Feel the force with Daisy Ridley and Studio Ghibli. Plus, why fantasy films are so successful

Daisy Ridley is the biggest name in the galaxy (or to be precise a galaxy far far away) after playing Rae in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Currently filming the yet untitled Episode VIII alongside The Big Issue’s special correspondent Mark Hamill, Ridley takes a break from lightsabre training to talk about her new role in Only Yesterday from the prestigious Studio Ghibli. The animators are about to release what could be their final film so we find out why their creations – and fantasy films in general – can transport audiences. We also talk to Daisy’s co-star in the film, Dev Patel about what the films mean to him.

The EU, a new Cold War, Putin and memories of the “outstanding” Margaret Thatcher – Mikhail Gorbachev deals with these and more in an exclusive extract of his new book we carry. Fascinating insights from one of the 20^thcentury’s key figures.

Our Letter To My Younger Self is with acting royalty Juliet Stevenson. She mourns the premature deaths of her brother and father and explains what actors really earn.

John Bird, meanwhile, looks at the rise of Trump and what it says about the rise of consumerism.

Julia Bradbury writes for us about homelessness and exclusion in a raw and affecting opinion piece.

Our featured vendor this week is Sean Hodgkinson, who sells in Chipping Norton. David Cameron has stopped by to buy a copy and say hello to his dogs.