Harry Potter, Daisy Ridley attended a boarding school—specifically the Tring School for the Performing Arts, known for its focus on dance and performance.
While there, she playfully tried to convince classmates she had played Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films, fully embracing her love for the Wizarding World.
Daisy Ridley told her classmates she played the Harry Potter character Moaning Myrtle (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
On The Kelly Clarkson Show, Ridley shared a hilarious story from her school days. “Few people know this story, and I’m not proud of myself,” she admitted, recalling how she once tried to convince classmates she had played Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter.
“I copy and pasted a picture of Moaning Myrtle into Microsoft Word, wrote ‘Daisy Ridley’ underneath it, and left it in the common room—like a total psychopath,” she laughed. Unsurprisingly, the ruse didn’t work. “As if anyone I went to school with would believe that I played Moaning Myrtle,” she added with a grin.
At the 2016 Oscars, Daisy Ridley dazzled in a silver-blue Chanel Haute Couture gown with crystal embellishments, paired with custom Christian Louboutin heels and sparkling Chanel Fine Jewelry (Credit: Sara Wood / ©A.M.P.A.S.)
Shirley Henderson Played Moaning Myrtle at 37—Despite the Character Being 14
Moaning Myrtle may be a 14-year-old ghost haunting the girls’ bathroom at Hogwarts, but she was played by Shirley Henderson, who was 37 then.
Shirley Henderson, who portrayed the ghostly Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) and Goblet of Fire (2005), was praised for bringing depth and eccentricity to the teenage character despite being in her late 30s (Credit: Daniel Deme / WENN / Avalon / David Mepham)
Despite the 23-year age gap, Henderson nailed the role with her high-pitched voice and emotionally erratic performance, making her the oldest actor to portray a Hogwarts student in the Harry Potter series.
Henderson’s roles over the years have been many, showcasing her incredible range as an actress. One of her most recent ones in mainstream cinema links her with Daisy Ridley; her part as Babu Frik in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Moaning Myrtle is a ghost who haunts the second-floor girls’ bathroom and other bathroom facilities at Hogwarts (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Her love for fantasy worlds and onscreen storytelling eventually paid off in a big way, landing her the breakout role of Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. As her star rose, so did her red carpet presence.
Daisy Ridley’s Sleek Star Wars Style: Roland Mouret Gown and Custom Heels at Her Breakout Premiere
In December 2015, Hollywood rookie Daisy Ridley took no chances with her outfit choices.
Daisy Ridley wears her hair up at the European premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” held on December 16, 2015, in London (Credit: Daniel Deme / WENN / Avalon / David Mepham)
The Silent Witness actress opted to bring a designer change of clothes with her as she jumped from the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” London premiere to the after-party.
She opted to wear a bespoke Roland Mouret gown to the premiere.
Daisy Ridley wears a bespoke Roland Mouret gown to the “Star Wars” premiere (Credit: Daniel Deme / WENN / Avalon / David Mepham)
The one-shouldered dress featured a cutout at the waist and was designed with a galaxy-like bodice pattern that paid homage to the “Star Wars” enterprise.
Daisy Ridley shows off the galaxy-inspired detailing on her bespoke Roland Mouret gown (Credit: Daniel Deme / WENN / Avalon / David Mepham)
Daisy paired her bespoke gown with custom-made strappy heels by Neil J. Rodgers.
👠 Neil J. Rodgers Sandals on the Red Carpet:
- 📏 Adriana Lima elevated her red carpet glam with white Neil J. Rodgers “Brooke” sandals—also a go-to style for Jenna Dewan—emphasizing her sleek, statuesque elegance.
- 💃 Mila Kunis rocked metallic Neil J. Rodgers “Stella” heels while promoting Bad Moms, pairing them with a chic dress and accessories from Anita Ko and Tyler Alexandra.
Daisy Ridley’s Star Wars After-Party Look: Sheer Dress, Thigh-High Slit, and Heart-Print Louboutins
The actress later changed into a flirty see-through dress with a thigh-high slit — which she paired with a long coat — for the after-party.
Daisy Ridley attends the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” after-party held on December 16, 2015, in London (Credit: Daniel Deme / WENN / Avalon / David Mepham)
Daisy finished her look by showing off her feet in Christian Louboutin’s quirky “Doracora” heart pumps in leopard patent.
The actress has a tattoo of three outlined stars on her left foot, which she got at age 15. It was her first tattoo, and though it coincidentally resembles her Star Wars character, Rey, she said the franchise didn’t inspire it. Ridley has described it as a small act of teenage rebellion—one her family wasn’t thrilled about at the time.
Daisy Ridley’s feet in Christian Louboutin heart-and-leopard-print pumps, revealing her first tattoo—three outlined stars on her left foot, which she got at age 15
Her after-party heels from Christian Louboutin are no longer available online. You can find recent shoes from the popular shoe designer at Mytheresa and Nordstrom.
Christian Louboutin “Doracora” Leopard-Print Heart Red Sole Pump in Brown/Red, $795
👠 Daisy Ridley’s Iconic Shoe Moments:
- 📏 Daisy paired a navy latex dress with white scuba‑style heels by Alessandra Vigilante at the Young Woman and the Sea premiere—a sleek, monochromatic finish that showcased her press-tour style evolution.
- 🌟 She elevated a festive red Miu Miu crop top and crystal‑embellished midi skirt with glossy Miu Miu slingback pumps—delivering holiday sparkle with polished poise.
- 💃 At the Last Jedi UK premiere, Daisy rocked custom Christian Louboutin “Rey” sandals—translucent PVC, brown harness straps, and strass heels paying tribute to her iconic Star Wars character.
- 🎤 She stunned in metallic silver ‘Jonatina’ sandals from Christian Louboutin at another Last Jedi premiere event—open‑toe, ankle‑strap glam with futuristic flair and signature red soles.