Date of Birth:October 29, 1971
Place of Birth: Winona, Minn, USA
Sign: Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Pisces
Relations: Godfather: Timothy Leary (deceased); reported companion: Beck (musician);ex-companions: too numerous to mention
Education: Petaluma High School (graduated with a 4.0 average); American Conservatory Theatre
THE LOVELY AND talented Winona Ryder first entered our theaters and hearts in the coming-of-age comedy Lucas in 1986. Since then, she has starred in many box office hits, including Tim Burton's Beetle Juice, Martin Scorsese's Age of Innocence (for which she earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination), and in the adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 bestseller Little Women. Ryder stepped into the shoes of Katharine Hepburn, who first portrayed Jo March in the 1933 film version of the classic novel, and once again received a Best Actress Nomination, but still did not walk away with a statuette.
Ryder was born in Winona, Minnesota on October 29, 1971, and was brought up by unconventional, intellectual/hippie parents. She spent her early childhood with her parents in Haight-Ashbury, the famous "hippie capital" of San Francisco, where she was acquainted with the leaders of the counter culture, including such figures as Allen Ginsberg and Timothy Leary (Leary was her godfather).
She enrolled at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco at age 11, and by age 15 had landed her first movie role. Despite the success of Beetle Juice, she was not considered a rising star until her memorable performance in the black comedy Heathers as the suburban high school serial murderess.
Ryder was engaged to heartthrob, Johnny Depp, at age 19, but she later returned his ring; Depp had to have his "Winona Forever" tattoo removed one letter at a time (at one point it read "Wino Forever").
Meanwhile, Ryder just broke up with another heartthrob Matt Damon, with whom she went out for three years.
Movies:
2000 Lost Souls
2000 Autumn in New York
2000 Heathers 2
2000 Just to Be Together
1999 Girl, Interrupted
1998 Celebrity
1997 Alien : Resurrection
1996 Boys
1996 The Crucible
1996 Looking for Richard
1994 Little Women
1994 The House of Spirits
1994 Reality Bites
1993 The Age of Innocence
1992 Bram Stroker's Dracula
1991 Night on Earth
1990 Mermaids
1990 Edward Scissorhands
1990 Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael
1989 Great Balls of Fire
1989 Heathers
1988 Beetle Juice
1987 Square Dance
1986 Lucas
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
