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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Winona Ryder opens up to "BlackBook"

If you lived through the late '80s, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for Winona Ryder. Little Noni with her pixie haircut and her big eyes, her pale skin and her goth before goth was even a thing sensibilities. Ten years have passed since her last big splash in the movies with Girl, Interrupted. Since then she has still worked steadily, though often in smaller roles and less high-profile pieces. And she has kept largely to herself and often shunned the spotlight.

So it was great to read her take on her own life now in the new BlackBook interview to promote her upcoming film The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. For a person who doesn’t give interviews all that often, she sure gives great copy.

On why her career has slowed:

"One of the worst things you can be is mediocre. I get offered a lot of studio things — you wouldn’t believe some of the stuff I turn down that then gets packaged with two movie stars. I’m getting a lot of horror movie offers, too, but I just don’t like the ones where you have to cut off your own arm to escape the killer. Or,” and here she imitates the nicotine-soaked baritone that plays over trailers for budget slashers, “What if people did horrific things to your daughter and then they were trapped inside your house?”

On the Internet age:

She swears she can’t understand the allure of “Facehook.” And while she thinks tweeting sounds funny, she has yet to do so because she doesn’t “have a MySpace account.” Her disdain palpable, Ryder says, “I don’t know what the future holds for the Internet.”

Not wholly unaware of how charmingly anachronistic she sounds, Ryder adds, “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.’”

On her supposed rivalry with Angelina Jolie:

"I never had any bad feelings about Angelina. And I was hurt that people thought that. Everyone assumed I was really jealous because I thought this would be my vehicle. We said from the very beginning that the actress who played Lisa would probably win an Oscar, because it was the big, great, showy part. "I fought very hard for her to have that part, and I never really felt like I got the chance to know her.” Did Jolie ever personally thank her? “I feel like it won’t read in print very nicely if I say that wasn’t really her style,” she says. “But she seems to be a completely different person now."

On her infamous shop-lifting arrest:

Ryder won’t talk about it. We move on, but before doing so, she touches my arm and, as though forgiving me for asking, says, “I understand. I’m curious about other people, so I have to understand when people are curious about me.”

And on acting today:

“I still don’t sleep the night before my first day on set. It’s a struggle to make good movies today, and I’ve certainly been in films I’m not thrilled with. I just have to be patient and good in my own life, and know that if I never work again, I still had a great career.”

The thing about Winona is so many of us watched her grow up and identified with her. From Beetlejuice to Heathers to Reality Bites, she was the stand-in for every girl who had no aspirations of ever becoming a cheerleader. She wasn’t necessarily an outsider, but there was something that always set her apart. It made us love her, even when her acting was perhaps a tad suspect. Cough, Dracula, cough.

Now, as she knocks on the door of 40 (she turned 38 last month), I wonder what’s in store for the former It Girl. I let out an inaudible gasp when she appeared, out of the blue, as Spock’s mom in the new Star Trek. Veronica Sawyer, a mom? Others have grown up like her in front of a hungry, un-blinking camera. But few have grown up so closely to my generation. She’ll always be Veronica to me, her voice with its delicate waiver providing the narration to a period in my life when every emotion was amplified and every idol was deified.

So, are you happy to see Winona back in the spotlight? And Facehook? Really? Oh, Noni.

Luna's picture

Silly girl you don't need an

Silly girl you don't need an myspace account to tweet! haha and I would be piss'd at Jolie for her bs win. Winona was brilliant in Girl Interrupted Jolie was just being her crazy self not acting at all.

 

 

-I speak in random thoughts

love_type_thing's picture

I might be slightly biased but..

hmmm..Jolie's bs win?

You REALLY don't think that was deserved? She invested so much of her self into that role from what I can gather from interviews etc (because obviously I don't know the woman personally).

I don't think Winona was any less brilliant, but I do think it's unfair to say that Angelina winning was "not acting at all" or bs. (I personally would have been happy if they both had won awards, for lead and supporting actress respectively, and its alos my favourite film)

I dunno I just think its funny (I just came over to this after reading the Lilo leggins thread) that you wouldn't see this from Angelina's fans POV ...just like you are asking people over at the other thread to do?

No harsh feelings intended,  i'm not having a go or attacking you, and I saw you listed Hackers as a fave film so I know you aren't just Anti-Anything-Angelina, I was just curious.

:)

browne's picture

Ryder adds, “I don’t

Ryder adds, “I don’t know if it’s because of my love of books and the pages and the print.."

Wow, she just became twice as sexy to me. And she was pretty sexy before.

Ko's picture

Uh,

Duh? xD

I totally agree.

"Kissing..? Me? A boy? You're mad. You're all bloddy mad!" 

regularjo's picture

Oh Winona, how I love thee.

Oh Winona, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.
Ana's picture

I don't think

I actually don't think i can count that high or anyone else for that matter. Winona is beyond awesome
carmbridge's picture

Nice interview.  And she

Nice interview.  And she looks great
Sandra's picture

"but I hate all these

"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.’”

:O simply amazing haha this is why she is so different and unique, Winona is quite simply a dashing and amazing woman.

paramour's picture

LMAO!!

LOL means laughing out loud, and if youre wondering what is LMAO = Laughing My Ass Off

 

Getz? You should chat a lot. XD

yeLyah!

'' Whatever people considers to be normal, it never is --- Ashley Davies (SON) ''

ridiculous's picture

1984 allusions

Yeah... except it is newspeak and doublethink... cute nonetheless.
heKNOWnow's picture

"a night on earth" my

"a night on earth" my absolute favorite! she rocks!
Arielle's picture

Mystery...

I was definitely curious about the shoplifting thing, too. But I understand her aversion to talking about it- privacy is sacred, especially in Hollywood :P

Girl, Interrupted is one of my all-time favourite movies!!! I love Winona :)

paramour's picture

yeah

yeah privacy is sacred to those who really deserves them. Remember once youre on the spotlight public owns you, so dont make stupid actions that will attract  locusts and swarms on you. Well im not against Winona, im just saying generally.  

yeLyah!

'' Whatever people considers to be normal, it never is --- Ashley Davies (SON) ''

LCTRgirl's picture

I loved her in Little Women

I loved her in Little Women and Girl Interrupted. It's nice to see that she's making something of a comeback.  She's still gorgeous :-D

"Change your ways while you're young"

keiko's picture

I think Winona is such a

I think Winona is such a mystery ...she leaves for a little and comes back and people lap up whatever she dishes out .....ahhhhh shes so great
Anonymous's picture

Mn.

Well, the secret to success is to keep them wanting more. I think she has that part down.

She is great. I'm absolutely ready for her comeback. It's long overdue. 

twitter // 

jordan-writes's picture

Oh holy baby back ribs!!!

I love this woman. She is pure sex to me. I'm not one to have a "type" but if I were to describe what kind of woman I usually fall for Winona is it. Most of the girls I end up liking remind me of Winona in one way or another for some reason... Seriously last weekend I had a late 80's early 90's Winona Ryder mini movie marathon. Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Heathers. She is sooooo hot!!!!!

I didn't even realize that she was the mother in Star Track until after I had seen the movie and was looking at it on IMDB. It blew my mind. Why the hell is this woman not the lead in major movies right now! I also loved what she said about the shoplifting thing. So sexy.

http://jordan-writes.blogspot.com/

s a r a h's picture

dear winona. you are

dear winona.

you are sex... with legs attached. marry me?

 sarah

To every feminist action, there is an equal and opposite beauty reaction- Naomi Wolf

dechen's picture

I've loved Winona ever since

I've loved Winona ever since I saw her as Jo in Little Women. Great interview, and awesome pics!
Dec_'s picture

i honestly think Winona was

i honestly think Winona was my first ever crush!

(as far as actresses).

i just thought she was sooo beautiful in Edward Scissorhands. ive always had a thing for her and her eyes. :) i still think she's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

i wish she did more roles lately but ehhh....i still love her. i hope she is doing well. xx

Rachel452's picture

Absolutely adore her!

Absolutely adore her!
hunter3221's picture

Winona love

This interview was so great! She's so lovely.

I thought she was just as amazing as Angelina in Girl, Interrupted. Incredible film.

And I love her with Johnny in Edward Scissorhands! >_<

Llewella's picture

I can't help think of family

I can't help think of family guy mocking her acting in The Age of Innocence. haha "most good".

 

LostPicasso's picture

Great actress

plus absolutely gorgeous, so a winner in my book. That's a really cool photoshoot too.

louisa's picture

looks like Shane

does anyone else think she looks like Shane/her former friend Gwyneth's cousin Kate Moennig in those pics?
Suzzie's picture

Wow her eyes!

I saw her first in Little Women, and I loved her, both the character and how she looked, I havn't seen her in much else, knowing that it was her (such as Edward Scissor Hands, Alien 4 and Beetlejuice), but Jo March will always be one of my favourite film characters, and Girl Interupted was a fantastic film - although I bought it for Clea Duvall haha

I'm glad to see she is back in the spotlight and she looks fantastic!!

DerangedBeanie's picture

I'm so glad she's back

I feel like a lot of her memorable roles were meant for me. Lydia, Veronica, Lainey, and Susanna. Those characters are like pieces of me and I love that she played them. And it doesn't feel like Christmas until I have watched Little Women. Plus, Noni is hot. For serious.
HotHandle's picture

Heathers and Mermaids...

are my favorite Winona Ryder films.  However, let's face the truth, her career died the minute she was arrested for shoplifting in Beverly Hills.  Remember the "Free Winona" T-shirts?  Too bad that all of her films since her arrest have been mediocre indie films that no one has seen.

 

MissPussyKatz's picture

I've always love Winona

I've always love Winona Ryder even when she did shoplift I was like "Oh I'm sure she had her reasons...We all have struggles and do things we regret" lol so when I see that she is going to be in a film I jump for joy because hell she was in every film I loved as a child =) 

Anonymous's picture

Wynona Ryder is my first

Wynona Ryder is my first celeb-crush and she is still my biggest celeb-crush, there is just something mysterious about her...and her attitude makes her even more attractive.. i'm glad that she is back in the spotlight again! i do hope that in the future she will get more interesting roles. Can't wait for the movie.
hustlerose's picture

LOVE WINONA!

LOVE WINONA!
jaxie's picture

80's person

Ilovemykjc

I'm an 80's person.. I love Winona!!! you should see her in Reality Bites and of course my fav one "Girl Interupted."

brackishtea's picture

I loved her when she was a band geek in Lucas!

She looked like a quiet lesbian with an interesting haircut that kinda KINDA made her look like an adorable boy.

Heather's was the winner role for me!

"Lick it up baby! Lick. It. Up."

North's picture

she's too cute and sweet

she's too cute and sweet :)

thanks for the articel!

celine's picture

wow..

 Winona is looking very Shane these days...

Love her in Beetlejuice

 Thanks for the article!

'You can't pray away the gay!'

GreenBean2's picture

It's cool how she's pointing

It's cool how she's pointing out what a lot of horror films are these days - these torture porn films are something you never see decent actors/actresses in.

Roo0o0o's picture

Hybrid

 I would imagine this is what a hybrid of Dana and Shane from the L-word would like like. Haha. Love it. 

*Convince me to please you...*

krys's picture

"I'm only here for a rest..."

My best friend in HS looked EXACTLY like WinRyder. Same hair (and color) same facial features. It was nuts.

Anyways, I need some Winona. I'm tired of all these new supposedly It girls. Where's the 90's it girls? They were down to earth. Little Women? I cry every time Claire Danes dies.

While I get that AJ was great in Girl, Interrupted, the story was Winona's. She made Susanna Kaysen come alive. One of my all time favorite movies (not only because of AJ.)

Facehook? Priceless. 

PD's picture

What a dame!

Am I too late for the Winona-orgy?! What a 'gal! Been a fan since Heathers.

"Tweeting sounds funny"

As in bloody ridiculous eh Winona? :)

"She has yet to do so because she doesn’t “have a MySpace account.” Her disdain palpable..."

Palpaple disdain? I love her even more! MySpace account? I for one hope she never gets one either. :)

Anonymous's picture

I loved her in every movie

I loved her in every movie she was in, especially in Automn in New York with Richard Gere and in the movie Little Women.  She is a very good actress and I think she is a beautiful woman and very talented in every role she played.  I can't wait to see her in the movie Alpha Numeric

http://www.flixster.com/user/kimmyedwards

love_type_thing's picture

oh she's still so so

oh she's still so so beautiful.

*sighs*

And she is a fantastic actress, so I'm very glad to see her back in the spotlight. :)
Girl, Interrupted is still my favourite film, and although I without a doubt think Angelina Jolie deserved her win, Winona (and the rest of the cast!) should be just as proud of their performances!