From Star Wars to Zombie Apocalypse: Daisy Ridley's Albany Adventure
Star Wars heroine Daisy Ridley confronts a zombie outbreak in Albany in the new Western Australian film We Bury The Dead. Directed by Zak Hilditch, this project marks a significant departure for Ridley, best known for her role as Rey in the recent Star Wars trilogy.
A Pandemic Pause and Career Reflection
The 33-year-old British actress acknowledges that the global COVID-19 pandemic provided crucial breathing space after her rapid rise to fame. "I think that lockdown and COVID, spiritually and emotionally for me, became a very necessary moment of rest," Ridley revealed during a Zoom interview. "Because (Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker) had just come out, there was a lot to process, so actually having to sort of sit in that ended up being quite good for me."
Despite stepping away from the Star Wars universe temporarily, Ridley hasn't completely left it behind. "I'm always worried I'm going to be robbed, because I've still got a lightsaber or two," she laughed during the conversation.
Albany Transforms into Post-Apocalyptic Tasmania
Filmed in early 2024, We Bury The Dead uses Albany's landscapes to stand in for Hobart, where a fictional US military disaster has killed tens of thousands of Tasmanians. Ridley plays Ava Newman, an American woman who travels to the Apple Isle as a volunteer with the Australian government's Body Retrieval Unit after her husband becomes one of the victims.
When the deceased begin returning as zombies, Ava's mission transforms into a survival adventure alongside Australian larrikin Clay, portrayed by Pirates Of The Caribbean star Brenton Thwaites. "It was quite funny, because, when I got to Albany, I thought, 'God, there are more zombies than I thought there were when I first read the script'," Ridley recalled with amusement.
From Personal Grief to Zombie Thriller
Director Zak Hilditch revealed the film's unexpected origins, tracing them back to 2017 when he was clearing out his mother's house following her death from breast cancer. "This really all started as an exploration of grief, and how you navigate that when it hits you," Hilditch explained. "Never in a million years did I think it was going to end up being a Daisy Ridley zombie movie."
Interestingly, early drafts contained no zombies at all. The supernatural element emerged as Hilditch connected the concept of unfinished business with Ava's character development. "It would have been a very different, much more sombre affair, without (zombies)," the director acknowledged. "There was a similar movie in there, but it was just lacking true thrills, true threats."
A Shared Passion for Zombie Cinema
Both Ridley and Hilditch share a deep appreciation for zombie films, with the actress confirming she's seen "all of the zombie films out there" and both citing the 28 Days Later franchise as a particular favourite. This mutual enthusiasm proved crucial to the project's success.
"I mean, it was just an absolute dream; she was the very first actor that was sent the script," Hilditch revealed about securing Ridley's involvement. "Within less than a week, I was zooming Daisy, and, on the Zoom, she was saying that she was all in."
Challenging Scenes and Albany Hospitality
One particularly demanding sequence involved Ridley fighting a zombie inside an overturned bus, requiring perfect execution in a single take. "I suppose that bus scene physically was tricky," the actress admitted. "Knowing that they were going to do it in one take made you think, 'Oh, f..., I can't miss this, all these things have to be done'."
Beyond the filming, Ridley thoroughly enjoyed her Western Australian experience. "I think I did try almost every restaurant in Albany," she laughed. "Liberte was delicious."
Economic Impact and Future Projects
Even before its Australian opening weekend, We Bury The Dead has delivered substantial benefits to Western Australia. Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall confirmed: "It's delivered an estimated $9.3 million to the WA economy during production and employed approximately 300 West Aussies."
Looking ahead, Ridley has multiple projects lined up, including a role opposite Johnny Depp and Ian McKellen in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol and a return to the Star Wars universe in New Jedi Order. About her Star Wars comeback, she stated: "If I didn't think it was a good idea, I wouldn't have done it. I think the idea is great. I think the story will be fantastic."
We Bury The Dead is currently showing in cinemas across Australia, bringing Western Australian landscapes and storytelling to national audiences.
