S Poddar
“I was bruised from head to toe. I’m certain I pulled something in my shoulder.”
Daisy Ridley has been on a thrilling ride since her stint in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, always challenging herself into new and surprising roles. Since the release of The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, she has explored a variety of genres, including dystopian science fiction and psychological thrillers, romantic comedies, and animated films. Whether she is portraying a woman fantasizing about dying or preparing to become an Olympic swimmer for Young Woman and the Sea, Ridley has been unwilling to back down from her art.
“I’m drawn to such different things, I think,” Ridley explained in a recent video interview with Polygon. While there’s been diversity in her choice of films, there has been one thread that runs through many of them: the physicality that comes with many of those roles. From maintaining unnaturally still positions in Sometimes I Think About Dying to intensive training for Young Woman and the Sea, she still enjoys pushing herself in physically immersive performances.
Now Ridley is coming into her own as an action heroine with Cleaner, the latest film from veteran director Martin Campbell. Here, she stars as a former military window cleaner who inadvertently saves the day when eco-warriors occupy the headquarters of a fossil fuel corporation, holding her brother hostage. Co-starring with Clive Owen and Taz Skylar, the movie is filled with tension-ridden sequences and heart-stopping action scenes.
For Ridley, getting to work with Campbell was an opportunity he couldn’t resist. The iconic director has directed some of the greatest action movies ever made, including GoldenEye and Casino Royale and The Mask of Zorro. Having directed action legends such as Jackie Chan, Liam Neeson, and several James Bonds, Campbell is experienced in getting the best out of his stars in terms of physically demanding performances.
Completely aware of the challenge she faced, Ridley accepted the intense demands of the job, spending considerable time suspended in a harness high above the ground and performing fight scenes in cramped, narrow spaces. “I was bruised and battered after Cleaner. I was bruised all over. I’m certain I tore something in my shoulder,” she said. Instead of avoiding the physical cost, she enjoyed it. “I genuinely enjoyed being able to do the physical things. I enjoy doing as much of it as I can—with Young Woman and the Sea, as well. I enjoy seeing something where you can tell that the person’s actually done the thing.”
Physical training was important in helping her bring the character to life. “I always do physical prep anyway, because obviously, it informs a character emotionally so much. I feel like it brings me close to the character. It’s the adrenaline we’re all addicted to. It is such a rush.” This commitment is seen in Cleaner, where her performance has a level of realism that can only be achieved through rigorous physical commitment.
Perhaps the most difficult moment for Ridley was in a sequence near the end of the film, where she had to perform a bold drop from a ceiling to attack an enemy before quickly dispatching them. Aside from the raw physicality involved, the scene was extremely technical—she had to land on a tiny mat and navigate through a tightly choreographed fight while making sure the camera got everything just right. One little slip-up from Ridley or the crew and the whole shot would be off.
“Basically, I do get to be Spider-Woman,” she laughed. “The adrenaline every time was so high, but it’s also such a dance with the crew, because you may do the stunt flawlessly, but if it zooms out, or the camera isn’t quite right, or the camera is perfectly placed and you are just a little bit off, [it doesn’t work]. The symbiotic relationship between cast and crew is so gorgeous anyway in a film, but especially with choreography like that.”
That coordination among Ridley and the production crew is what makes Cleaner different from all other action movies. Each stunt, each punch, and every intense moment is filmed in such a manner as to put the audience right into the midst of it. Ridley’s dedication towards her acting coupled with Campbell’s professionalism leads to an action movie that doesn’t merely bank on spectacle but seems real and fleshed out.
Her transition to action star status isn’t unexpected for fans of her work. Even in Star Wars, she did a lot of stunt work and combat training, something which clearly had a lasting effect on how she handled physically demanding parts. But Cleaner goes further than ever before, and shows that she’s fully capable of heading a full-scale action thriller.
For viewers, the excitement over Cleaner is not only about the fast-paced action—it’s about watching Ridley in a different light. With every new role she assumes, she continues to reinvent herself, proving her capacity to get into dramatically different characters and genres. Cleaner is another proof of her range, determination, and eagerness to challenge herself to new heights.
Whether she’s training as an Olympic athlete, holding absolutely still for an entire scene, or falling through ceilings like a superhero come to life, Ridley’s commitment to her work is never in question. If Cleaner is any sign, her transition as an action star is only just starting.
