Daisy Ridley is taking on an action-packed role in “Cleaner” later this month, and she had to thank Tom Cruise for inspiring her performance. The “Star Wars” star plays Joey Locke, a highly-trained military veteran now working as a window cleaner on a high-rise skyscraper in London. In an interview with ComicBook, Ridley admitted that this was a challenge because she personally doesn’t care for heights—though her character is fine with them. Ridley had to face this fear head-on throughout filming, and to do so, she thought of Tom Cruise’s infamous stunt performances and tried to channel his bravery.
Ridley shared, “No, I actually really don’t like heights,” with a laugh, reflecting on her previous role in “Young Woman and the Sea,” where she grappled with her fear of open water as well. She explained, “It was just another thing where I thought, ‘I’ve made the decision, because I really want to do the film.’ But the reality is, both characters are facing things I really don’t like.”
The actor recalled the intense feelings she experienced while filming. “It was weird, because I got so used to being on the side of the building. The moment where Joey steps out at the beginning of her work day, and she goes over the edge of the building—that was so scary. I feel like if anyone could hear the roll before I step over, it would be me going, ‘OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD.’ That was absolutely terrifying, and I often think about Tom Cruise jumping off buildings, just thinking, ‘How do you do that?!’ But, yeah, I had to swallow the nerves.”
“Cleaner” is an action thriller with a bit of a “Die Hard” setup—the building Joey works at is hosting an annual gala for an energy company, which is taken over by a group of activists. A small, more radical group among the activists takes things even further, threatening to blow up the building if police intervene with their demonstration. The attendees all become hostages, including Joey’s brother, while she, who was dishonorably discharged from the military, tries to end the standoff single-handedly without triggering an explosion.
The trailer alone showcases just how much Ridley had to confront her fear of heights. The movie was penned by Simon Uttley, Paul Andrew Williams, and Matthew Orton, and directed by Martin Campbell. It will hit theaters in the U.S. on Friday, February 21st, and tickets are on sale now.
