Daisy Ridley Opens Up About 'We Bury the Dead' and the Power of a 'Really, Really Good Cry'

The Emotional Catharsis of Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley, the actress who brought Rey to life in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, has a new film that hits theaters this Friday—and it's a gut-wrenching journey through grief and survival. In an exclusive conversation, Ridley shared her love for movies that offer a 'really, really good cry,' and her latest project, We Bury the Dead, is no exception.

As documented in Screenshot (550).png, Ridley explained: 'There's a wonderful thing of experiencing something in a movie, leaving and looking around going, ‘Oh look, we’re all here. We’re all still here.’' That bittersweet afterglow is exactly what she aims to deliver in this haunting zombie drama.

A Cry Worth Having

Ridley, 33, doesn't shy away from emotional devastation on screen. She recalled watching the Netflix drama Goodbye June, directed by and starring Kate Winslet, which left her with 'eyes tiny the next day from crying.' That film, about a family grappling with the impending death of their matriarch (played by Helen Mirren), gave her a 'cathartic expression of grief' she hadn't felt in a while.

'I do love being able to watch something and have a really, really good cry,' she said. It's a sentiment that resonates with millions who seek solace in storytelling—and it's the emotional core of We Bury the Dead.

Inside 'We Bury the Dead': A Story of Hope Amid Horror

In We Bury the Dead, Ridley plays Ava, a woman who volunteers to clean up a military accident on an Australian island where her husband was visiting. The job involves entering houses and removing deceased bodies—but the dead aren't always lifeless. Some victims have turned monstrous, resembling undead zombies.

Yet even in this chaos, Ridley insists on a sliver of optimism. 'I always like a touch of hope, even 1%,' she said. 'She has to have the hope. She's propelled by the hope of what might be.' That hope drives Ava forward, even when the physical and emotional toll becomes overwhelming.

The Physical Price of Grief

Ridley is no stranger to demanding roles. From wielding lightsabers in Star Wars to swimming the English Channel in Young Woman and the Sea and fighting terrorists in Cleaner, she's built a career on physicality. But We Bury the Dead pushed her to a new limit.

'Walking up that hill towards the place where her husband is, I was pretty exhausted,' she admitted. The authenticity required for the role extended to her feet: makeup artists crafted blisters on her real skin to simulate days of hiking in ill-fitting shoes. 'When blisters burst, in shoes that aren't yours, walking that distance, the physical toll,' she described, aiming for maximum realism.

Dead Weight and Living Threats

Working with actors playing dead bodies brought its own challenges. 'People pretending to be dead, it's not easy,' Ridley laughed. But the danger extends beyond the undead. Ava must also navigate tense confrontations with living people—like a grieving husband who refuses to let her leave. 'Until that point, Ava doesn't have to make decisions like that,' Ridley noted. 'Running sort of works and that is the beginning of a new journey for her.'

The Human Element: Why Ridley's Roles Resonate

Ridley's career has evolved far beyond the galaxy far, far away. She's deliberately chosen projects that explore human resilience and emotional depth. We Bury the Dead continues that trajectory, blending survival horror with a meditation on loss and hope.

The film's release is timely, as audiences increasingly seek stories that allow for communal catharsis. Ridley's own viewing habits reflect this: she gravitates toward movies that make her ugly-cry, then leave her grateful for her own life. It's a recipe that has made her relatable to fans worldwide.

From her debut in Star Wars: The Force Awakens to indie gems like Sometimes I Think About Dying, Ridley has proven she can carry both blockbusters and intimate dramas. We Bury the Dead is another feather in her cap—a raw, visceral film that doesn't shy away from darkness but always leaves the door open for light.

The Secret to a Good Cry

When asked what makes a movie genuinely moving, Ridley pointed to authenticity. 'If it feels real, if the characters are people you know or could be you, then the emotions hit harder,' she explained. In We Bury the Dead, that authenticity comes from the unflinching portrayal of a woman refusing to give up, even when logic says it's futile.

Audiences will have a chance to experience that catharsis starting Friday. And if Ridley's track record is any indication, they better bring tissues.

A Future Paved With Grit and Grace

Beyond We Bury the Dead, Ridley has several projects in the pipeline, including a rumored return to the Star Wars universe. But for now, she's focused on the present—and on reminding us that it's okay to cry. 'It's a wonderful thing,' she said. 'You leave the theater and you think, ‘We're all still here.’'

That sentiment is exactly what We Bury the Dead delivers: a harrowing journey that ultimately celebrates survival. And in Ridley's hands, it's a journey worth taking.

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