Winona Ryder rose to fame in the late '80s and '90s for her roles in Heathers and Edward Scissorhands, but she stepped away from the spotlight in the early 2000s.
In a recent interview Esquire UKThe actress said her “difficult experiences” on set have changed her perspective on the industry.
“I had some bad experiences with a few people who were overtly sexually harassing,” she told the outlet, “and then it happened again in my 30s. It wasn't assault, but it was incredibly inappropriate. It was awful. I was lucky because I was famous. If I was a struggling actor, it probably wouldn't have happened as often.”
Ryder explained that she always felt like she was “negotiating” and wondering what would happen if she expressed her discomfort, adding that she was “dealing with it as I went” with a “very creepy” person.
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Winona Ryder recently opened up about being harassed on set when she was younger. (Andreas Lenz/Getty Images)
It was only when she told her “Beetlejuice” co-star Jenna Ortega about her experience that she realized, “Oh my goodness, that's so awful.”
“Looking back, I think it was really bad. [her on making movies]”All the great actors have always told me that when it's no longer great, you have to quit,” she explained. “I've really taken that to heart.”
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Ryder further described the harassment she experienced, saying that people on set would “do inappropriate things and make drunk advances” to her, but that she would laugh it off in the moment. She told the outlet that she “dealt with it,” but that she “felt very violated” when people touched her.
Ryder's breakthrough came when she played Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice (1988) at the age of 15. She went on to star in films such as Little Women, Seventeen and Alien: Resurrection, before retiring from Hollywood after being arrested for shoplifting in 2001.
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Winona Ryder starred in many hit films before her arrest and retirement from Hollywood. (Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)
The Oscar-nominated actress was arrested for allegedly shoplifting $5,500 worth of clothes from a Beverly Hills store in December 2001. She told the outlet that the arrest “definitely had a huge impact” on her career and was one of the reasons she retired.
“It's funny because there are so many legends about this story, but it just didn't seem possible that I was going to go get something in my car,” Ryder said. “I remember them telling me I was going to jail, and I was like, 'What? What are you talking about?' About?'”
“Looking back, I think it was really bad. [her on making movies]All the great actors have always told me that when it's no longer great, it's time to quit. I've really taken that to heart.”
After her arrest, Ryder said she “stepped back.” After receiving three years of probation, a fine and community service, she moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco and became less active during that time.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, she felt that “the industry had changed” since she had been away, and that the “culture of what was accepted and what was rewarded” was different.
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Winona Ryder was arrested in 2001 for shoplifting $5,000 worth of clothes. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
“There was an off-season,” she says, “about 10, 12, 15 years, and it coincided with everything that was going on. [in her life] But if we look back at 2000 to 2010, we see that it was the most humiliating time for women. Even the cool people were participating in things that felt off-limits.”
Ryder regained fame after landing the role of Joyce Byers in the hit Netflix show Stranger Things in 2016.
“I went from being the youngest person on set to being the oldest,” she says, “and I'm not totally unaware of why they asked me. I know there's an element of nostalgia involved.” [to her casting]… I understand that.”
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