Winona Ryder is an American actress born on October 29, 1971. At the beginning of her career, she became famous for her unique roles and continued to impress audiences with her performances across various genres in the 1990s. Ryder has received many awards, including a Golden Globe, and she’s been nominated for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA, and even a Grammy.
Her career took off after her debut in the movie Lucas in 1986. One of her standout roles was as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice in 1988. She continued to shine in films like “Heathers,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Mermaids,” and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” Ryder earned back-to-back Oscar nominations for her roles in “The Age of Innocence” and “Little Women.”
Throughout the 1990s, she starred in various films such as “Reality Bites,” “How to Make an American Quilt,” “The Crucible,” “Alien Resurrection,” “Celebrity,” “Girl, Interrupted,” “Autumn in New York,” and “Mr. Deeds.”
Ryder took a break from acting in the early 2000s but returned with roles in films like “A Scanner Darkly,” “Star Trek,” “Black Swan,” and “The Dilemma.” She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in the television film “When Love Is Not Enough.” Since 2016, she’s been known for her role as Joyce Byers in the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She’s also appeared in the HBO miniseries “The Plot Against America.”
| Full Name | Winona Laura Horowitz |
| Date of Birth | October 29, 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Winona County, Minnesota, USA |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.61 m) |
| Spouse | Never Married |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | $18 million |
Winona Ryder’s Early Life and Education
Winona Ryder was born in Winona County, Minnesota. Her parents, Cynthia Palmer and Michael D. Horowitz have diverse careers: her mom writes and produces videos, while her dad is an author, editor, and book expert. He even worked with the famous psychologist Timothy Leary.
Winona’s family roots trace back to Ukraine and Romania, and they celebrate Jewish holidays, like Passover, with her paternal grandparents in Brooklyn. She got her name from her birthplace, Winona, and her middle name, Laura, from her parents’ friend Laura Huxley, the wife of Aldous Huxley, a well-known writer. Her stage name, Ryder, comes from her dad’s admiration for the singer Mitch Ryder.
Growing up, Winona’s family was connected with some influential figures like Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Philip K. Dick. When she was seven, they moved to a commune in California, living off the grid without electricity or TVs. This environment fueled Winona’s love for reading.
At ten, they moved to Petaluma, California, where Winona Ryder faced bullying at school. Despite the challenges, she pursued acting lessons at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco when she was twelve. However, she faced another challenge when she almost drowned, which led to her fear of water.
Throughout high school, Winona continued to face bullying, even as she found success in acting in movies like “Beetlejuice.” Despite the difficulties, she graduated with top honors.
Winona Ryder has always experimented with her hair, from a young age when she dyed it blue and purple. When she auditioned for a movie, her hair was black, and the filmmakers liked it that way.
Career
Winona Ryder’s journey in Hollywood began in 1985 when she auditioned for a role in the film “Desert Bloom” by sending in a video of herself performing a monologue from J.D. Salinger’s “Franny and Zooey.” Although she didn’t get that part she caught the attention of writer/director David Seltzer who cast her in the movie “Lucas” the following year.
Choosing the name “Ryder” came from a Mitch Ryder album playing in the background while discussing credits for “Lucas.” Her next roles in “Square Dance” and “Beetlejuice” showcased her talent and versatility leading to critical acclaim and box office success.
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Ryder continued to impress with roles in films like “Heathers,” “Edward Scissorhands,” and “Mermaids.” She received accolades and nominations for her performances establishing herself as a prominent actress of her time.
Throughout the ’90s Ryder took on diverse roles in films such as “Reality Bites,” “Little Women,” and “Girl Interrupted.” Despite facing challenges like the commercial failure of some projects she received praise for her acting skills.
In 2000, Ryder received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame marking a milestone in her career. Her journey in Hollywood reflects her dedication to her craft and her ability to portray a wide range of characters across different genres.
Winona Ryder took a break from acting for four years starting in 2001. During this time she only made a guest appearance on the TV show “Friends” and had a small role in the movie “Zoolander.” She had to drop out of a film called “Lily and the Secret of Planting” because she got sick and had to go to the hospital. In December 2001, she got in trouble for shoplifting which made it hard for her to get insurance for future movie roles. Woody Allen wanted to work with her but he couldn’t get insurance for her either so they couldn’t make the movie they planned.
In 2002, Winona Ryder was in two movies she filmed before the shoplifting incident. One was a romantic comedy called “Mr. Deeds” with Adam Sandler which made a lot of money in the US. The other was a science fiction movie called “Simone.” She also hosted “Saturday Night Live” that year. In 2005, she helped make a documentary about child sex trafficking.
From 2006 to 2015, Winona made a comeback with roles in independent films like “The Darwin Awards” and “A Scanner Darkly.” She also acted in comedies and dramas and even appeared in a music video. In 2011, she starred in “The Dilemma” with Vince Vaughn and Kevin James.
In 2016, Winona landed a role in the popular show “Stranger Things” on Netflix playing a mom whose son goes missing. The show was a hit and Winona Ryder got a lot of praise for her acting. She also starred in a movie with Keanu Reeves and did commercials for L’Oréal and H&M. She’s been active in both TV and movies showing her range as an actress.
Net Worth
Winona Ryder has an estimated net worth of $18 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Winona Ryder’s net worth comes from her successful career as an actress in film and television. She has starred in numerous popular movies since the 1980s, such as “Beetlejuice,” “Heathers,” and “Edward Scissorhands,” which contributed significantly to her earnings. Ryder’s roles in both critically acclaimed films and commercial successes have not only showcased her talent but also boosted her financial standing in the entertainment industry.
Additionally, endorsements and occasional television appearances have further added to her overall net worth over the years.
Personal Life
Winona Ryder lives in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Williamsburg, New York City. She’s Jewish and has faced antisemitism. She struggles with insomnia and has been stalked. She thanks director Tim Burton for her career.
Since she was in her twenties, Winona Ryder has been helping out with the American Indian College Fund. This organization helps Native Americans from low-income families go to college.
Winona Ryder started dating Johnny Depp after they met at the premiere of Great Balls of Fire! in June 1989. She was just 17 at the time. They got engaged in 1990 but broke up in 1993. After that, she dated Dave Pirner from the band Soul Asylum and Page Hamilton from the band Helmet. She also had a relationship with actor Matt Damon from 1998 to 2000. Since 2011, she’s been with fashion designer Scott Mackinlay Hahn.
In 1993, Winona Ryder offered a reward to help find Polly Klaas, a child who was kidnapped. Polly lived in the same town as Winona, Petaluma. Winona offered $200,000 to anyone who could bring Polly back safely. Sadly, Polly didn’t make it back alive. But Winona remembered her by dedicating her role as Jo in the movie Little Women, which was one of Polly’s favorite books.
In 2001, during a hearing about Winona’s shoplifting incident, her lawyer mentioned her work with the Polly Klaas Foundation and other charities. But the Deputy District Attorney didn’t like this. She thought it was wrong to bring up a dead child in this context. Polly’s dad, Marc Klaas, supported Winona Ryder and was angry at the prosecutor’s words.
In 2001, Winona Ryder got in trouble for shoplifting in Beverly Hills. She was accused of taking about $5,500 worth of fancy clothes and stuff from Saks Fifth Avenue. The Los Angeles District Attorney brought four serious charges against her, but she got a famous lawyer named Mark Geragos to help her out. They couldn’t make a deal, though.
They said she was also using drugs without a prescription, like oxycodone and Vicodin. But it turned out a doctor had given them to her for a medical reason, so they dropped that charge. She got convicted of stealing and had to do three years of probation, lots of community service, and pay back the store. Plus, she had to go to counseling.
In 2004, a judge said she did her community service and downgraded her crimes to misdemeanors. She finished her probation in 2005.
Winona said it happened when she was having a hard time in her life. She blamed the drugs a doctor had given her, saying they made her judgment all messed up. That doctor ended up losing his medical license for how he prescribed medicine to people.
