Daisy Ridley has revealed how she was “petrified” on her first day on the Star Wars: The Force Awakens set.

The 23-year-old British actress, who will make her big-screen debut as Rey in the seventh instalment of the sci-fi franchise, admitted she was so nervous that director JJ Abrams even called her “wooden”.

She told Glamour: “I was petrified. I thought I was gonna have a panic attack on the first day.

“JJ… he probably doesn’t remember telling me that my performance was wooden. This was my first day! And I honestly wanted to die. I thought I was gonna cry, I couldn’t breathe.”

Daisy, who graces the front cover of the magazine’s January issue, said she hasn’t watched the finished film yet. It opens in UK cinemas on December 17.

“I haven’t seen the film yet – I kinda want to, and I kinda don’t – Steven Spielberg’s seen it three times, as he told me when I met him!”

The London-born starlet, who has appeared in TV shows Mr Selfridge, Silent Witness and Casualty, admitted it’s been quite overwhelming being propelled into the Star Wars universe with its loyal and strong fanbase.

Daisy said: “It’s so nice that people are so excited about it. But people are getting tattoos! Of my face! Already!

“And I’m like; you don’t even know what Rey is in the story. It seems insane to me.”

Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (David James/Lucasfilm)

Her character Rey is described as “a scavenger in a ship graveyard” who fights off evil forces and is rumoured to be the daughter of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher).

Daisy is one of the younger generation of newcomers who will be in Star Wars: The Force Awakens alongside John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and Domhnall Gleeson.

Daisy Ridley and John Boyega
Daisy Ridley and John Boyega (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The January issue of Glamour is on sale from December 3.