Winona Laura Horowitz, known by her stage name Winona Ryder is a famous American actress. Ryder is considered as one of the most iconic and successful actress of her generation and appeared in a series of critically and commercially successful films throughout the 1990’s. Ryder debuted on the silver screen with the 1986 film Lucas but started gaining prominence in 1988 when she portrayed the role of Lydia Deetz in Tim Burton’s goth film ‘Beetlejuice’. Her 1988 film ‘Heathers’ has achieved the status of a teen cult classic.
Ryder is known for her work in films such as ‘Mermaids’, ‘Edward Scissorhands’, ‘Dracula’, ‘The Age of Innocence’, ‘Little Women’, ‘Alien: Resurrection’, ‘Celebrity’, ‘Girl, Interrupted’, ‘Mr. Deeds’, ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Frankenweenie’ among others. Ryder was felicitated with a Golden Globe award for her performance in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Age of Innocence’ and also received Academy and BAFTA nominations. She received a second Oscar nomination for her work in ‘Little Women’ in 1994. Since 2016, Ryder has been portraying Joyce Byers in the Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’ for which she received SAG and Golden Globe nominations.
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Early Life and Education
Ryder was born in Winona, Minessota as the daughter of editor, author and editor parents Michael Horowitz and Cynthia Palmer (née Istas). Her father also served as an antiquarian bookseller and worked for Dr. Timothy Leary, a psychedelic guru. Her family immigrated from Russia to USA and Ryder follows Judaism. Ryder has one blood sibling a brother named Uri. She is also the half sister of Jubal and Sunyata Palmer, her half-siblings from her mothers first marriage.
Ryder was raised in California, first in and Mendocino County later in Petaluma, California. She attended Kenilworth Junior High where she was bullied within her first year at the school. The incident resulted in the school rusticating her instead of the bullies to avoid scandal and Ryder was home-schooled that year. At age 12, Ryder started studying acting at the American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco. She graduated in 1989 with a 4.0 GPA from Petaluma High School.
Career Rise
Ryder made her silver screen debut in 1986 with the film ‘Lucas’. She rose to fame for her portrayal of goth teenager Lydia Deetz in Tim Burton’s 1998 film ‘Beetlejuice’ which earned her nation-wide recognition as well as critical acclaim. Her next film ‘Heathers’, released in the same year, went on to become a teenage cult classic. Ryder’s portrayal of Charlotte Flax in the 1990 coming of age film ‘Mermaids’, earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She teamed up with Tim Burton once again in 1990, portraying Kim Boggs in ‘Edward Scissorhands’. Her next big role was in the 1992 film ‘Dracula’.
Ryder’s portrayal of May Welland in Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film ‘The Age of Innocence’ earned her a BAFTA and Academy Award nominations, with Ryder winning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. She received a second Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Josephine “Jo” March in ‘Little Women’. Ryder’s later films include Alien: Resurrection in 1997, Woody Allen’s ‘Celebrity’ in 1998 as well as the 1999 film ‘Girl, Interrupted’. She received her star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000. Ryder continued to appear in several films and once again gained attention for her work in ‘Star Trek’ in 2006, ‘Black Swan’ and ‘When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story’ in 2010, and ‘Frankenweenie’. Post 2016, Ryder starred as Joyce Byers in Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’.
Boyfriend
The petite 1. 61 meter tall Ryder’s personal life has been a subject of media speculation throughout her career. She was involved in a romantic relationship with actor Johnny Depp whom she met in the early 1990’s while filming ‘Edward Scissorhands’. The couple dated for several years. Ryder later dated actor Matt Damon for a few years.
Winona Ryder’s boyfriends, since 2011, has been Scott Mackinlay Hahn, entrepreneur, fashion-designer and co-founder of brands like Loomstate and ROGAN.
With Johnny Depp
With Matt Damon
With Scott Mackinlay Hahn
Winona Ryder – Young Pictures
Trivia
Ryder was arrested on charges of shoplifting in 2001 and in the trial, that followed, was also accused of using drugs. She received a three-years probationary sentence. Ryder has openly spoken about her battles with anxiety and depression.
Winona Ryder – Net Worth
Ryder has an estimated net worth of $18 Million
