# The $4 billion character Saoirse Ronan fooled herself into thinking was hers to lose: “I don’t have the role”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-4-billion-character-saoirse-ronan-fooled-herself-into-thinking-was-hers-to-lose-i-dont-have-the-role/
- Published: 2026-11-11T14:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T15:41:20+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/4billion-character-saoirse-ronan-fooled-herself/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Saoirse Ronan auditioned to play Rey.
- Daisy Ridley was cast instead.
- Ronan later regretted talking publicly about the audition.

## Summary

Saoirse Ronan auditioned to play Rey in *Star Wars: The Force Awakens*, a role that ultimately went to Daisy Ridley. The article says Ronan later regretted speaking so publicly about the audition, as discussing it may have made her feel she had lost a part that was never hers.

Ronan auditioned in 2013, when little was known about Rey, and described the process as fun, including running around with a fake lightsaber. Other actors who tried out included Shailene Woodley, Eiza González, Jessica Henwick, Evan Rachel Wood and Billie Lourd. Ridley, then little known, was chosen for the role; the trilogy later earned more than $4 billion worldwide.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.