Daisy Ridley defined Rey's character through her performance in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but countless other actors were considered before she was cast. Casting a relatively unknown actor ended up being the right call, as Ridley brought a breathtaking level of emotion and sincerity to Rey's character. At the same time, several well-known actors auditioned as well, each one having a long list of acting credits that made them qualified for the part. It's always fascinating to look at actors who almost appeared in Star Wars and think about how the franchise would have turned out differently with someone else in the lead role.
Many of the famous actors who auditioned for Rey went on to appear in other blockbuster movie franchises, meaning their casting would have altered the fate of other movies too. The producers could also have cast a different unknown actor instead of Ridley, allowing someone else to offer their own unique take on the character. Ridley herself may have ended up in a supporting role, as a few actors who auditioned for Rey later received small parts in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. 10 actors who auditioned to play Rey provide a fascinating glimpse into a timeline where someone other than Daisy Ridley was the new lead of Star Wars.
10 Jessica Henwick
Jessica Henwick was a front-runner for Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy before the role went to Ridley. Henwick has expressed her disappointment over losing the part, though J.J. Abrams ended up writing the character of Jessika Pava specifically for her. Henwick has since had several significant roles, including Nymeria Sand in Game of Thrones and Colleen Wing in Iron Fist.
9 Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Olsen was offered the chance to audition for Rey in Star Wars, but she turned it down because she had already signed on to play Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This ultimately proved a smart decision, as Olsen appeared in five MCU movies on top of starring in her own Disney+ series alongside Paul Bettany. Olsen's most recent acting credits include a starring role as Candy Montgomery in the TV miniseries Love & Death.
8 Billie Lourd
Carrie Fisher requested that her daughter, Billie Lourd, be given a role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, so she auditioned for Rey. While the part eventually went to Ridley, Lourd ended up playing Lieutenant Connix in all three sequel films. It's interesting to consider whether the producers would have made Rey Leia's daughter had she been played by Fisher's real-life daughter.
7 Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence was one of the first actors considered to play Rey once it was decided that the Star Wars sequel trilogy would have a female lead. Lawrence had recently gained recognition for her roles as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games franchise and a young Mystique in the X-Men prequel films. This would have made her an ideal choice for Rey, but the producers decided to cast relatively unknown actors to follow George Lucas' approach from the original Star Wars trilogy.
6 Shailene Woodley
Shailene Woodley was also on the shortlist of established actors considered to play Rey before it was decided to cast someone unknown. Woodley still landed a major sci-fi role in the Divergent movies, though this was far less successful than Star Wars. Even so, Woodley has starred in several acclaimed movies such as Adrift, The Fault in Our Stars, and The Spectacular Now.
5 Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Ronan auditioned for Rey in Star Wars and Scarlet Witch in the MCU around the same time, but each role went to Ridley and Olsen, respectively. She still became one of the biggest stars in the world after her leading roles in Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird and Little Women. Ronan's most recent roles include Constable Stalker in See How They Run.
4 Maisie Richardson-Sellers
Massie Richarson-Sellers ended up with a smaller role as Korr Sella in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but she originally auditioned for Rey. Her inclusion in the film suggests that many of the supporting actors first auditioned for major roles, though not all of them are confirmed to have done so. Some of her other notable roles include playing multiple characters on DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Kathy Freeman in The Undeclared War.
3 Evan Rachel Wood
Prior to her role on Westworld, Evan Rachel Wood was another contender for the part of Rey. Like many other notable actors who auditioned for the part, the producers ultimately opted for a cast that was relatively unknown at the time. Wood's most recent credits include her role as Madonna in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story with Daniel Radcliff.
2 Eiza González
Eiza González was one of the top international choices for Rey during the casting process, thanks in large part to her mother who encouraged her to audition. While the role went to Ridley, González understood why the producers wanted to cast an unknown actor, and she greatly appreciated the opportunity. González also auditioned for Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Batman, and her other significant roles include Darling in Baby Driver.
1 Frida Gustavsson
Frida Gustavsson was also a relatively unknown actor when she auditioned to play Rey in Star Wars. She later had her chance to shine in Vikings: Valhalla through her role as Freydis Eriksdotter, as well as several more TV appearances.
Any one of the actors would have been an excellent choice to play Rey in Star Wars, and it's interesting to think about how the sequel trilogy, Rey's New Jedi Order movie, and the entirety of Disney Star Wars may have turned out differently. A different actor may have affected which character got the most attention across all three films, the nature of Rey's parentage, and whether she received a follow-up movie at all. Perhaps more of these actors will eventually make their way into the Star Wars franchise, but until then it's fun to think about how they would have approached Rey differently than Daisy Ridley.