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, an ...Show More
Focus should be on the art of film, not on the business of film.
Focus should be on the art of film, not on the business of film.
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. Hide
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. Hide
I still practice Buddhism to a certain extent and I believe in karma.
I still practice Buddhism to a certain extent and I believe in karma.
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. Hide
[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. Hide
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.". Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
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?! Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
[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). Hide
I love Westerns. John Ford is one of the 10 best directors.
I love Westerns. John Ford is one of the 10 best directors.
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. Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
[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". Hide
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. Hide
[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. Hide
[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?". Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
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". Hide
[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. Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
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.". Hide
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. Hide
[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) Hide
[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. Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
[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! Hide
[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. Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
[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. Hide
[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. Hide
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. Hide
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. Hide
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.". Hide
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. Hide
[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. Hide
Winona Ryder's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (137)
Winona Ryder'S roles
Kelly La Fonda
Melanie Fall
May Welland
Myra Gale Brown
Joyce Byers
Veronica
Josephine 'Jo' March
Charlotte Fielding
Lindsay
Lelaina Pierce
Show More
