Daisy Ridley Reveals She's Been Diagnosed with Graves’ Disease: 'I Didn't Realize How Bad I Felt'

Mar. 15, 2025

Daisy Ridley for ‘Women’s Health’.Photo:Jonny Marlow for Women’s Health

Jonny Marlow for Women’s Health

Daisy Ridleyis opening up about her health, revealing in a new interview that she was diagnosed withGraves’ diseasein September 2023.The actress, 32, discussed her experience with the autoimmune disorder inthe cover story for the September/October issue ofWomen’s Health, which dropped on Tuesday, Aug. 6.“It’s the first time I’ve shared that [Graves’],” said Ridley, who had previously shared her struggle with endometriosis and polycystic ovaries.Graves' disease is an immune system condition that affects the thyroid gland, according to theMayo Clinic. It causes the body to make too much thyroid hormone.Ridley’s road to learning she had Graves' disease began when she met with her general practitioner for bouts of hot flashes and fatigue after wrapping the filming of her psychological thrillerMagpie. “I thought, Well, I’ve just played a really stressful role; presumably that’s why I feel poorly,” she said.She was then encouraged to see an endocrinologist, who noted that her symptoms — which included hand tremors, a racing heart rate and weight loss — are often dubbed as “tired but wired.“That struck a chord. “It was funny, I was like, ‘Oh, I just thought I was annoyed at the world,’ but turns out everything is functioning so quickly, you can’t chill out,” Ridley said.Daisy Ridley in ‘Women’s Health’.Jonny Marlow for Women’s HealthThere is no cure for Graves' disease, but treatments can reduce the risk of complications and help manage symptoms.For Ridley, that’s included adapting whatWomen’s Healthcalled “a routine pattern of daily medication and a more mindful diet,” including going gluten-free, which is said to help with inflammation.“I am not super strict about it, but generally cutting down on gluten makes me feel better,” says Ridley, who has also been vegan for year.Daisy Ridley for ‘Women’s Health’.Jonny Marlow for Women’s HealthShe’s also been slowing down more and practicing self-care, including regular exercise. “It’s an hour just for me, and it’s my time to do what I need to do to make myself feel good,” she said.Acupuncture, massages, infrared saunas and cryotherapy have all been integrated into her routine. “I’ve always been health conscious, and now I’m trying to be more well-being conscious,” Ridley continued.“I didn’t realize how bad I felt before,” she said, looking back after implementing those lifestyle changes. “Then I looked back and thought, ‘How did I do that?’ “Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Daisy Ridley in ‘Young Woman and the Sea’.courtesy of DisneyThe actress —currently starring as famed American swimmer Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle inYoung Woman and the Sea—toldWomen’s Healthshe’s learned through this experience to listen to her body.“We all read the stats about women being undiagnosed or underdiagnosed and sort of coming to terms with saying, ‘I really, actually don’t feel good’ and not going, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine.’ It’s just normalized to not feel good,” she said.“In the grand scheme of things, it’s much less severe than what a lot of people go through,” she added. “[But] even if you can deal with it, you shouldn’t have to. If there’s a problem, you shouldn’t have to just [suffer through it].”

Daisy Ridleyis opening up about her health, revealing in a new interview that she was diagnosed withGraves’ diseasein September 2023.

The actress, 32, discussed her experience with the autoimmune disorder inthe cover story for the September/October issue ofWomen’s Health, which dropped on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

“It’s the first time I’ve shared that [Graves’],” said Ridley, who had previously shared her struggle with endometriosis and polycystic ovaries.

Graves' disease is an immune system condition that affects the thyroid gland, according to theMayo Clinic. It causes the body to make too much thyroid hormone.

Ridley’s road to learning she had Graves' disease began when she met with her general practitioner for bouts of hot flashes and fatigue after wrapping the filming of her psychological thrillerMagpie. “I thought, Well, I’ve just played a really stressful role; presumably that’s why I feel poorly,” she said.

She was then encouraged to see an endocrinologist, who noted that her symptoms — which included hand tremors, a racing heart rate and weight loss — are often dubbed as “tired but wired.”

That struck a chord. “It was funny, I was like, ‘Oh, I just thought I was annoyed at the world,’ but turns out everything is functioning so quickly, you can’t chill out,” Ridley said.

Daisy Ridley in ‘Women’s Health’.Jonny Marlow for Women’s Health

There is no cure for Graves' disease, but treatments can reduce the risk of complications and help manage symptoms.

For Ridley, that’s included adapting whatWomen’s Healthcalled “a routine pattern of daily medication and a more mindful diet,” including going gluten-free, which is said to help with inflammation.

“I am not super strict about it, but generally cutting down on gluten makes me feel better,” says Ridley, who has also been vegan for year.

Daisy Ridley for ‘Women’s Health’.Jonny Marlow for Women’s Health

She’s also been slowing down more and practicing self-care, including regular exercise. “It’s an hour just for me, and it’s my time to do what I need to do to make myself feel good,” she said.

Acupuncture, massages, infrared saunas and cryotherapy have all been integrated into her routine. “I’ve always been health conscious, and now I’m trying to be more well-being conscious,” Ridley continued.

“I didn’t realize how bad I felt before,” she said, looking back after implementing those lifestyle changes. “Then I looked back and thought, ‘How did I do that?’ "

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Daisy Ridley in ‘Young Woman and the Sea’.courtesy of Disney

courtesy of Disney

The actress —currently starring as famed American swimmer Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle inYoung Woman and the Sea—toldWomen’s Healthshe’s learned through this experience to listen to her body.

“We all read the stats about women being undiagnosed or underdiagnosed and sort of coming to terms with saying, ‘I really, actually don’t feel good’ and not going, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine.’ It’s just normalized to not feel good,” she said.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s much less severe than what a lot of people go through,” she added. “[But] even if you can deal with it, you shouldn’t have to. If there’s a problem, you shouldn’t have to just [suffer through it].”

source: people.com