Daisy Ridley, the actress known for her portrayal of Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, recently had an extraordinary experience at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The British actress came face-to-face with a theme park performer portraying her character, Rey, in a moment she described as “Surrealist!”
Ridley shared the unique encounter on her Instagram story, posting a photo of herself chatting with the cast member in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area of the park. The image captured a striking visual of art imitating life, as the real-life Rey engaged with her Disney counterpart.
The actress’s Disneyland adventure didn’t stop there. Ridley also experienced the popular “Rise of the Resistance” attraction, where she encountered a hologram of herself as Rey. “Being IN the (top rated!) ride at Disneyland is MAD!” she exclaimed, clearly thrilled by the meta experience of seeing her character integrated into the park’s immersive storytelling.
Ridley made sure to acknowledge the efforts of the Disneyland staff, giving a special shoutout to her tour guide. “Philander, the best Disneyland tour guide there ever was,” she wrote, highlighting the personal touch that made her visit memorable.
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This lighthearted encounter comes as Ridley prepares to reprise her role as Rey in an upcoming Star Wars film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The announcement of her return to the franchise has generated significant buzz among fans, especially given the mixed reception of the sequel trilogy’s final installment, “The Rise of Skywalker.”
In a recent appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Ridley reflected on the fan backlash to the trilogy’s conclusion. “It’s still upsetting,” she admitted. “You don’t want people to feel like you’ve not served the thing they’re a fan of.” Despite the divisive reception, Ridley maintained that it didn’t alter her personal feelings about the project.
As Ridley gears up for her next galactic adventure, her Disneyland experience serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of her character and the Star Wars franchise on popular culture. It also highlights the unique position actors find themselves in when their on-screen personas become part of the real world in unexpected ways.
