Daisy Ridley has taken a deep dive into the world of mixed martial arts as she gears up for her latest action-packed role in the British film, Cleaner.
Famed for embodying Rey in the Star Wars sequel saga, Ridley is set to make a comeback to action films in 2025. In Cleaner, she portrays Joey, a window cleaner navigating the heights of London skyscrapers, who finds herself in a showdown with terrorists occupying an office building. Yet, Joey isn’t just about squeegees and harnesses—her character boasts a military background brimming with combat prowess, making her a formidable adversary for the film’s antagonist, played by the intense Clive Owen.
Preparing for this intense role, Ridley immersed herself in mixed martial arts matches. However, the experience was not without its challenges, as she found the brutality a bit overwhelming.
“I attempted to get into MMA fights,” Ridley shared in an interview. “But honestly, they’re so fierce, I could barely watch a handful.”
Despite the intensity, Ridley gathered enough insights from MMA to shape her portrayal of Joey effectively.
“The aggression and the embodied intensity—that’s what fueled Joey’s physicality for me,” she explained. “Especially since one fight scene happens in a confined space, figuring out a realistic way to fight under such constraints was a real challenge.”
Besides Cleaner, Ridley is set to return to a galaxy far, far away. She will reprise her iconic role as Rey Skywalker in the forthcoming Star Wars installment, New Jedi Order. While the release date is not yet confirmed, it’s projected for a holiday release in 2026 or 2027.
Aside from battling space villains as Rey, Ridley has embraced other physically demanding roles. She brought to life the story of Trudy Ederle, the English Channel swimmer, in Young Woman and the Sea last year.
“Physical roles always have a particular demand,” Ridley noted. “These films offer great experiences and challenges, but they also leave me exhausted by the end.”
Cleaner is set to hit cinemas on Friday, February 21. Don’t miss the official trailer, which you can watch right below.
