Name: Winona Ryder

Birth Name: Winona Laura Horowitz

Birthdate: Oct. 29, 1971

Birthplace: Winona, Minn.

She grew up in a hippie commune-type ranch that had no electricity in Northern California. She started acting at age 10 when her parents moved, landing Lucas at 13, and her career snowballed. Known for taking more unconventional roles, Ryder's best movies have portrayed her characters as quirky and offbeat — the black comedy Heathers, romance Edward Scissorhands and drama Girl, Interrupted being some of her best.


1. She's really a blonde
2. Did you guess? She was named after her hometown. Changed her last name to Ryder after Mitch Ryder, whose song was playing when she got the part in Lucas
3. Timothy Leary was her godfather
4. Known for being somewhat troubled; had a nervous breakdown at 20 and was arrested for shoplifting in 2001
5. Dated Johnny Depp for years; was engaged to Matt Damon


"If I showed you scripts from my first few movies, the descriptions of the characters all said 'the ugly girl.' Starting with the character I played in Lucas; she was described as homely, unattractive. Beetlejuice was like, 'Enter Lydia, a freak who looks like an Edward Gorey character.' I was going to public school when it came out, and you'd think that maybe the kids would be like, 'Wow, you are in the number-one movie in America!' But they were like, 'You witch, you're that freak!' They threw Cheetos and cafeteria food at me.
— W, June 2002


Sister: Sunyata Palmer
Brother: Uri Horowitz

1995: Nominated, Academy Award, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Little Women
1994: Nominated, Academy Award, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The Age of Innocence
1994: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, The Age of Innocence
1991: Nominated, Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Mermaids

 

FILMS

Sex and Death 101 - (2008) - Actor
The Ten - (2007) - Actor
A Scanner Darkly - (2006) - Actor
The Darwin Awards - (2006) - Actor
Mr. Deeds - (2002) - Actor
Zoolander - (2001) - Cameo
Autumn in New York - (2000) - Actor
Lost Souls - (2000) - Actor
Girl, Interrupted - (1999) - Actor
Celebrity - (1998) - Actor
Alien Resurrection - (1997) - Actor
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist - V. 7 - (1997) - Actor
Boys - (1996) - Actor
Looking for Richard - (1996) - Actor
The Crucible - (1996) - Actor
How to Make an American Quilt - (1995) - Actor
The House of the Spirits - (1994) - Actor
Little Women - (1994) - Actor
The Age of Innocence - (1993) - Actor
Reality Bites - (1993) - Actor
Bram Stoker's Dracula - (1992) - Actor
Night on Earth - (1991) - Actor
Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael - (1990) - Actor
Mermaids - (1990) - Actor
Edward Scissorhands - (1990) - Actor
Great Balls of Fire - (1989) - Actor
Heathers - (1989) - Actor
1969 - (1988) - Actor
Beetlejuice - (1988) - Actor
Square Dance - (1987) - Actor
Lucas - (1986) - Actor