Winona Ryder

 

Biography for Winona Ryder

Real name: Winona Laura Horowitz
Date of birth: 29 October 1971
Location: Winona, Minnesota, USA.
Nickname: Noni
Height: 5' 4"
 
Little 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, 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. Others have suggested that she pulled out from the part because of problems with boyfriend Johnny Depp, with whom she had been going out since she was 17. Depp got a tattoo saying "Winona Forever" put on his biceps. Winona Ryder was set to film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) as a TV movie with Michael Apted, but took the script to Francis Coppola and he agreed to film it. 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". Her carrier had the first jump after Beetlejuice (1988) playing Lydia, a dark- adolescent who met two young spirits. Another big success was Mermaids (1990) with Cher and Christina Ricci. And now success after success we are waiting for Girl, Interrupted (1999) her first movie like producer and actress.

 

 Actress Filmography

  1. Girl, Interrupted (1999) .... Susanna Kaysen
  2. Lost Souls (1999)
  3. Celebrity (1998) .... Nola
    ... aka Woody Allen Fall Project 1997 (1997) (USA: working title)
  4. Just to Be Together (1998)
    ... aka Tanto per stare insieme (1998) (Italy)
  5. Salute to Martin Scorsese, A (1997) (TV) .... Guest
    ... aka 25th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award: A Salute to Martin Scorsese, The (1997) (TV)
  6. Alien: Resurrection (1997) .... Annalee Call
    ... aka Alien 4 (1997)
  7. Crucible, The (1996) .... Abigail Williams
  8. Looking for Richard (1996) .... Lady Anne
  9. Boys (1996) .... Patty Vare
  10. How to Make an American Quilt (1995) .... Finn Dodd
  11. Reality Bites (1994) .... Lelaina Pierce
  12. Little Women (1994) .... Jo March
  13. House of the Spirits, The (1993) .... Blanca
    ... aka Casa dos Espíritos, A (1993) (Portugal)
    ... aka Geisterhaus, Das (1993) (Germany)
    ... aka Åndernes hus (1993) (Denmark)
  14. Age of Innocence, The (1993) .... May Welland
  15. Dracula (1992) .... Mina Murray/Elisabeta
    ... aka Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
  16. Night on Earth (1991) .... Corky
    ... aka LANewYorkParisRomeHelsinki (1991) (USA: working title)
  17. Edward Scissorhands (1990) .... Kim Boggs
  18. Mermaids (1990) .... Charlotte Flax
  19. Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) .... Dinky Bossetti
  20. Great Balls of Fire! (1989) .... Myra Gale Lewis
  21. Heathers (1989) .... Veronica Sawyer
    ... aka Fatal Game (1989)
    ... aka Lethal Attraction (1989)
    ... aka Westerberg High (1989)
  22. Beetlejuice (1988) .... Lydia
  23. 1969 (1988) .... Beth
  24. Square Dance (1987) .... Gemma
    ... aka Home is Where the Heart Is (1987)
  25. Lucas (1986) .... Rina

 

Producer filmography

  1. Girl, Interrupted (1999)

 

Notable TV guest appearances

  1. "Larry Sanders Show, The" (1992) playing "Herself" in episode: "Another List" (episode # 6.1) 3/15/1998
  2. "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist" (1995) playing "Winona" 10/6/1996
  3. "Simpsons, The" (1989) playing "Alison Taylor"(voice) in episode: "Lisa's Rival" (episode # 6.2) 9/11/1994

 

Awards for Winona Ryder

Academy Awards, USA

Year

Result

Award

Category/Recipient(s)

1995

Nominated

Oscar

Best Actress for: Little Women (1994)

 

1994

Nominated

Oscar

Best Supporting Actress for: Age of Innocence, The (1993)

 

Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films, USA

Year

Result

Award

Category/Recipient(s)

1998

Nominated

Saturn Award

Best Supporting Actress for: Alien: Resurrection (1997)

 

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

Year

Result

Award

Category/Recipient(s)

1998

Won

Blockbuster Entertainment Award

Favorite Supporting Actress - Sci-Fi for: Alien: Resurrection (1997)

 

Golden Globes, USA

Year

Result

Award

Category/Recipient(s)

1994

Won

Golden Globe

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for: Age of Innocence, The (1993)

 

1991

Nominated

Golden Globe

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for: Mermaids (1990)

MTV Movie Awards

Year

Result

Award

Category/Recipient(s)

1996

Nominated

MTV Movie Award

Best Kiss for: How to Make an American Quilt (1995)
Nomination shared with: Dermot Mulroney

 

ShoWest Convention, USA

Year

Result

Award

Category/Recipient(s)

1997

Won

ShoWest Award

Female Star of the Year

 

1990

Won

ShoWest Award

Female Star of Tomorrow

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