Winona Ryder |
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Real Name: Horowitz, Winona Laura
Nick Name: Noni
Height: 5' 4"
Born: 29 October 1971, Winona, Minnesota, USA. |
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'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)' , 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)" which was directed by 'Martin Scorsese' , who she believes to be "the best director in the world". Kieran Lee <kjl@psych.st-andrews.ac.uk> 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.
(2000) Was engaged to 'Matt Damon' .
Her December 22, 1999 guest spot on "The Tonight Show" was her first
ever appearance on a talk show. She did it to promote "Girl
Interrupted" (the first film she has executive produced). She clearly
had first-timer's jitters, but settled in comfortably.
(22 March 1999) Injured knee while filming "Girl, Interrupted (1999)" .
(October 1997) Ranked #42 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie
Stars of All Time" list.
(1997) Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful
People in the World.
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.
(1996) Helped Italian designer 'Giorgio Armani' promote his Manhattan chain of
stores.
(1997) Had to turn down the role of Nina in "Object of My Affection,
The (1998)" due to scheduling conflicts.
(1996) 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.
(1997) The role of Nola in "Celebrity (1998)" was actually written for 'Drew Barrymore' .
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.
(2000) Upset with MGM for refusing to pre-screen "Autumn in New York",
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".
(1995) 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.
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".
(March 2000) Presented Best Picture contender "Cider House Rules, The (1999)" at the 72nd
Academy Awards.
(19 May 2001) Appeared on the season finale of "Saturday Night Live",
as herself.
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.
(1996) Received a Grammy nomination for her reading of the 1995 novel
"Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl".
Had one date with Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller, who wrote the song
"Rollerskate Skinny" about her.
(1994) 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.
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 (I)' '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 "The Godfather Part III", 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" opposite 'Ben Stiller' and 'Cameron Diaz' , but the project was eventually
cancelled.
(16 August 2001) 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.
(December 12, 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."
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 Caffé Latté commercial, as
well as a commercial for Subaru.
(18 May 2002) guest on the season finale of "Saturday Night Live".
Broke her arm during the filming of "Mr. Deeds", in the scene where she
and Adam Sandler are riding bikes down a flight of stairs.
November 6, 2002. She was found 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"),
35C-23 1/2- 34 (1996 designer notes), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth
magazine)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.' |
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