Last Updated on Friday, 16 October 2009 00:34

Winona Ryder

Short Bio

Winona Ryder was born at Winona, Minnesota, USA Winona is (42) old and her birth sign is Scorpio

Birth name
Winona Laura Horowitz
Nickname
Noni
Height
5' 4" (1.63 m)
Mini biography
Winona Ryder was born Winona Horowitz and named after her the town in which she was born, Winona Minnesota. She grew up in a ranch commune in Northern California where there was no electricity. She is the Goddaughter of Timothy Leary and her parents were friends of Beat poet 'Allen Ginsberg' and once edited a book called "Shaman Woman Mainline Lady" an anthology of writings on the drug experience in literature - this included one piece by Louisa May Alcott. Winona Ryder was later to star as Jo in this author's Little Women (1994). She moved with her parents to Petaluma (near San Francisco) when she was ten and enrolled in acting classes at the American Conservatory Theater. At 13 she had a video audition to the film Desert Bloom (1986), but didn't get the part. Director 'David Seltzer (I)' (qv), however, spotted her and cast her in Lucas (1986). When telephoned to ask how she'd like to have her name appear on the credits, she suggested Ryder as her father's Mitch Ryder album was playing the background. Ryder was selected for the part of Mary Corleone in Godfather: Part III, The (1990), but had to drop out of the role after catching the flu from the strain of doing the films Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) and Mermaids (1990) back to back. She said she didn't want to let everyone down by doing a substandard performance. She later made _Age of Innocence, The (1993)_ (qv) which was directed by Martin Scorsese, who she believes to be "the best director in the world".
Trade mark
Frequently plays a character who writes. In most of her films, she's played a journalist, reporter, a writer, or just a teenager who writes in a journal or diary.
Trivia
Her real hair color is blonde but when she made her first major film Lucas (1986) her hair color was dyed black and she was told to keep it that color and it has stayed that color since.
Was engaged to Matt Damon. [2000]
Her December 22, 1999 guest spot on "Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The" (1992) was her first ever appearance on a talk show. She did it to promote Girl, Interrupted (1999) (the first film she has executive produced). She clearly had first-timer's jitters, but settled in comfortably.
Injured knee while filming Girl, Interrupted (1999). [22 March 1999]
Ranked #42 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. [1997]
Born at 11:00am-CDT
She briefly checked herself into a hospital when she was 20, because she was suffering from depression, anxiety attacks, and exhaustion, resulting from constantly working on films.
Graduated from Petaluma High School with a 4.0 GPA.
Received a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood in October 2000, and, for the event, was voted Best Dressed Celebrity of the Week by Entertainment Weekly.
Helped Italian designer Giorgio Armani promote his Manhattan chain of
tores. [1996]
Had to turn down the role of Nina in Object of My Affection, The (1998) due to scheduling conflicts. [1997]
Chosen as one of the "Top Players Under 35" list by People magazine. [1996]
Began work on Girl, Interrupted (1999), which took four more years to make it to the screen. [1996]
The role of Nola in Celebrity (1998) was actually written for Drew Barrymore. [1997]
When she was seven, though there was no electricity on the commune where they lived, Winona's mother began to run a old movie theater in a nearby barn, and would screen movies all day. She would allow Winona to miss school to watch movies with her.
Independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch wrote a part specifically for her in Night on Earth (1991), as a tattooed, chain-smoking cabbie who dreams of becoming a mechanic.
She dedicated the film Little Women (1994) to Polly Klass, a young girl from her hometown who was kidnapped and brutally murdered. She offered a $200,000 reward for anyone with information on the subject, and remains a strong supporter in the Polly Klass Foundation.
Auditioned for the Marla Singer role in Fight Club (1999), which eventually went to Helena Bonham Carter.
Beat poet Allen Ginsberg was a close friend of her parents.
Upset with MGM for refusing to pre-screen Autumn in New York (2000), saying she was very proud of the film and that the studio was giving it a bad name before it was even released. [2000]
Refused to do promotion for "Lost Souls". [2000]
Signed on to "The Girl You Want". After a few weeks of preproduction, she received a new version of the script, which she hated, and tried to get out of her contract. Touchstone Pictures threatened to sue her if she did, and so she completed the film. The film's title was changed to Boys (1996), and sat on the shelf for more than a year. After it finally got its release, it was released it less than 100 theaters in North America, and grossed less than five hundred thousand dollars. [1995]
Her favorite book is "Catcher in the Rye". She says she owns every paperback edition and translations.
In late 1999, she started her own music company, "Roustabout Studios".
Presented Best Picture contender Cider House Rules, The (1999) at the 72nd Academy Awards. [March 2000]
Appeared on the season finale of "Saturday Night Live" (1975), as herself. [19 May 2001]
Presented singer Bjork at the 2001 Academy Awards in the category Best Original Song.
Had to turn down the role of Alice Sutton in Conspiracy Theory (1997), which went to Julia Roberts, because of scheduling conflicts.
The film Lost Souls (2000), though it was released in late 2000, was actually shot in 1998, and New Line Cinema kept in on the shelf for two years.
Received a Grammy nomination for her reading of the 1995 novel "Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl". [1996]
Had one date with Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller, who wrote the song "Rollerskate Skinny" about her.
Turned down the lead role in Sabrina (1995) because she felt she could not fill Audrey Hepburn's
shoes, and that the role was marked by sexism. [1994]
Her agent begged her not to do Heathers (1989), saying her career would be over.
Enrolled at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco at the age of 12.
The first house she bought was in the Hollywood Hills. She soon moved, saying she never fitted in.
Says Sarah Miles's performance in Ryan's Daughter (1970) inspired her to become a professional actress.
First auditioned for the role of Blanca in House of the Spirits, The (1993) when she was sixteen, but the part went to Pernilla August. The film took years to get made, and when it finally did, August had to drop out at the last minute due to pregnancy, and Winona replaced her.
When she dropped out of Godfather: Part III, The (1990), rumors began to circulate that she was pregnant, that she had been discouraged by then-boyfriend Johnny Depp, had a drug problem, etc... She said in an interview later that year that she arrived in Rome to film and simply could not get out of bed. A doctor was called and ordered her to return home and sleep.
Dated Johnny Depp for many years. He had a tatoo of her name and after they broke up he had it reduced to WINO FOREVER.
Was considered for the part of Janet in a big-screen remake of "Three's Company" (1977) opposite Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, but the project was eventually cancelled.
Suffered severe stomach pains, and was doubled over in pain. She was sent to her hotel room in London and later, was admitted to the hospital, and diagnosed with a severe gastroenterological disorder. She left the UK on August 24th. The sickness caused her to drop out of the film _Lily and the Secret Planting (2002)_ , which eventually went to Kate Winslet instead. Winona was said to have been very passionate about her role in the film and was heartbroken to leave it. The incident brought to mind the similar 1990 stomach flu that caused her to drop out of Godfather: Part III, The (1990) two days before filming began, which caused a lot of controversy. [16 August 2001]
Was arrested in Beverly Hills for allegedly stealing clothing items and carrying illegal pharmaceutical drugs without a prescription. Her lawyer denied the accusations, and Winona was released later that evening on $20,000 bail. Despite her alleged crime, Beverly Hills police described her as "very friendly, polite, and cooperative" and "a nice lady." [December 12, 2001]
Smokes a pack of cigarettes a day!
Appeared on the cover of the June 2002 cover of W magazine wearing a "Free Winona" T-shirt. "Free Winona" T-shirts became popular over the Internet following her December 22, 2001 arrest, with many fans sporting them and purses in support.
In March 2002, she appeared in her second Caff� Latt� commercial, as well as a commercial for Subaru.
guest on the season finale of "Saturday Night Live" (1975). [18 May 2002]
Broke her arm during the filming of Mr. Deeds (2002), in the scene where she and Adam Sandler are riding bikes down a flight of stairs.
November 6, 2002. She was
ound guilty of vandalism and grand theft in connection with the shoplifting charges dating from back on December 12, 2001. Sentencing is scheduled for December 6, 2002. She was acquitted of a third charge, burglary.
Her sister is Sunyata Palmer and her brother is Uri Horowitz
6 December 2002 - Sentenced to 480 hours of community service, three years' probation, $3700 in fines, and $6355 in restitution for her arrest on shoplifting charges.
Measurements: 34C-22-34 (1992- on set of "Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)"), 35C-23 1/2- 34 (1996 designer notes), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Was the host during Will Ferrell's final episode of 'Saturday Night Live'.
Personal quotes
(When asked why is she always playing teenagers, during a press junket for Mermaids in 1990) "Like, I'm nineteen. What am I supposed to do, play a judge?!"
"I read biographies of the greats, and they were so messed up that I thought I'd better mess myself up. But I couldn't. I'm too small."
'For a long time I was almost ashamed of being an actress. I felt like it was a shallow occupation. People would be watching my every move.'
(on Heathers (1989)) "It's a brilliant piece of literature, and I call it literature because it really is. I held it up next to 'Catcher in the Rye' and all the great books that I've read."
Salary
Alien: Resurrection (1997) $2,800,000