LONDON, May 29 (Reuters) - Actor Daisy Ridley says

reprising her role as Jedi hero Rey feels "exciting and

nerve-racking" as she returns to the "Star Wars" franchise for a

new film.

Walt Disney Co ( DIS ), which purchased Star Wars producer

Lucasfilm in 2012 and released three movies starring Ridley from

2015 to 2019 as well as different TV series, announced new plans

for the franchise last year. It said Ridley's new film would

focus on rebuilding the New Jedi Order.

"I'm very excited, it feels like a new adventure," Ridley

told Reuters at the London premiere of another Disney ( DIS ) film,

"Young Woman and the Sea", on Wednesday.

"It's a world that I'm familiar with, I'm coming back to,

but also it feels like a new start. So it feels exciting and

nerve-racking and I'm excited."

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on

Tuesday, Ridley said she had yet to read a script for the "Star

Wars" film. "I have not read actual words on actual paper, but

(a script) is soon coming," she told the publication.

In "Young Woman and the Sea" Ridley plays American swimmer

Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle, an Olympic gold medalist who became the

first woman to swim the English Channel.

In 1926, Ederle set off from northern France for the

southern English coast, making the crossing in 14 hours, 31

minutes and beating the men's world record by one hour and 59

minutes.

Despite a huge celebratory parade in New York on her return,

Ederle's name and accomplishments are not as well known to the

general public as those of other sports figures. Ederle died in

2003.

"Playing someone who is determined and resilient ... who has

a real joy for what they're doing is wonderful," Ridley said,

adding she had undergone a "pretty gruelling" swimming training

schedule for the role.