As a gamer who’s spent countless hours immersed in the lives of fictional characters, I find Winona Ryder‘s story remarkably relatable. Like her, I too have felt the weight of expectations and the pressure to conform to certain roles or stereotypes. However, unlike me, she’s had to deal with this in the harsh glare of Hollywood spotlight.
At the onset of Winona Ryder’s acting career, her fame grew to such an extent that it started causing her to lose roles she deeply desired due to the additional “weight” or complications associated with working on a project involving her.
Before the premiere of “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,” I had an enlightening chat with Esquire UK. We delved into my journey with fame, the challenges I faced following the initial release of “Beetlejuice,” my role in “Stranger Things,” and much more.
Ryder found herself at a stage in her profession where she was being urged to star in mainstream blockbusters that didn’t appeal to her. She sensed that the industry was approaching a point where they started categorizing her as an actress for movies she had no desire to produce. Moreover, when it came to the films she truly wanted to create, her celebrity status ended up becoming an obstacle.
There was considerable interest in her personal life and relationships, which made it challenging for her to persuade others to disregard the chatter surrounding her. She shared with the media outlet that she felt this struggle keenly, as it was apparent in people’s expressions. Unfortunately, she admitted, she paid a heavy price for it, losing significant parts of herself along the way.
“She continued by saying, ‘I’m not expressing any dissatisfaction,’ but she did mention that at one point she felt like she might be a distraction. She acknowledged this around the 1990s and also sensed a change in generation. As actresses age, they often notice an influx of younger talent. This idea of the transient nature of actresses’ careers is something that is constantly emphasized to us.”
At the tender age of sixteen, Ryder made a significant mark in the acting world when she starred as Lydia Deetz in Tim Burton’s movie “Beetlejuice”, sharing the screen with Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Alec Baldwin, and Geena Davis, among others. However, her classmates at high school appeared unfazed by this success.
“She recalled feeling that it would elevate her standing, but instead, it worsened the situation,” she said. “They told her, ‘You’re a witch! You’re an outcast!’ This only intensified the issue. She responded, ‘But I’m in a film!'”
In the early part of the 2000s, the actress somewhat reduced her acting roles, appearing in smaller productions compared to her earlier work. However, when she was cast as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things, Ryder regained significant public attention, a level she hadn’t experienced in quite some time.
Back in the day, I was a key factor in drawing audiences to the popular Netflix series we’re currently wrapping up for its final season here in Atlanta. As you might know, I was a big name back then, having made my mark in the ’80s. In an interview with Esquire, I didn’t shy away from admitting that being cast in this 80s-set sci-fi show wasn’t lost on me – after all, it was during that era that I first found success in this industry.
10 years have passed since we started filming the Emmy-nominated show, she noted, which has led her from being the youngest to the oldest member on set. “I never imagined I’d still be doing this at my age,” she admitted at first, expressing her reluctance towards acting in her fifties. However, she loves working with the cast, particularly the actors Millie Bobby Brown (Sadie Sink) and Maya Hawke, and has found the entire experience truly enjoyable.
She also mentioned that she infused a touch of her understanding from the 1980s female perspective. “I truly emphasized on [Joyce’s] imperfections,” Ryder explained. “I didn’t aim to portray a perfect mom figure. I wanted her to resemble those women I observed in movies from the 70s and 80s, who were simply striving to do their best.”
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2024-08-30 00:55