When J.J. Abram’s set out to make a new Star Wars film the pressure must have been immense, especially to cast a new generation of beloved characters, however it turned out that he needn’t of worried some people are just born to be ‘stars’.
Nothing proves this more Daisy Ridley’s absolutely astounding audition tape, where she demonstrates both Rey’s incredible vulnerability and her inner resolve in about 15 seconds worth of dialogue – during the character’s arduous confrontation with the powerful Kylo Ren.
Although I must admit that it is a bit weird seeing her act out the brutal mental torture without Adam Driver’s menacing Knight of Ren standing there like a bad Darth Vader tribute band.
The clip was released via Buzzfeed, to celebrate the impending release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on DVD and Blu-Ray on 18 April, and pretty much proves that Daisy was born to be Rey, with Abrams’ voice-over praising her talents.
Daisy Ridley turns on the waterworks in her Force Awakens audition video https://t.co/NXlwPpiigh pic.twitter.com/bGCh8A9K0n
— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) March 29, 2016
Abrams said:
What we were looking for was someone new. This character needed to be vulnerable and tough, sweet and terrified. And to find someone that no one knew who could do all these things took a lot of looking…It wasn’t until we found Daisy that we just felt like she was capable of doing all of these things this character required.
As well as Ridley’s audition clip, the Blu-ray has a whole host of features making-of documentary, behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes, one of which features Driver’s villain entering the legendary Millennium Falcon.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.