Star Wars unknown becomes overnight sensation

Despite being relatively unknown, Daisy Ridley has a starring role in Star Wars: Episode VII.

It's just over 24 hours since JJ Abrams finally revealed who he had cast to appear in the eagerly anticipated Disney and Lucas Film Star Wars sequel, Episode VII.

And the announcement proved a mixed bag.

On the one hand, fans were delighted to hear of the return of Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2).

Image 1 of 7: Oscar Isaac. Photo / AP

On the other, they were left scratching their heads and frantically googling the names of several relative unknowns, seemingly plucked from obscurity and thrown into the most high-profile roles that the entertainment industry has going.

Among the most puzzling were John Boyega, a 22-year-old London-based actor best known for starring in Attack The Block, Adam Driver of Girls fame, Domhnall Gleeson, the son of Irish actor Brendan Gleeson who played Ron Weasley's brother in Harry Potter, and Oscar Isaac, the star of the Coen brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis.

By far the most Googled, however, was Daisy Ridley, who quickly became an overnight internet sensation. Partly because of the role she's rumoured to be taking on, and partly because she's the only new major female character in the film.

But who the hell is she? Allow us to enlighten you.

She's most famous for...

Erm. Appearing in Star Wars: Episode VII. Before she's actually appeared in it. Or so credits her IMDB account, which was updated moments after JJ Abrams' big casting announcement was made:

Her other most noted roles were in the second season of Mr Selfridge, in which she starred opposite Jeremy Piven as Roxie Starlet. She also had roles in Blue Season, Scrawl and Youngers (cue tumbleweed) as well as guest stints in Casualty and Silent Witness. She makes her silver screen debut in Inbetweeners 2, due for release in August.

She might well be set to play the daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia, Jaina Solo...

Which, if the rumours surrounding the as of yet unknown character she will be playing are true, will instantly make her the coolest member of the entire cast. Back of the class, Mark Hamill. Back of the class.

She was briefly on Twitter...

If you wanted to stalk her every waking movement for any possible nuggets of information regarding the above, her handle is: @DaisyRidley. She only set the account up last night, tweeting "Hello everyone!" and "Overwhelmed by all the support. This is the greatest day of my life. I'm told I can't say who I'm playing yet, but it's exciting!" The account hasn't been verified, and it's since been suspended, but it's probably her and not a 50-year-old man eating mackerel out of a can and playing WOW.

She's also newly on Instagram...

And this is all she wants you to know about her:

Except, of course, for this. Her vital statistics. Which are described thusly on her agency site...

Just in case you wanted to know how tall she was or something:

Height: 5' 7 (170cm)
Playing Age: 16 - 20
Eye Colour: Hazel
Hair Colour: Brown
Hair Length: Mid Length
Appearance: White, Eastern European, Mediterranean

Oh, and she can do the following accents, should you so require her to do so...

Cockney, Dublin, London, Northern. Enjoy.

She's also clearly from a great gene pool...

Her younger sister, Kika-Rose Ridley, is signed to Models 1 and looks like this.

But we can't tell you her age...

Because it's a complete mystery. But her 'playing age' is listed by her agent Jonathan Arun to be between '16 and 20'.

- Independent