Winona Ryder

Birthday: 29 October 1971, Winona, Minnesota, USA

Birth Name: Winona Laura Horowitz

Height: 161 cm

Winona Ryder was born Winona Laura Horowitz in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and was named after a nearby town, Winona, Minnesota. She is the daughter of Cynthia (Istas), an author and video producer, and Michael Horowitz, a publisher and bookseller. Her father's family is Russian Jewish and Romanian Jewish. She grew up in a ranch commune in Northern California which had no electricity. She is the goddaughter of Timothy Leary. Her parents were friends of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg and once edited a book called "Shaman Woman Mainline Lady", an anthology of writings on the drug experience in literature, which included one piece by Louisa May Alcott. Ryder would later play the lead role of Josephine March in the adaptation of this author's novel Little Women (1994).Ryder moved with her parents to Petaluma, California when she was ten and enrolled in acting classes at the American Conservatory Theater. At age 13, she had a video audition to the film Desert Bloom (1986), but did not get the role. However, director David Seltzer spotted her and cast her in Lucas (1986). When telephoned to ask how she would like to have her name appear on the credits, she suggested Ryder as her father's Mitch Ryder album was playing the background. Ryder was selected for the role of Mary Corleone in The Godfather: Part III (1990), but had to drop out of the role after catching the flu from the strain of doing the films Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) and Mermaids (1990) back to back. She said she did not want to let everyone down by doing a substandard performance. She later made The Age of Innocence (1993), which was directed by Martin Scorsese, whom she believes to be "the best director in the world". Show less «

I live in San Francisco, I have an apartment in New York, but I'm here all the time. Nobody knows......Show more »

I live in San Francisco, I have an apartment in New York, but I'm here all the time. Nobody knows... You can't stay away. I'm a San Franciscan to the bone. Show less «

I was starting to have some trouble before that. I think a lot of people think that that is what sor...Show more »

I was starting to have some trouble before that. I think a lot of people think that that is what sort of sent me off in another direction, but I was actually starting to have some trouble a few years before. And then there were also a couple of movies that I was going to do, that were all set up, and then, at the last minute, they fell apart... And with what happened... I was living up in San Francisco and I really needed the time off, which ended up being a couple of years. In a weird way, it was almost like the best thing that could have happened because I'd never asked myself the question before of, "Is it okay if I'm not going to act? Is there anything else?" because that was all that I really knew. Show less «

I don't know if it's because of my love of books and the pages and the print-there's just so much ro...Show more »

I don't know if it's because of my love of books and the pages and the print-there's just so much romance in them-but I hate all these doublespeak abbreviations like "OMG" and "LOL". I still don't know if that means "Laugh Out Loud" or "Lots of Love". Show less «

[on Mean Girls (2004)] I'd always hoped that in some ways it was an homage to Heathers (1988). But t...Show more »

[on Mean Girls (2004)] I'd always hoped that in some ways it was an homage to Heathers (1988). But then I read an interview with Tina Fey and she said, "Oh no, it has nothing to do with it." I got a little defensive, because I really think Heathers created something new. Show less «

I get asked a lot, "What does it feel like to be a '90s icon?" And I'm like "You think I sit around ...Show more »

I get asked a lot, "What does it feel like to be a '90s icon?" And I'm like "You think I sit around and think of myself like that?" You can't think about yourself in those ways, because who does that? I did feel like it was a little bit of a struggle because when you achieve a lot of success when you're that age, in your late teens and early 20s, it was then harder to play roles when I was a little bit older that I was the right age for. People just thought of me as this person from Reality Bites (1994), or whatever. My thirties were a little bit tough, for various reasons. But I do remember work-wise, people thought of me as the ingenue. But I was too old for that.I know there's a lot of conversations right now about ageism, and I know a lot of actresses who have a tough time, and I've gotten offered those mom parts. But you can make something of it. For me, I'm finally getting to play my own age, and it's liberating. I would not want to go back to playing the ingenue. I'm not someone like Norma Desmond who's harking back to her younger days. I think because I started so young, I secretly wanted to be older all the time. Show less «

I have to admit, though, that every time I hear "comeback, blah, blah, blah", it's kind of hard for ...Show more »

I have to admit, though, that every time I hear "comeback, blah, blah, blah", it's kind of hard for me. I'm not trying to be super-sensitive at all, but there is a little bit of defensiveness because I do feel like I have contributed. Even if I'd just made Beetlejuice (1988) and Heathers (1988), I put in work. Show less «

There were times where people might have seen me and said, "Wow, she's so lucky." But I was depresse...Show more »

There were times where people might have seen me and said, "Wow, she's so lucky." But I was depressed, I was going through something. That time I went through led me to make Girl, Interrupted (1999). Most girls go through that at around that age - 20, 21. It's much more common than we think, which is why I wanted to make that movie. It worked in the sense that I still have girls come up to me and say that it really helped them, and that was nice to hear. Show less «

[on Heathers (1988)] It's a brilliant piece of literature, and I call it literature because it reall...Show more »

[on Heathers (1988)] It's a brilliant piece of literature, and I call it literature because it really is. I held it up next to "Catcher in the Rye" and all the great books that I've read. Show less «

[on Star Trek (2009)] I really don't have much more than a cameo. I was kind of thinking I'd be like...Show more »

[on Star Trek (2009)] I really don't have much more than a cameo. I was kind of thinking I'd be like Marlon Brando in Superman (1978). Not that I'd ever compare myself to Brando! Show less «

For a long time, I was almost ashamed of being an actress. I felt like it was a shallow occupation. ...Show more »

For a long time, I was almost ashamed of being an actress. I felt like it was a shallow occupation. People would be watching my every move. Show less «

I tend to binge watch shows that were on a long time ago, but I don't know that, so I start telling ...Show more »

I tend to binge watch shows that were on a long time ago, but I don't know that, so I start telling everybody. Like I love Damages (2007) and I thought it was still on... and I was like "There's this great show, Damages," but it was over a long time ago. Show less «

[observation, 2016] I took some years off and I didn't realize that was very dangerous in terms of m...Show more »

[observation, 2016] I took some years off and I didn't realize that was very dangerous in terms of my career. When I was ready to come back, I was like "Oh, where did everyone go?". Show less «

[on the rumor that she turned down Sleepy Hollow (1999)] To be honest and boring, I was in the middl...Show more »

[on the rumor that she turned down Sleepy Hollow (1999)] To be honest and boring, I was in the middle of switching agents so it could've come up. I don't know. Maybe people thought that because of [Johnny Depp] and I, but we were fine at that point. We did go through the whole year of, you know... So maybe people thought that was still an issue. It was a dramatic relationship because it was my first and they're always dramatic, but the press made it so much more. Actually I do remember talking to [Tim Burton] about Sleepy Hollow, but way before he did it. But I was interested to see it, because it was [Christina Ricci]'s first grown-up role - my little sister from Mermaids (1990). Show less «

I don't feel threatened like Julia Roberts. Pretty Woman (1990) turned her into an overnight celebri...Show more »

I don't feel threatened like Julia Roberts. Pretty Woman (1990) turned her into an overnight celebrity rather than an actress. Now her whole career is about box-office -- if her movies don't break $l00-million. It's not a burden I'd ever want to carry. Show less «

[on Tim Burton] He gave me my career. Actually, if you think about it, I don't think I would be an a...Show more »

[on Tim Burton] He gave me my career. Actually, if you think about it, I don't think I would be an actress if Beetlejuice (1988) hadn't come along, because I really wasn't thriving in those auditions. I'd just done a couple things, but I had black hair and was very pale, and that movie led to other things. So yeah, he gave me a career. Show less «

I'm the happiest I've ever been. I'm not going to turn into Gloria Swanson and sit in my mansion wat...Show more »

I'm the happiest I've ever been. I'm not going to turn into Gloria Swanson and sit in my mansion watching my movies, with a crazy cigarette holder... but I feel so blessed to have done the things that I've done. Show less «

I'm on the board of human rights organizations. One is for the West Memphis Three. We have to get th...Show more »

I'm on the board of human rights organizations. One is for the West Memphis Three. We have to get these kids out because they are innocent. It's about justice. We have finally got permission to do a DNA test, which should have been automatic in the first place but was denied. There were so many inconsistencies in the case against them dental impressions didn't match the three boys in prison. But the trial happened so fast - the state wanted a result. Right now, they are saying DNA has been tampered with and is not admissible as evidence. It's a catch 22 situation. The case needs serious funding. It's a gross miscarriage of justice, I hope to see them freed soon. Show less «

I always loved the Patti Smith lyric, "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine." I got sent home...Show more »

I always loved the Patti Smith lyric, "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine." I got sent home from school wearing a Patti Smith T-shirt with that line on. Show less «

I'm in Brooklyn. I'm actually trying to do the bi-coastal thing now for real. I did it before, but n...Show more »

I'm in Brooklyn. I'm actually trying to do the bi-coastal thing now for real. I did it before, but not really. My home is San Francisco - that is definitely what I consider my home. But I have a little place for when I'm in L.A., and then there's this apartment in Williamsburg, which is the part of Brooklyn where my dad grew up. He came to visit... It's just so hip now. Show less «

Focus should be on the art of film, not on the business of film.

When asked why is she always playing teenagers, during a press junket for Mermaids (1990): Like, I'm...Show more »

When asked why is she always playing teenagers, during a press junket for Mermaids (1990): Like, I'm nineteen. What am I supposed to do, play a judge?! Show less «

I was out at a bar with a friend who said, "Do you realize that in America you're never going to be ...Show more »

I was out at a bar with a friend who said, "Do you realize that in America you're never going to be able to meet a guy who knows nothing about you? Everyone will have preconceived ideas about who you are." I got so bummed out. I'd never really thought about it that way. Show less «

[2013] Recently, they were showing Lucas (1986) and Beetlejuice (1988) and it was a part of "The Gol...Show more »

[2013] Recently, they were showing Lucas (1986) and Beetlejuice (1988) and it was a part of "The Golden Oldies". And I was so psyched by that, and I think I secretly like getting older and it's so cool to be in a "old Goldie". Show less «

[on why she never felt guilty about her shoplifting arrest] I didn't have this tremendous sense of g...Show more »

[on why she never felt guilty about her shoplifting arrest] I didn't have this tremendous sense of guilt because I hadn't hurt anyone. Had I physically harmed someone or caused harm to a human being, I think it would have been an entirely different experience. Show less «

I love Westerns. John Ford is one of the 10 best directors.

I don't know if it's a cold - it's just that my voice was kind of going. But it's back, so I'm actua...Show more »

I don't know if it's a cold - it's just that my voice was kind of going. But it's back, so I'm actually okay. In a weird way, I was actually hoping that whatever voice thing I've got could stay so that I could sort of have a Debra Winger thing going on. I've always loved her voice. But it's getting better, so I'm going to sound like me. Show less «

My father is an atheist. My mother is Buddhist. They encouraged my siblings and me to take the best ...Show more »

My father is an atheist. My mother is Buddhist. They encouraged my siblings and me to take the best part of other religions to make our own belief system. Show less «

My godfather Timothy Leary coined the phrase "question authority", it is one of my favorites. To que...Show more »

My godfather Timothy Leary coined the phrase "question authority", it is one of my favorites. To question our government is the most important thing people can do right now in the United States. Show less «

I remember one time in particular. I was in the middle of auditioning, and I was mid-sentence when t...Show more »

I remember one time in particular. I was in the middle of auditioning, and I was mid-sentence when the casting director said, "Listen, kid. You should not be an actress. You are not pretty enough. You should go back to wherever you came from and you should go to school. You don't have it." She was very blunt - I honestly think that she thought she was doing me a favor. Show less «

[on Angelina Jolie, her co-star of Girl, Interrupted (1999)] She was so open about everything. I rem...Show more »

[on Angelina Jolie, her co-star of Girl, Interrupted (1999)] She was so open about everything. I remember doing interviews with her and she would talk about things I never would. She's a completely different person these days and I have the utmost respect for her. And I think, at the time, she was also battling her looks because she's so beautiful. She wanted very much to be taken seriously and not just judged on her looks. And she conquered that. (2009) Show less «

[on her childhood] I was once told that I was playing, and John Lennon was there. I was too young to...Show more »

[on her childhood] I was once told that I was playing, and John Lennon was there. I was too young to know who he was. I got in trouble because I gave something to his son Sean. I get told all these amazing stories, but at that time, they were just grown-ups. Now I'm older, I'm like "What!?". Because now I have the appreciation. Show less «

[on The Godfather: Part III (1990)] I was devastated because I love the Godfather movies so much. Wh...Show more »

[on The Godfather: Part III (1990)] I was devastated because I love the Godfather movies so much. What happened was I'd done Mermaids (1990) and we were shooting for spring in the coldest winter in Boston's history, and I got an upper respiratory infection. The day I wrapped I had to get on a plane to Italy. I actually passed out in the costume-fitting. I was just exhausted, and the next thing I knew I was at home with my parents. The film's insurance people said I needed to be in bed for a few weeks. I was heartbroken, but at the same time I was so sick it was a relief. And Al [Pacino] and Francis [Ford Coppola] and Diane [Keaton] all called me and were really nice, which meant a lot. I felt bad in a way because they were so mean to Sofia [Coppola], who's always been so nice to me. Show less «

In every article I've ever read - and my parents keep everything - it's like 'waif, pixie, waif, pix...Show more »

In every article I've ever read - and my parents keep everything - it's like 'waif, pixie, waif, pixie'. There are worse things to be called, but I feel a little stronger than people may perceive me. Show less «

It's interesting because The First Wives Club (1996) was the first movie that made a shitload of mon...Show more »

It's interesting because The First Wives Club (1996) was the first movie that made a shitload of money that starred all women over a certain age. That was a milestone that made you think, "Oh, things are going to change." All those actresses are fantastic. I binge-watched this show Damages (2007). Glenn Close and Rose Byrne are so good. Lily Tomlin is in it. You see all these great actors and the writing is terrific. There are a lot of shows like that. And there are all these conversations right now about roles for women and being paid equally and all of that, but I think what it really is, is opportunity. Show less «

Looking back - and this is all in retrospect - I did have a lot of success and a lot of great opport...Show more »

Looking back - and this is all in retrospect - I did have a lot of success and a lot of great opportunities earlier in my career. But I did also have this thing that was sort of happening in my late twenties where, whether it was because of how I looked or because I started so young, even though I was the right age for things, people didn't think that I was old enough. Show less «

I can't imagine starting as an actress now. In my day, you did it because you loved acting. I know e...Show more »

I can't imagine starting as an actress now. In my day, you did it because you loved acting. I know everyone says, "Well, the press harassment goes hand in hand, you can't complain about it", but I just never believed that. I worked with Meryl Streep when I was 19 or 20 and she said, "That's just bullshit. You're not signing up for that.". Show less «

There was a girl at my school who was kind of a Goth, and she got really picked on, absolutely tortu...Show more »

There was a girl at my school who was kind of a Goth, and she got really picked on, absolutely tortured. People called her a witch. And she committed suicide. As soon as she did, all the kids who tormented her were like, "Oh, she was such a wonderful person." They were all at her funeral, crying. I got the script for Heathers (1988) that week. I thought it was a great commentary on that aspect of school life. Show less «

I don't regret opening up about what I went through [with depression], because, it sounds really cli...Show more »

I don't regret opening up about what I went through [with depression], because, it sounds really cliché, but I have had women come up to me and say, "It meant so much to me.". Show less «

What's awful about being famous and being an actress is when people come up to you and touch you. Th...Show more »

What's awful about being famous and being an actress is when people come up to you and touch you. That's scary, and they just seem to think it's okay to do it, like you're public property. Show less «

[on Kate Winslet when Winona was on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) in 2000] I'm captivated by ...Show more »

[on Kate Winslet when Winona was on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) in 2000] I'm captivated by her. I think that she's the most beautiful, talented, extraordinary actresses ever to grace the screen. I watch her movies over and over. It's kind of like one of those kids how they were with Elvis. I mean, I worship her... I met her once, and I was tongue-tied, and palms were sweating... There's something about her that I'm sort of in love with. I just think she's amazing. Show less «

I still practice Buddhism to a certain extent and I believe in karma.

I read biographies of the greats, and they were so messed up that I thought I'd better mess myself u...Show more »

I read biographies of the greats, and they were so messed up that I thought I'd better mess myself up. But I couldn't. I'm too small. Show less «

In my first apartment in L.A., Jodie Foster lived upstairs, and we'd do laundry together. She's so s...Show more »

In my first apartment in L.A., Jodie Foster lived upstairs, and we'd do laundry together. She's so smart. She told me to resist doing things that other people say you should do. Don't be 'strategic'! I was up for this movie, Mobsters (1991), and everyone said I should do it. But Jodie said, "You have to feel very connected to something before you do it." So I turned it down. And it was a flop. Show less «

There was a whole era where I got linked to everybody. People that I had never met. I was like "How?...Show more »

There was a whole era where I got linked to everybody. People that I had never met. I was like "How? I'm home alone reading chapter 12 of a book.". Show less «

[on Alien: Resurrection (1997)] I couldn't hold my own against Sigourney Weaver and those special ef...Show more »

[on Alien: Resurrection (1997)] I couldn't hold my own against Sigourney Weaver and those special effects. I still don't know what I was doing in that movie. I look at it now and realize I really didn't belong. I'm just this little girl running around. Show less «

I think too much. I think ahead. I think behind. I think sideways. I think it all. If it exists, I'v...Show more »

I think too much. I think ahead. I think behind. I think sideways. I think it all. If it exists, I've fucking thought of it. Show less «

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder's FILMOGRAPHY

Winona Ryder'S roles

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