- Star Wars actress has revealed she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2023
- She first felt symptoms of autoimmune condition when filming Magpie
- Graves’ disease is common in women and has a range of symptoms
Daisy Ridley, best known for portraying Rey in three Star Wars films, has revealed that she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition, in 2023.
First signs
Ridley, 32, was working on the film Magpie when she first began experiencing symptoms, which include a racing heart rate, fatigue and hand tremors, but initially put these down to the stress of playing her role.
But when she went to a doctor, he suggested it could be Graves’ disease, Ridley told Women’s Health magazine.
Graves’ disease is a condition characterised by a person’s immune system producing antibodies that in turn cause the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone.
What causes Graves’ disease is as yet unknown, but typically affects young and middle-aged women – although anyone can develop the condition – and is known to run in families.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms of Graves’ disease include feelings of nervousness and irritability, unexpected weight loss, fast or irregular heartbeat, shaking or tremors in the hands, poor sleep and fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic.
Ridley added in her interview that women should not be prepared to accept feeling unwell and not normalise not feeling good.
Since her diagnosis, Ridley has made various diet and lifestyle changes, which have helped her to mitigate the symptoms.
Previously, in 2011 rapper Missy Elliott has revealed she lives with the same condition, although she had experienced more severe symptoms, such as her hair falling out.
Mayo Clinic advises that if you are experiencing symptoms such as those listed above, you should seek the advice of a medical professional. While it could be Graves’ disease, the symptoms could be markers for other conditions.
