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The Star Wars Actor Daisy Ridley Has Graves' Disease: What Is It?
By By Becky Upham. Fact-Checked,
15 days ago
Ridley said Graves' made her feel both "tired and wired." Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Key Takeaways
The actor Daisy Ridley revealed she has Graves' disease, an uncommon disorder linked to overproduction of thyroid hormones.
She initially attributed her symptoms, including fatigue, racing heartbeat, weight loss, and hand tremors, to stress.
Left untreated, Graves' disease can be life-threatening.
Daisy Ridley, famous for her role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with Graves' disease , an autoimmune disease that causes the body to make too much thyroid hormone.
After filming the psychological thriller Magpie , the 32-year-old actor began to feel sick and irritable, and experienced hot flashes, fatigue, a racing heart, weight loss, and hand tremors. Initially, Ridley attributed feeling poorly to the stress caused by her role in the new film, and brushed off her symptoms.
In an interview with Women's Health , she explained, "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.
She told the magazine, "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]." The diagnosis of Graves' disease came in September 2023, after her primary care doctor referred her to an endocrinologist. The specialist explained that Graves' often leaves people feeling "tired and wired," a description that resonated with her. The Young Woman and the Sea star has a history of being open about her health issues, which have included both endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) . Some experts believe the three conditions may be linked, though more research is needed to establish and better understand the relationship.
Keep reading for answers about what Graves' disease is, what causes it, the most common symptoms, and treatment options.
What Is Graves' Disease?
Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition that may cause inflammation of the thyroid (called thyroiditis) and hyperthyroidism from overproduction of thyroid hormone, says Jennifer Braemar Ogilvie, MD , the chief of endocrine surgery at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. Thyroid hormones control the way the body uses energy, and so they affect nearly every organ, including the way your heart beats.
With Graves' disease, compounds formed by the immune system overstimulate the thyroid gland and cause it to make too much thyroid hormone, says Dr. Ogilvie.
"In some people, it may also cause inflammation of the soft tissues behind the eyes, called Graves' ophthalmopathy [also called thyroid eye disease] which can lead to bulging of the eyes [proptosis], irritation, or visual changes," she says.
In some cases, people can have the eye disease without the overactive thyroid part of Graves' or vice versa, says Susan Spratt, MD , a professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and an endocrinologist at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina.
"I always say that thyroid disease brings out underlying aspects of your personality. If you tend to be anxious, you will be more anxious. If you tend to have depression, it can affect your sleep and make you more depressed," says Dr. Spratt.
What Are the Risk Factors for Graves' Disease?
It's estimated that Graves' disease affects 1 in 100 people in the United States, and about 80 percent of hyperthyroidism cases are caused by the condition. It's also more common in women, who are five times more likely to develop the condition than men. Although it can occur at any age, it's usually diagnosed in people older than 30.
Graves' disease is commonly sporadic, meaning that it occurs irregularly, but it can run in families, too, says Ogilvie. "Women who have recently given birth, smokers, and people exposed to high levels of iodine also appear to be at increased risk," she says.
High stress levels and a virus or infection may trigger Graves'.
How Is Graves' Disease Treated?
In a minority of people, Graves' disease may go into remission on its own, says Ogilvie.
"In most cases, people are initially treated with anti-thyroid medications," she says. These block your thyroid's production of hormones.
Beta-blockers, which slow the heart rate and are traditionally used to treat high blood pressure, can control some of the symptoms, such as tremor, fast heart rate, and anxiety, says Spratt.
Those that do not go into remission or those that cannot take medication can be treated with radioactive iodine ablation or surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland, called a thyroidectomy, says Ogilvie.
In radioactive iodine ablation, people take radioactive iodine by mouth to destroy the thyroid gland's cells, which ease the symptoms of Graves'.
What if Graves' Disease Goes Untreated?
People can have a normal life expectancy if Graves' is treated promptly and appropriately, says Spratt.
"But Graves' disease can be deadly if not treated. Thyroid storm can occur and cause the body to collapse," she says.
Thyroid storm is a rare and life-threatening condition that can happen to people with hyperthyroidism. Common symptoms include a high fever and a rapid heart rate. It's considered a medical emergency and needs to be treated in a hospital.
This complication is rare and usually occurs only when a person doesn't know they have hyperthyroidism or it's not well controlled and they develop an additional illness like influenza, says Spratt.
Untreated Graves' disease can also affect people's ability to work and function normally, says Ogilvie.
"Graves' can lead to abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and loss of bone strength, or osteoporosis," she says.
Ogilvie recommends that people with Graves' disease seek out an endocrinologist, an expert in thyroid disease.
"See your thyroid doctor at least two to four times a year and monitor labs at least four times per year," she says.
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy . We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Sources
‘Young Woman and the Sea' Star Daisy Ridley Opens Up Exclusively About Her Graves' Disease Diagnosis. Women's Health . August 6, 2024.
Celebrities Who've Opened Up About Living With PCOS. People . September 2023.
Kirkegaard S et al. Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and the Thyroid: A Review. Endocrine Connections . January 16, 2024.
Becky Upham has been professionally involved in health and wellness for almost 20 years. She's been a race director, a recruiter for Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a salesperson for a major pharmaceutical company, a blogger for Moogfest, a communications manager for Mission Health, a fitness instructor, and a health coach.
She majored in English at the University of North Carolina and has a master's in English writing from Hollins University.
Upham enjoys teaching cycling classes, running, reading fiction, and making playlists.
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