Star Wars' Daisy Ridley hits back after online troll claims she's setting 'unrealistic expectations' for young girls

Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley has said she "will not apologise" for her body after an online troll claimed she was setting "unrealistic expectations" for young girls with her figure.

The star was responding to an Instagram user who posted a photo of Ridley's Star Wars: The Force Awakens character Rey, with a speech bubble which read: "I can't believe the unrealistic expectations I'm setting for young girls. Who cast me anyway? Don't they know real women have curves?"

Initially the 23-year-old actress replied and defended her figure, saying: "'Real women' are all shapes and sizes, all ethnicities, all levels of brave.

"I am a 'real woman' like every other woman in this world," she added.

She then deleted the Instagram post because it included the original poster's name.

In a long re-post on the same theme, Ridley then opened up about her thoughts on body image and insisted she was happy with her looks.

"What's weird is most of the time I see such gorgeous messages from people around the world," her updated post began.

"People who relate to something in Rey they haven't found in a female character before ... People who loved that The Force Awakens has multiple incredible female characters.

"It is much more hurtful to continue to slate other women than BE a woman, BE a character, BE whoever you want to be.

"I'm a normal girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, just like Rey. I will not apologise for how I look, what I say and how I live my life because what's happening inside is much more important anyway and I am striving to be the best version of myself, even if I stumble along the way."

Ridley concluded by thanking people who "celebrate each other" and included some advice for those who have a problem with anyone else: "Remember that expression, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

"Kindness isn't going to cure the world of all its awfulness but it's a good place to begin."