Daisy Ridley doesn’t believe she is more privileged than the likes of co-star John Boyega (Picture: Getty Images)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker star Daisy Ridley has insisted she is no more privileged than co-star John Boyega in a new interview.

The British actress was asked if her privileged upbringing – which included a boarding school education – played a part in her confidence as an actress and her ability to navigate her high level of celebrity.

But the 27-year-old was seemingly thrown by the question in her Guardian chat and instantly refuted the interviewer’s claim that wealth, class and education allowed her to decode the rules in certain spaces.

‘Well no, because, no…’, Daisy replied. ‘John grew up on a council estate in Peckham and I think me and him are similar enough that… no.’




John, who plays Finn in the franchise, grew up in South London with British Nigerian immigrant parents and has spoken openly about having to apply for a hardship fund in order to join Theatre Peckham so he could pursue his acting career.

Meanwhile, Daisy’s grandfather, John Ridley OBE, was BBC head of the engineering from 1950 to 1965.

The actress admitted she won a scholarship in order to attend her boarding school for performing arts (Picture: WireImage)

And his brother was Dad’s Army star and playwright Arthur Ridley.

Daisy went on to highlight the fact she won a scholarship to attend her boarding school for performing arts and did not always feel so confident in the spotlight.

‘It has taken me a little while to be OK with it. I was always fairly confident, and I think that comes from being part of a big family who are all quite chatty,’ she explained.

Her co-star John Boyega was raised by British Nigerian immigrant parents and had to apply for a hardship fund in order to join Theatre Peckham (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I’m not saying what you’re saying is wrong,’ the actress added. ‘I’ve just never been asked that before, so I’m like, oh. I don’t think so.’

Fans on social media were surprised by the star’s comments and hoped the reaction to her words would help to illuminate how her error.

‘*sigh* I knew she’d disappoint me eventually. I hope she learns from this and corrects herself,’ one wrote.

Daisy plays Rey in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker (Picture: Lucas Film)

‘It must be so nice for Daisy Ridley to be so privileged that she can brush off her privilege like it’s nothing,’ another added.

‘More wild than a lot of the new trilogy: Daisy Ridley admits she hasn’t once considered she grew up with more privilege than John Boyega,’ one fan tweeted.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Daisy’s representatives for comment.

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker is in cinemas 19 December.

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