Daisy Ridley stars in Cleaner action thriller on Max this Friday, June 13, marking her return to the spotlight with a dynamic performance. The film gives Ridley a chance to redefine herself as an action star, joining an ensemble cast and taking on a role that puts her at the center of high-rise suspense and daring heroics.
Ridley Embraces the Action Genre in Cleaner
Earlier this year, Daisy Ridley, best known for her role in Star Wars, entered the action arena with Martin Campbell’s latest movie, Cleaner. Although the film struggled at the box office, it now has an opportunity for a fresh start as it arrives on the Max streaming platform. Despite receiving a moderate critics’ rating of 51% and a slightly more favorable 66% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, one aspect garnered nearly universal praise: Ridley’s natural fit for action-packed roles. Cleaner allows her to step into a character reminiscent of Bruce Willis or Jason Statham’s iconic action heroes, and she meets the demands of the role with skill and charisma.
In Cleaner, Ridley portrays Joey Locke, a former military professional who leaves her position after clashing with a misogynistic co-worker. She later takes a job as a window cleaner in a towering building, seeking a quieter life away from conflict. However, her combat training resurfaces out of necessity when a group of gala attendees in the building is taken hostage by an activist group. While the group initially advocates peaceful protest, a member’s shift toward aggression puts everyone’s safety in jeopardy. Observing from the outside, Joey must rely on her previous skills and adrenaline-driven determination to steer the outcome and secure the hostages’ freedom.
The film features a supporting cast that includes Taz Skylar from One Piece, Clive Owen of Closer fame, Ruth Gemmell from Bridgerton, and Ray Fearon, known for his work in His Dark Materials. Together, they contribute to a tense, fast-paced narrative set against the backdrop of a single high-rise event, with Ridley’s character at its core.
Upcoming Projects and Creative Collaborations for Ridley
Daisy Ridley’s career momentum continues beyond Cleaner. Her recent appearance in the survival horror movie Bury the Dead by Zak Hilditch, showcased at SXSW, highlights her willingness to take on varied, challenging roles. Recently, during a Cleaner screening event hosted by Collider and moderated by Steve Weintraub, Ridley spoke about her involvement in current and future projects, particularly her ongoing creative partnership with Tom Bateman, who previously wrote Magpie.
Ridley elaborated on her work with Bateman and her growing interest in collaborative writing:
“Tom [Bateman], who wrote Magpie, and I are doing something, he has written something else that we have sort of been waiting for the green light, and I actually had an idea that I have been working on with someone else, which is actually quite strange because it’s the first time that I’ve done that with another writer. When I went to the meeting, he was like ‘I can’t believe you’re doing this!’ But, we had talked about it and honestly, he doesn’t have the bandwidth because he’s obviously writing something else that was his idea, but that we will do together. I want to be in it. I’m like, ‘please show me the script.’ He read the book, ‘Fox Vision,’ and he’s basically written out the whole thing without having written out the script, but it’s so fantastic, and I can’t wait to read the script.”
—Daisy Ridley, Actress
Ridley’s comments reveal a creative drive and eagerness to explore new territory, both in front of and behind the camera. Her admiration for Bateman’s approach, especially his process with Fox Vision, suggests audiences may see Ridley taking on roles shaped through collaboration and innovation in coming years.
What to Expect When Cleaner Streams on Max
Cleaner’s transition to streaming on Max presents a chance for broader audiences to watch Ridley’s transformation into a formidable action protagonist. Alongside Ridley, Clive Owen appears as Marcus, adding layers to the film’s complex character dynamics, while Taz Skylar, Ruth Gemmell, and Ray Fearon round out the talented cast. With Ridley leading as Joey Locke, viewers can anticipate high-stakes drama, tightly choreographed action, and a character forced to respond to danger with both intellect and physical prowess.
As the film reaches new viewers via Max, its blend of suspense, social commentary, and female-led heroics could solidify Ridley’s position among modern action stars. For those following her career since her Star Wars emergence, the film offers a compelling next step—one that highlights her evolving range and willingness to tackle bold, new genres.
Audiences can tune in when Daisy Ridley stars in Cleaner action thriller on Max this Friday, June 13, and experience Joey Locke’s rescue mission for themselves.
