Is Daisy Edgar-Jones the next big thing in Hollywood? Let's delve into how the rising star is primed for enduring success.
Background and Early Roles
Born in London to parents in the film industry, Daisy Edgar-Jones readily entered the world of acting at 17 years old. Rising to fame primarily in her home country as a star of multiple BBC television projects, Edgar-Jones was quickly becoming a household name in the UK. Taking a considerable leap away from such projects, the young actress landed a role in the 2022 thriller Fresh, a twisted tale co-starring Sebastian Stan that premiered at none other than the Sundance Film Festival. Likewise, she held her own alongside her notable co-star, Andrew Garfield, in Under the Banner of Heaven. Edgar-Jones then decidedly had her foot in the door in Hollywood, and has carried the momentum since. In truth, there is not much to be said of her early roles separately from the current stage of her career, as she is now presently blossoming into becoming an established international name.
Daisy-Edgar Jones has had a relatively fast rise, largely avoiding the growing pains of fruitless auditions and dry spells. Some may call it sheer dumb luck, or perhaps the benefit of having parents in the industry, but this can also be attributed to Edgar-Jones’ raw talent. On screen, Edgar-Jones sublimely transforms into her characters, melting away notions the audience may have of who she is from her previous roles. While perhaps one of the principle tenets of acting, all too often we see actors that seem to play variations of their real life personas endlessly.
The current trend of ever-expanding superhero universes dominating the box office may be partially responsible for this, with many of the films relying on low-stakes comedy and elaborate visual effects rather than solid story-telling and moving performances. Daisy Edgar-Jones has so far evaded the Marvel cinematic universe, instead showcasing her ability to sink her teeth into complex and subtle roles.
We Are Currently Witnessing the Turning Point of Her Career
Daisy Edgar-Jones stands at a critical juncture in her career, primed to continuously build off of the momentum of each successful project to launch the next, with bigger and better roles that sweep her closer and closer to becoming a professional leading lady. The still fresh release of Where the Crawdads Sing has proven a valuable step in her career, with the success of the film largely on the shoulders of Edgar-Jones as she brought the enigmatic “Marsh Girl” to life.
Edgar-Jones had the fortune, or tact, to stumble upon goldmines from the onset of her career. The BBC series Normal People was a BAFTA Award-winning production, effectively fortifying her credentials and securing her status as a rising star. She did not have to wade through an interminable series of supporting roles in order to further establish her capabilities, and was promptly entrusted with the leading role in Fresh, opposite seasoned actor Sebastian Stan. The film received wide acclaim as the somewhat obvious metaphor between cannibalism and the objectification of women is presented in an entirely captivating and provocative fashion, making the viewer almost forget the metaphor at hand on account of the sheer horror on their screens. It is the sign of a truly well-crafted narrative that makes itself plain without being so simple, with lighthearted moments and playful scenes drawing a greater juxtaposition to the revolting content being shown. Viewers are left feeling absolutely sick, but equally sympathetic and protective of not only the character of Noa, portrayed by Edgar-Jones, but of women at large, who in varying degrees face the sort of objectification that the film retells in hyperbole.
Edgar-Jones’ performance shines, holding her own against a more established co-star. She invites the viewer to share in the urgency of her situation, conveying it not through overdone hysterics, but through subtle glances searching for a way out; through careful realizations as she plots her next move; through the construction of her farce to seduce and maim her captor. Edgar-Jones is not pandering to the audience, but rather visibly living in her character’s truth. Earning Critic’s Choice, Jury, and Hollywood Critics Association awards, Fresh earned recognition, but not quite the flowers that such a well-executed project should. Then again, the content is not suitable for all audiences, which will perhaps keep this film tucked away as a favorite among critics rather than the masses. Nevertheless, Daisy Edgar-Jones’ performance in the thriller was not unnoticed, and she readily landed the leading role in Where the Crawdads Sing.
Starring in a film adaptation of a popular novel carries risk and reward. On the one hand, Edgar-Jones needed to fit the bill for what readers expected out of the main character, Kya. The ability to please the already existing population of fans is critical to ensuring success for such a film, while it remained equally important for Edgar-Jones to put her own signature into the role. One could say that Edgar-Jones succeeded, but that analysis really depends on who you ask. While critics find the story languidly portrayed yet hurriedly told, and even a bit hokey, fans of the novel allow themselves to sink into the visual journey of a character and story they already know and already love. In this way, granted that there are no glaring discrepancies between a book and its film adaptations, movies based on books come with built-in fans and guaranteed interest. Overall, despite differing opinions on the film’s structure and tone, Edgar-Jones’ performance has been largely well-appraised. One can expect that this will give way to more leading roles, further allowing Edgar-Jones to establish her craft and worthiness as a leading lady.
Destined for Stardom
Not much is known about what Daisy Edgar-Jones’ next move will be. She has teased that it will be another book adaptation, but not much else is known. This is a critical time for the young actress to assess her career development and carefully choose her upcoming projects. The time for proving herself worthy of a seat at the table has passed, and Edgar-Jones now must carefully select roles that continue to make her a mainstream household name while solidifying her reputation as a formidable artist.
While her previous roles have earned her acclaim, the projects themselves have yet to secure the sort of unanimous praise that is needed to ensure her career stays on the current trajectory. Rather than filler content to keep the resume growing, Edgar-Jones is poised to select work that will position her as a formidable force in Hollywood, attaching her name to projects that make a greater mark in film history. If she can do this, she will no doubt be holding all the cards to ensure a significant career.