Star Wars: The Force Awakens actress Daisy Ridley admits she 'wasn’t a huge fan' of the originals

John Boyega, on the other hand, was a huge fan

Before Daisy Ridley and John Boyega skyrocketed to fame as the new faces of Star Wars, thousands upon thousands of fans up and down the country auditioned for the two roles.

With such enthusiasm for the Star Wars universe, you would think the best choice for either of the roles would be a fan of the series. Apparently not.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ridley admitted she wasn’t a fan of the originals, but said she believed that actually helped her.

“I had seen the original ones, but I wasn’t a huge fan, so stepping into this I think that really helped me,” she said. “I didn’t feel like I was trying to fit in. Like I had a role to meet or a place to go into, I just wanted to do a good job.”

Meanwhile, John Boyega is a big fan of the sci-fi franchise: “I’ve always been a fan, especially of the extended universe, like the comic books, the games. I had watched all the movies before being cast. I was fully aware of what Star Wars was. I didn't have to get an update.”

Ridley will play Rey in the upcoming seventh Star Wars film, joining veterans Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.

“I don’t think I will be an idol like Carrie was as Princess Leia,” she went on to say. “I don’t think anything can top that in the Star Wars world. She was, and is, beautiful and smart and strong and vulnerable, all those cool things that made her so loved. But if people like Rey I think I’ll be happy.”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in UK cinemas 17 December, but catch it before in airlines around the world.