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Daisy Ridley: Who is the new "Star Wars: Episode VII" actress?

When the "Star Wars: Episode VII" cast was announced Tuesday, it contained a mix of returning stars -- Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford will be back as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo -- along with new faces like Adam Driver ("Girls") and Oscar Isaac ("Inside Llewyn Davis").

But the one that got the most attention was Daisy Ridley -- a British actress seemingly plucked from obscurity to star in one of the most anticipated films in coming years.

"Star Wars" fans and the generally curious have been scouring the Internet since the announcement to see just who Ridley is. Here's what we know about her so far (other than the fact that she's about to become very famous):

-She's the new girl. Ridley's IMDb page is short -- with credits only dating back to last year. She's appeared on the Jeremy Piven-starring TV series "Mr. Selfridge" and also had roles on the shows "Silent Witness" and "Youngers."

-She's got skills. According to her agent's website, Ridley is 5-foot-7 and a "highly-skilled" swimmer, jazz singer and jazz dancer. She's a mezzo-soprano and can also tap. She's got a native London accent, but can do Cockney, Dublin and Northern ones too.

-We don't know how old she is. Her exact age isn't listed on her agent's site (or anywhere else we've seen), but that page notes her "playing age" to be 16-20.

-She's on social media. According to her Instagram profile, Ridley is "British. That's all you really need to know." She's also on Twitter.


-Her character is still a mystery. The cast announcement made no mention of the roles the new actors will play, but that hasn't stopped fans from speculating. In the photo Lucasfilm released Tuesday, she's sitting between Ford and Fisher. Could she be Han and Leia's daughter? That's what some are wondering.

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The cast of "Star Wars: Episode VII." David James/Walt Disney Studios

"Star Wars: Episode VII" will hit theaters on Dec. 18, 2015.

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