Rey (Star Wars) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Rey
Star Wars character
Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
First appearance	The Force Awakens (2015)
Created by	Lawrence Kasdan J. J. Abrams Michael Arndt
Portrayed by	Daisy Ridley Other: Cailey Fleming (Young; Episodes VII, IX) Josefine Irrera Jackson (Young; Episode IX)
Voiced by	Daisy Ridley Helen Sadler Jessica Barden
Information
Aliases	Rey Skywalker (adopted name)
Species	Human
Occupation	Scavenger Jedi
Affiliation	Palpatine family (renounced) Resistance Jedi Order Skywalker family (honorary)
Family	Sheev Palpatine (paternal grandfather) Dathan Palpatine (father) Miramir (mother) Unnamed Maternal Great-Grandmother
Dyad	Ben Solo (love interest)
Master	Luke Skywalker Leia Organa
Homeworld	Jakku

Rey is a brave and powerful character in the Star Wars universe. She is the main hero of the sequel movies. These films include The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). The actress Daisy Ridley plays Rey.

Rey starts as a scavenger, someone who collects old parts, on the desert planet Jakku. She was left there when she was a child. She soon gets involved in the fight between the good guys, the Resistance, and the bad guys, the First Order. Rey discovers she has a strong connection to the Force. She trains to become a Jedi with Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Rey faces many enemies, including Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader Snoke, and the evil Emperor Palpatine. It is later revealed that Palpatine is her grandfather. Even though they are enemies, Rey and Kylo Ren share a special Force connection called a 'dyad'. After Palpatine is defeated, Rey chooses the name Rey Skywalker. She does this to honor her teachers and their family. As the last Jedi, her goal is to rebuild the Jedi Order.

How Rey Was Created
- Making the Character and Choosing the Actor
- Rey's Personality
Rey's Adventures
Relationships
- Family Tree
- Mentorship Tree
See also

How Rey Was Created

Making the Character and Choosing the Actor

Rey's costume from Episode VII

When the creators started planning the new Star Wars movies, they wanted a strong female character to be the main hero. Screenwriter Michael Arndt was excited by the idea of a story about a female Jedi. At first, Rey was called "Kira." Director J. J. Abrams later decided on the name "Rey."

The creators wanted Rey to be an "outsider" who had to work hard. This would make her journey more interesting. They felt that a character who started with nothing would have a longer and more exciting adventure.

Daisy Ridley was chosen to play Rey. She was not very well known at the time. This was important because the earlier Star Wars movies also featured new actors. Ridley auditioned many times over seven months. She had to keep her role a secret for three months! Abrams said Ridley was "so funny and had a great spark." He also said she was "born with this gift" to act. Kathleen Kennedy, a producer, said Daisy had the "physicality and a self-confidence" needed for Rey. A younger Rey was played by Cailey Fleming.

Daisy Ridley said she felt nervous but related to Rey's hopeful spirit. She worked closely with Abrams to make Rey's character softer and more understandable.

Composer John Williams created Rey's musical theme. He wanted it to sound adventurous and thoughtful, showing her strength and connection to the Force.

Rey's Personality

Rey is introduced as a 19-year-old in The Force Awakens. She is very determined, brave, and always hopeful. She is also very loyal to her friends. Daisy Ridley said that Rey is amazing not just because she is strong, but because she is a complex person who faces many challenges.

Rey has a very strong connection to the Force. This is clear when she touches Anakin Skywalker's old lightsaber. Even without much training, she can use the Force. She even defeats Kylo Ren in a lightsaber duel, even though he is a trained Force user.

In The Last Jedi, Rey discovers a special connection with Kylo Ren through the Force. Director Rian Johnson used this connection to help the characters talk and develop their relationship. In The Rise of Skywalker, this connection is called a "dyad" in the Force. It means they are like "soulmates" or "twins of destiny" in the Force.

Rey's Adventures

In the Movies

The Force Awakens (2015)

Rey lives alone on Jakku, collecting parts from old spaceships. She meets a little droid named BB-8 and a former stormtrooper named Finn. When the First Order attacks, Rey pilots the Millennium Falcon to escape. They meet the famous smuggler Han Solo and his friend Wookiee Chewbacca. Han is impressed by Rey's skills.

They go to Maz Kanata's castle. There, Rey finds a lightsaber that belonged to Luke Skywalker and his father, Anakin. When she touches it, she has a scary vision of the past and Luke. Maz tells Rey that her family will not return and she must find her own strength in the Force. Rey feels overwhelmed and runs away.

The First Order attacks, and Kylo Ren captures Rey. He takes her to Starkiller Base and tries to read her mind. But Rey resists and even reads his mind, seeing his fear. She then uses a Jedi mind trick to escape her guard. Rey finds Finn, Han, and Chewbacca, who came to rescue her. They watch in horror as Ren kills his own father, Han.

As they escape, Ren attacks them. He hurts Finn badly. Rey then uses the Force to grab Luke's lightsaber and fights Ren. She is powerful and defeats him. Rey, Chewbacca, and a wounded Finn escape in the Millennium Falcon. Back at the Resistance base, Rey comforts Leia Organa about Han's death. Rey decides to find Luke Skywalker. She travels to the planet Ahch-To and finds Luke, giving him his old lightsaber.

Books and Toys

Rey appears in books like Star Wars: Before the Awakening and Rey's Survival Guide. These books tell more about her life before the movies. She is also a main character in the novelization of The Force Awakens.

The Last Jedi (2017)

Rey offers Luke his lightsaber, but he throws it away. Luke eventually agrees to teach Rey about the Force. Rey shows amazing power, but also a pull towards the dark side, which reminds Luke of Kylo Ren. Rey starts to feel a connection with Ren through the Force. Ren tells her that Luke tried to kill him. Luke later explains he was tempted but stopped himself. Rey believes she can turn Ren back to the good side.

Rey leaves Luke and goes to meet Ren. Ren takes her to Supreme Leader Snoke. Snoke reveals he created the Force connection between Rey and Ren to trap Luke. Snoke orders Ren to kill Rey, but Ren surprises everyone by killing Snoke instead. Rey and Ren fight Snoke's guards together. Ren then asks Rey to join him and create a new order. Rey refuses and they fight over Luke's lightsaber, breaking it.

Rey escapes and helps the Resistance fight the First Order. She uses the Force to move a huge rock barrier, saving the remaining Resistance fighters. Rey reunites with Finn and Leia. She feels Luke's death through the Force and tells Leia he died peacefully. Leia tells Rey that the Resistance has everything it needs to rebuild, looking at Rey. Rey secretly took ancient Jedi texts from Luke before they were destroyed.

The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Wax figure of Rey at Madame Tussauds London

One year later, Rey continues her Jedi training with Leia. The Resistance learns that Emperor Palpatine is back and has built a huge fleet of Star Destroyers. Rey finds clues to find a special device called a Sith wayfinder, which leads to Palpatine's hidden planet, Exegol. Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and BB-8 go on a mission to find it.

Rey keeps communicating with Kylo Ren through their Force connection. Ren learns where she is and confronts her. Rey accidentally uses Force lightning to destroy a First Order transport, thinking Chewbacca was on it. She feels terrible guilt.

On another planet, Ren tells Rey a shocking truth: she is Palpatine's granddaughter. Her father, Dathan, was Palpatine's son but he ran away. Rey's parents, Dathan and Miramir, hid her on Jakku to protect her. Palpatine's assassin found and killed them, but never found Rey. Ren also explains that their connection is a powerful "dyad" in the Force. Ren wants Rey to join him to defeat Palpatine, but she refuses and escapes.

Rey finds the wayfinder on the remains of the second Death Star. She has a vision of herself as a Sith Lord. Ren tracks her down and they duel. Leia, dying, calls out to Ren through the Force. Rey accidentally stabs Ren while he is distracted. Feeling Leia's death, Rey heals Ren with the Force and escapes. Disturbed by her family history, Rey goes into hiding. Luke's Force spirit encourages her to face Palpatine. He gives her Leia's lightsaber and his old X-wing. Rey flies to Exegol. Meanwhile, Ren becomes Ben Solo again.

Rey sends her location to the Resistance, who launch an attack. Rey confronts Palpatine, who wants her to kill him so his spirit can take over her body. Ben Solo arrives and joins Rey. Palpatine drains their life energy to become fully powerful. He attacks the Resistance fleet. Weakened, Rey hears the voices of past Jedi, who give her strength. Palpatine attacks her with lightning, but Rey uses Luke and Leia's lightsabers to reflect it, destroying Palpatine and herself. Ben uses the Force to bring Rey back to life, but he vanishes into the Force. Rey returns to her friends, celebrating their victory.

Later, Rey visits Luke's childhood home on Tatooine. She buries the Skywalker lightsabers and reveals her own new yellow lightsaber. When asked her name, she sees the Force spirits of Luke and Leia. She proudly says, "Rey Skywalker."

Future Film

In 2023, it was announced that Daisy Ridley will play Rey again in a new Star Wars movie. This film will take place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. It will focus on Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order.

In TV Shows

Star Wars Rebels (2014)

Rey's voice can be heard briefly in an episode of Star Wars Rebels. This happens in a special place called the World Between Worlds, which exists outside of time.

Forces of Destiny (2017)

Rey is a main character in the short animated series Star Wars Forces of Destiny, with Daisy Ridley voicing her.

The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special (2020)

Rey is the main character in The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special. In this fun story, she is a Jedi Master trying to train Finn. She travels through time using a special key to learn from other Jedi Masters. She meets many famous characters like Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and even Darth Vader. Rey learns important lessons about friendship and teaching. She eventually returns to her own time to celebrate Life Day with her friends.

In Video Games

Rey appears in several video games, including Disney Infinity 3.0 (2015), Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2016), and Star Wars: Battlefront II (2017). Daisy Ridley voices her in most of these games. She is also a character in Fortnite.