Daisy Ridley News: 'Star Wars' Actress Lends Her Voice to Lead Character in Studio Ghibli Classic 'Only Yesterday' That Comes to Theaters in the New Year
"Star Wars" actress Daisy Ridley is taking a break from The Force and taking on another role. This time, it's to give life to a character in Isao Takahata's "Only Yesterday."
Ridley lends her voice to Taeko Okajima, a 27-year-old woman who is the protagonist of the story. "Only Yesterday" focuses on Taeko and how her journey from Tokyo to the country will not only bring back a series of memories but also make her reflect on whether or not she has stayed true to the girl she used to be.
Ridley told Entertainment Weekly in an interview that it's "very exciting" that the animated film set in the 60s and 80s is finally here. She praised Ghibli for creating "fantastical" films, especially those that tell human stories for being "so human."
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"They are what so many people around the world can identify with," she said of the film "Only Yesterday" specifically. "I think the reason probably this is such a loved film and will continue to be so is because it doesn't feel foreign."
She added that the film touches on topics of people searching for ways to make their dreams come true and other stuff that happen when they go through "transitional periods of self-discovery," which makes it appeal to everyone.
"Only Yesterday" was released in Japan 25 years ago. The hit animated film by Studio Ghibli is finally coming to North America, thanks to Gkids, a cinema distributor that focuses on animated and youth-aimed flicks.
In addition to Ridley, the new English dub also features Dev Patel ("Slumdog Millionaire"), Ashley Eckstein ("Star Wars Rebels"), and Alison Fernandez ("Orange Is the New Black").
Ridley is also set to appear in "Star Wars Episode VIII," which is scheduled to release in 2017. Meanwhile, her fans can catch her as the voice of Takeo in "Only Yesterday," which will open on Jan. 1 and run exclusively at the IFC Center in New York. On Feb. 26, 2016, "Only Yesterday" will release nationwide.
