Winona Ryder on Why Parents Refused to Relocate Her to L.A. as a Child: They Were “Wary of Hollywood”

by

Winona Ryder on Why Parents Refused to Relocate Her to L.A. as a Child: They Were “Wary of Hollywood”

As a dedicated admirer of Winona Ryder‘s illustrious career, I find her journey through Hollywood to be nothing short of inspiring. Her parents’ wise decision to maintain a balance between her acting aspirations and academic pursuits was undoubtedly a key factor in her long-lasting success.

Winona Ryder reflects on the efforts her parents made to shield her from the world of Hollywood while she was a young actress.

The actress who first appeared in the 1986 film “Lucas” at age 15, revealed during a chat with “AnOther Magazine,” that instead of moving to Los Angeles, her parents opted to travel seven hours from San Francisco to L.A. every time she had an audition.

She mentioned that maintaining good grades at school was equally important for her family, implying that it was a requirement for her to attend auditions.

Ryder stated, “I wouldn’t have been able to work if it clashed with my school schedule,” he elaborated. “My parents, who are more like my closest companions, were cautious about Hollywood. They linked it to Judy Garland’s misfortune, and we never moved there. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I knew many children who did move. They were the ones supporting their entire family, and it didn’t end well for them. Many of these kids experienced burnout.”

The actress from “Beetlejuice” admitted later on that people perceived her as very selective about roles, when in reality it was because the productions couldn’t afford to involve her.

However, she didn’t want to pass up any chance for an audition, and that opportunity came with Tim Burton’s 1988 movie “Beetlejuice”. This audition proved to be a turning point in her career as it led her to land the breakout role of Lydia Deetz.

“Regarding Beetlejuice, Ryder found it incredibly unique; she focused on the character named Lydia during her audition. She recalls asking her mother to wait in the car as she preferred to try out on her own.”

On that particular day, the actress reminisced about her unexpected initial meeting with the renowned filmmaker. She explained, “I was sitting in a side room at a studio in Culver City, thinking he was someone from the art department who approached me. We chatted about classic films and Edward Gorey’s artwork, discovering our shared appreciation for Peter Lorre. I asked, ‘By any chance, when will Tim Burton arrive?’ To my surprise, he replied, ‘I am he.’ I hadn’t realized directors could be so youthful and laid-back. I apologized, asking, ‘Do you want me to read something?’ He responded, ‘No, I want you to perform it.'”

After that, history was made when Ryder solidified her reputation in Hollywood and worked with Burton on further projects such as Edward Scissorhands, Frankenweenie, and the forthcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Read More

2024-09-06 04:54