Winona Ryder Quotes

Powerful Winona Ryder for Daily Growth

About Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder, born on October 29, 1971, in Olmsted County, Minnesota, is an acclaimed American actress known for her captivating performances and versatile roles. Raised by a family of petroleum geologists, her early life was spent primarily in the wilderness, fostering an appreciation for nature that often seeps into her characters. At 14, she made her acting debut on the popular television series 'Dream Street.' However, it was her first film role as Lydia Deetz in Tim Burton's 'Beetlejuice' (1988) that catapulted her to stardom. This collaboration with Burton became a defining element of Ryder's career, as she went on to star in several of his films, including 'Edward Scissorhands' and 'The Age of Innocence.' Ryder's unique charm and talent earned her critical acclaim and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress for her roles in 'Little Women' (1994) and 'Alice in Wonderland' (1999). Her portrayal of Jo March in 'Little Women' remains a beloved adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel. A series of personal challenges, including legal troubles and time away from the spotlight, marked a significant period in her life. However, she returned to acting with powerful performances in 'Stuart Little 2' (2002) and 'Stranger Things' (2016-present), demonstrating her resilience and enduring talent. Winona Ryder continues to captivate audiences with her compelling performances, making a significant contribution to the world of cinema as an iconic actress. Her work embodies the complexities of human emotions, reflecting both her personal growth and artistic prowess.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I think a lot of people are lonely, and I'm not just talking about teenagers. I think it's something that touches a nerve in a lot of us."

This quote suggests that feelings of loneliness can affect a wide range of people, transcending age barriers, and are more profound than one might initially perceive. The observation that many individuals may experience loneliness highlights the universality and emotional impact of this feeling. It serves as a reminder that despite our diverse backgrounds, we share common human experiences like feelings of solitude, which can be powerful and touching.

"When you're an actor, you're kind of a sponge. You soak up everything around you."

This quote suggests that actors are highly observant individuals who absorb their surroundings deeply. They use their environment as inspiration for their roles, effectively "soaking up" experiences, emotions, and character traits to bring authenticity to the characters they portray. It highlights the unique ability of actors to immerse themselves in different lives and scenarios, making them versatile and adaptable performers.

"I've always been interested in the darker side of humanity."

Winona Ryder expresses a fascination with understanding the complexities, flaws, and potentially sinister aspects of human nature through her statement "I've always been interested in the darker side of humanity." This curiosity drives her to explore such themes in her acting roles or perhaps, in other areas of her life. It reflects an appreciation for the intricacies that make us human – our capacity for both good and evil.

"I don't know if I'm particularly brave or not. I just do things without thinking sometimes, and then think about it later."

This quote indicates that Winona Ryder often acts impulsively, doing things without first considering their potential risks or consequences. She suggests that she may not be inherently courageous, but her actions can appear brave because they involve taking risks or stepping out of comfort zones. However, it is only later when she reflects upon these actions that she realizes the degree to which she has shown courage. Overall, this quote highlights the human tendency to act before thinking and the retrospective appreciation for boldness in our choices.

"My mother was a very strong-willed woman, and she taught us to be independent."

Winona Ryder's quote suggests that her mother instilled in her and possibly her siblings the value of independence. A "strong-willed" person is determined, persistent, and assertive, which qualities her mother conveyed to them by teaching them to think for themselves and make their own decisions. This upbringing likely empowered Winona Ryder to navigate her career and life with self-reliance and autonomy.

I love westerns. John Ford is one of the 10 best directors.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Westerns, I Love, Ford

I'm getting asked a lot, 'You don't have kids, so how do you know how to act like a mother?' I know nothing could compare, and I haven't had that experience, but when my niece was born, I felt like I would jump in front of a car and die for this little person I didn't even know yet.

- Winona Ryder

Die, Compare, Had, Asked

It's an indication of how cynical our society has become that any kind of love story with a sad theme is automatically ridiculed as sentimental junk.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Kind, Ridiculed, Automatically

It's also a question of finding good material and interesting roles. I'm not the only actress out there, and good parts just don't fall into your lap that easily. But I like most of the films I've made recently and so I'm pretty positive about the future.

- Winona Ryder

About, Your, Roles, Good Parts

I think it's important to have as much as a normal life and take the time to get perspective because it only helps your work in the long run.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Normal, I Think, Normal Life

I did 'Beetlejuice,' and it was a big movie, but it didn't help my high-school experience. In fact, it made it worse. I was a freak and a witch.

- Winona Ryder

Fact, Big, Movie, Witch

I love books and going to bookstores. My favorite sound is the sound of the needle hitting the record.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Books, I Love, Bookstores

Break-ups are hard for anybody, but it's particularly tough when it's being documented and you see the person's picture everywhere. Most people don't have that added problem when they break up with someone.

- Winona Ryder

Break, Particularly, Added, Documented

I was very depressed after breaking off my engagement with Johnny ten years ago. I was embarrassingly dramatic at the time, but you have to remember I was only 19 years old.

- Winona Ryder

Old, Engagement, Very, Johnny

I was very lucky because Tim Burton really gave me a career. I don't think Hollywood would've known what to do with me. If I hadn't done 'Beetlejuice,' I think I would've just gone back to my school.

- Winona Ryder

Career, Lucky, Very, None

What you wear - and it always starts with your shoes - determines what kind of character you are. A woman who wears high heels carries herself very different to a girl who wears sneakers or sandals. It really helps determine how you carry yourself.

- Winona Ryder

Woman, Very, Determines, Helps

You can't pay enough money to... cure that feeling of being broken and confused.

- Winona Ryder

Money, Broken, Confused, Enough Money

You try to get out there and live. I've always had good friends who've been very supportive and help make me feel good and grounded because I've never felt attached to the film industry.

- Winona Ryder

Supportive, Been, Very, Good Friends

The older you get, the more yourself you can be and the less worried you are about what other people think.

- Winona Ryder

Think, More, Other, Worried

I remember a lot of conversations where I was constantly hearing, 'You've gotta do this movie so you can do that movie. You've gotta make a big movie so you can make a small movie.' But I can't act like that.

- Winona Ryder

Small, Big, I Remember, Big Movie

As a teenager, I worked on Indian reservations, and it was such an incredible culture: the elders are so respected.

- Winona Ryder

Elders, Worked, Reservations, Respected

It's equally as important to me to be a good friend and a good sister and a good daughter. I'm very close with my family and friends.

- Winona Ryder

Good, Very, Equally, Good Friend

I want to be a good friend, a good sister, a good person and a good actress.

- Winona Ryder

Good Person, Person, Actress, Good Friend

I have my email on my Blackberry, and that's about it.

- Winona Ryder

Email, About, Blackberry

Life's short, so if you're going to spend months doing something, it's gotta be pretty special... But I'm very happy to enter my Baby Jane years, and hopefully segue into the Ruth Gordon years.

- Winona Ryder

Doing, Very, Ruth, Gordon

The Duffers can be super articulate or very straight to the point. I was really impressed with how they were with each other.

- Winona Ryder

Other, Very, Impressed, Articulate

I'm not into older guys. To tell you the truth, Richard Gere is not the sexiest man alive, in my book.

- Winona Ryder

Alive, Richard, Older Guys, Sexiest

That's an aspect of this business which can be very frustrating and aggravating. Most of what is written about you is wrong and so much of what does get printed is often about personal things that you don't want to have other people read about.

- Winona Ryder

Other, Very, About, Personal Things

When you finally accept that it's OK not to have answers and it's OK not to be perfect, you realize that feeling confused is a normal part of what it is to be a human being.

- Winona Ryder

Perfect, Normal, Human Being, OK

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed.

- Winona Ryder

Learned, Flawed, OK

If I showed you scripts from my first few movies, the descriptions of my characters all said 'the ugly girl'.

- Winona Ryder

Girl, Ugly, Descriptions, Scripts

I get sent a lot of scripts where you're just the mom.

- Winona Ryder

Get, Where, Lot, Scripts

I was unusual looking - I didn't have the look of that time. If you look at 'Lucas' - and, basically, my first five or six movies - the characters are not described in the scripts as attractive people.

- Winona Ryder

Attractive, Six, Lucas, Scripts

I'd rather never have been married than been divorced a few times. Not that there's anything wrong with divorce, but I don't think I could do it if that was a possibility.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Been, Rather, Divorced

I approached work very seriously. I never went out. I couldn't fathom people who could go out to clubs... I mean, if I had a 6 A.M. call, I had to be prepared. I had to be in bed at a certain hour.

- Winona Ryder

Bed, Prepared, Very, Fathom

Some people go to L.A. just to see recognizable people. There are tour buses. But in New York, everyone seems a little less into that.

- Winona Ryder

New, Some, Everyone, Buses

Part of me feels like when you had a lot of success in your teens and 20s, it gets harder for you in your 30s because people are so attached to you as this ingenue. So even though you're older, they still think of you as that girl - that waifish young girl. And so it was sort of like a struggle.

- Winona Ryder

Young, Feels, Young Girl, Struggle

Even though I never really had to pound the pavement as an actor, I always worked really hard. But, at the same time, I always felt like people thought that I didn't have to struggle even though I was struggling.

- Winona Ryder

Always, Pavement, Though, Struggle

My father is an atheist. My mother is Buddhist. They encouraged my siblings and me to take the best part of other religions to make our own belief system.

- Winona Ryder

Father, Other, Part, Best Part

I don't hang out with agents and producers and I'm not into the business side at all.

- Winona Ryder

Business, Hang, Side, Agents

I was regarded as the school freak which further reinforced a lot of inhibitions and doubts I had about myself. I was a shy, frightened teenager for a long time.

- Winona Ryder

Shy, Doubts, Which, Frightened

Remember, I'm the kind of kid who used to get stuffed into a locker by school bullies. I've never felt like I'm a big star at any level of my life.

- Winona Ryder

My Life, Star, Big, Big Star

It's like, sometimes I'll watch a movie, and it's got some big star in it playing a working-class person, and the character is in a grocery store, and you can kind of tell, from just watching the scene, that this actor doesn't do their own shopping. So you have to have some sense of reality.

- Winona Ryder

Big, Some, Working-Class, Big Star

I went from weirdo teenager to pixie waif to them not knowing what the hell to do with me.

- Winona Ryder

Me, Knowing, Weirdo, Teenager

Even though 'Heathers' didn't make a lot of money, I really was able to transition into a situation where people thought I could play an attractive role because of it.

- Winona Ryder

Play, Role, Attractive, Transition

It was hard to find that transition to adult roles.

- Winona Ryder

Find, Hard, Roles, Transition

In real life, and for women everywhere, no matter what their job is, your 30s and your 40s and beyond should be celebrated.

- Winona Ryder

Real, Matter, Your, Celebrated

When your parents are madly in love for 45 years, your standards are really high.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Standards, High, Madly

I've been embracing aging. I always have, since I was a kid. When you're the kid on the set for so long, you just, like, daydream about being older.

- Winona Ryder

Always, Been, Set, Embracing

I love watching old movies, and I read a lot of autobiographies.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Movies, Lot, Old Movies

Scorsese would talk to me about this movie 'The Heiress' with Olivia de Havilland. We were talking about this scene in it, and suddenly we were rolling. It was very intentional, and I didn't realize - because we talk old movies all the time.

- Winona Ryder

Movie, Very, Scorsese, Old Movies

Weird people follow you in the streets, you can't sit alone in a restaurant or a cafe and read a book in peace, and I think everybody values those moments of being alone.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Everybody, I Think, Cafe

With 'Ed Wood,' I sobbed. With 'Frankenweenie,' I was crying. With 'Edward Scissorhands,' I always cry. There's always an incredible amount of purity, even if they look a certain way.

- Winona Ryder

Always, Certain Way, Amount, Wood

I would never give advice, because I would feel very presumptuous.

- Winona Ryder

Never, Give, Very, Presumptuous

You go through spells where you feel that maybe you're too sensitive for this world. I certainly felt that.

- Winona Ryder

Through, Maybe, Certainly, Spells

I've always been super-private and protective of certain experiences and certain friends.

- Winona Ryder

Always, Been, Certain, Protective

I remember when I was about 18, Sean Penn made a bet with me. He had just directed his first movie, and he's like, 'By the time you're 30, I will bet you $500 that you'll be sick of acting.' I'm still waiting to collect, because I'm not.

- Winona Ryder

Sean Penn, By The Time, Penn, Collect

The 1980s was the era of the blonde cheerleader.

- Winona Ryder

Blonde, 1980s, Era, Cheerleader

It's all about knowing when to listen to that conversation and - without sounding really hokey - when to tune it out and follow your heart.

- Winona Ryder

Follow Your Heart, About, Conversation

It used to be that you commit to something, and then basically you spend your year doing that. Now there's a constant conversation of how you have to keep working in order to remind people that you're around.

- Winona Ryder

Doing, Year, Constant, Conversation

I'm quite comfortable looking at myself in movies, probably because I've been doing it for so long, since I was a kid. So I sort of watched myself grow up and go through adolescence, like, basically on camera.

- Winona Ryder

Doing, Through, Been, Camera

On the set for 'Beetlejuice,' it was before people would go watch on monitors, and directors would be next to the camera.

- Winona Ryder

Next, Set, Would, Camera

I am not a person who can really sit around and think about regrets because with every bad experience that you have, there is weirdly something good that comes from it.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Bad, Weirdly, Something Good

I'm part of the crew obsessed with 'The Wire.' Like, I'm not over that yet.

- Winona Ryder

Over, Like, Obsessed, Wire

I wish I could unknow this, but there is a perception of me that I'm super-sensitive and fragile. And I am super-sensitive, and I don't think that that's a bad thing. To do what I do, I have to remain open.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Bad, I Wish, Perception

It's interesting because, even with 'Beetlejuice,' I was an awkward kid. I started at puberty and went through it on film. Lydia was one of my favorite roles because I related to her a lot.

- Winona Ryder

Interesting, Kid, Through, Puberty

There was a time when I was 19 when I really, really, really thought I was going crazy. I was exhausted and going through a terrible depression.

- Winona Ryder

Thought, Through, Going, Terrible

I would have to say 'The Crucible' stands out because it was one of the best experiences I've ever had, but, you know, Arthur Miller being present on the set - which was wonderful and incredible - but, to have him in your eye line is quite intimidating. It's such a beautiful language he created, so that was challenging but exciting.

- Winona Ryder

Best, Line, Arthur, Intimidating

I don't have any interest in being a movie star.

- Winona Ryder

Star, Interest, Movie, Movie Star

I definitely count my blessings. I feel like I've had such a great ride. Early on, to be able to work with some of the people I did, I feel really lucky.

- Winona Ryder

Lucky, Some, Like, Early

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.

- Winona Ryder

Ashamed, Actress, Move, Shallow

But I've always felt a need to have a life which is completely separate - at least as far as possible - from the kind of illusory lifestyle that comes with being a celebrity.

- Winona Ryder

Always, Which, Illusory, As Far As

When I think about the stuff I've turned down or the stuff I wasn't interested in, I don't have any regrets. Yes, there were some movies that went on to be really popular. But now, how do they really fit into things?

- Winona Ryder

Some, I Think, Turned, Popular

It's really good to be able to think about past loves without having a pit in my stomach, or cringing or feeling heart-broken, or like they hate you. Don't you think?

- Winona Ryder

Think, Like, Having, Pit

I love photography and first editions. I have that in my genes. My father was an archivist.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Genes, I Love, Archivist

It's great concentrating so hard you feel your brain will explode.

- Winona Ryder

Will, Feel, Concentrating, Explode

I'm not interested in playing the girl that's just there to make the guy, you know, give him a talking to.

- Winona Ryder

Give, Talking, Guy, Not Interested

I binge-watched this show 'Damages.' Glenn Close and Rose Byrne are so good. Lily Tomlin is in it. You see all these great actors, and the writing is terrific. There are a lot of shows like that.

- Winona Ryder

Good, Show, Damages, None

It's part of the celebrity process but my life has never been as interesting or as wild as what's been printed about me.

- Winona Ryder

My Life, Famous, Celebrity, Printed

It's just people should realize that the celebrity aspect of being an actor is very rarely enjoyable for people like me who would always rather go unnoticed and disappear into the crowd.

- Winona Ryder

Celebrity, Always, Unnoticed, Enjoyable

When I was young, I was the sweetheart of the press. They loved me but were kind of waiting for me to mess up. I had no skeletons in my closet, no major past to talk about.

- Winona Ryder

Waiting, Young, Sweetheart, Press

Honestly, if it wasn't for 'Beetlejuice,' where would I be? That movie was a big thing for me.

- Winona Ryder

Big, Honestly, Would, Big Thing

Money doesn't matter on a deeply personal level. It doesn't make you feel any happier. But of course I am very aware that I don't have to worry about earning a living or about those very important practical things that most people have to worry about on a very real level.

- Winona Ryder

Very, Practical Things, Personal Level

People think that they just want movies like Pretty Woman, when really they - at least the ones that I know personally - have been waiting for something that doesn't completely insult them.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Pretty, Been, Insult

My favourite performances are by actresses like Bette Davis in 'All About Eve' or Gena Rowlands in pretty much anything - performances that have nothing to do with age.

- Winona Ryder

Nothing, Pretty, Like, Eve

I've loved making movies. I feel like I've been so lucky because I've gotten to be in movies that are some of my favorites, regardless of my being in them - like 'Heathers.'

- Winona Ryder

Lucky, Some, Favorites, Regardless

I'm so sick of people shaming women for being sensitive or vulnerable. It's so bizarre to me... I do have those qualities, and I just don't think there's anything wrong with them.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Them, Bizarre, Qualities

I think I really scored with my parents. All of my friends pretty much came from broken homes, and my parents are still together, but not only that, they're still in love and still write together.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Broken, Think, Homes

I feel a little stronger than people perceive me.

- Winona Ryder

Me, Stronger, Than, Perceive

There's a couple of times that I did it for the... paycheck. Even when I was younger - I remember I did this movie that wasn't good, called '1969.' I totally did it 'cause I could get out of school.

- Winona Ryder

I Remember, Movie, Couple, Paycheck

I was watching TV, and there was this oldies-but-goodies film fest, and 'Lucas' came on. I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm an oldie!'

- Winona Ryder

Watching Tv, TV, Lucas, Oh My God

I think I'm learning to be bolder in my career choices and be more confident in my personal life. I haven't always felt very secure as an individual, but now I feel I certain confidence and sense of self that gets me through the day a lot better than before.

- Winona Ryder

Career, Through, Very, Certain

I would not want to go back to playing the ingenue.

- Winona Ryder

Want, Go, Would, Ingenue

There was a time when all that mattered was that you were in a good movie.

- Winona Ryder

Movie, Mattered, Were, Good Movie

I wanted to be just a normal girl flirting with a normal guy. It's like, you meet people, and they know this stuff about you. It's why you want to meet somebody who's in the same business, only because they understand more. But you don't necessarily want to be with another actor.

- Winona Ryder

Why, Another, About, Flirting

My dad took me to all the best rock and punk shows when I was growing up and music has always been a part of my life. So I'm very interested in the music scene and I suppose that's why I've ended up going out with musicians. Dave Pirner is still one of my best friends.

- Winona Ryder

My Life, Very, Music Scene, Suppose

I love getting older. I think it has to do with always being the kid on set.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Always, Getting, Getting Older

There are certain directors who will start talking to you about something, and suddenly you'll be ready to roll, and you'll realize it was very specific.

- Winona Ryder

Will, Very, Directors, Suddenly

I have this sense that I didn't really start growing up until my twenties.

- Winona Ryder

Teen, Growing, Twenties, Growing Up

My home is San Francisco - that is definitely what I consider my home.

- Winona Ryder

San Francisco, Francisco, Consider

One of my worst fears is being a self-indulgent person.

- Winona Ryder

Person, Worst, Being, Self-Indulgent

I'm just coming from a more personal - and, I guess, more nostalgic - point of view.

- Winona Ryder

View, Point Of View, Guess, Nostalgic

I was fired from a movie because I did 'Heathers!' I was cast in a movie, and the director saw an advance screening and was offended by it and fired me.

- Winona Ryder

Offended, Fired, Movie, Screening

Apparently, Bette Davis and a lot of actresses had a hard time in their 30s, too.

- Winona Ryder

Had, Davis, Lot, Bette

People don't realise how much tension they hold in their forearms.

- Winona Ryder

How, Tension, How Much, Realise

I'm not into wrinkles.

- Winona Ryder

Wrinkles

You've got to grow up sometime.

- Winona Ryder

Teen, Grow, Sometime, Grow Up

I don't use the Internet, but apparently you can find out everything on it.

- Winona Ryder

Find, Use, Apparently, Internet

My problems seemed so glamorous to other people, and everyone just thought I was so lucky. But then, I was lucky because my family was really there for me - San Francisco was a real refuge.

- Winona Ryder

Lucky, Francisco, San, Glamorous

I can see it in even great actors' performances, when they're phoning it in.

- Winona Ryder

Great, See, Even, Performance

I'm the type who'd rather not work than work on something I'm not into. I've done that a couple of times, and I feel like I can totally see it in my performance.

- Winona Ryder

Like, Rather, Couple, Performance

You have to work to be relevant. If you don't, then people will forget, and the studios won't want you because they won't remember the last thing you did that made money.

- Winona Ryder

Work, Will, Last, Studios

I would love to someday do a play. I did one when I was very young in San Francisco, where I grew up. A girl can dream.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Play, Francisco, San

The description of my character in the first few movies I did was always 'nerdy,' but I liked that; it was way more interesting.

- Winona Ryder

Interesting, More, Always, Nerdy

I've always been fascinated with twins.

- Winona Ryder

Always, Been, Fascinated, Twins

What's awful about being famous and being an actress is when people come up to you and touch you. That's scary, and they just seem to think it's okay to do it, like you're public property.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Famous, Actress, Okay

Usually, the roles that you get offered that are the mom roles are very much the mom role.

- Winona Ryder

Role, Very, Roles, Offered

I was inspired by lots of people, certainly in acting and in writing and stuff, but I never wanted to be somebody else.

- Winona Ryder

Never, Lots, Certainly, Inspired

My parents are awesome, but they're pretty left-wing.

- Winona Ryder

Parents, Pretty, Left-Wing, Awesome

Googling yourself is maybe one of the worst things you can do. I did it once, and someone had to talk me off a ledge.

- Winona Ryder

Maybe, Off, Had, Worst

When I'm acting well, it's the most exhilarating experience. When I'm bad, it's miserable.

- Winona Ryder

Bad, Exhilarating, Most, Miserable

I was single for a while and dating and... I just didn't know how to do it! I've always been like that: when I was 15, there was a guy I liked, and we made out, and I thought that meant he was my boyfriend.

- Winona Ryder

Always, Been, Meant, Boyfriend

I feel like I had to learn how to take care of myself and find out what made me happy aside from just making films.

- Winona Ryder

Making, Like, Films, I Feel Like

I'm not someone like Norma Desmond who's harking back to her younger days.

- Winona Ryder

Her, Someone, Like, Younger

I loved movies, but I can't remember ever really wanting to be an actress, and I certainly didn't imagine ever being in a movie. I think I wanted to be a writer.

- Winona Ryder

Think, Wanting, Certainly, Actress

I don't have a director's mind.

- Winona Ryder

Mind, Director

Remember when you were a kid, and everyone used to say, 'Would you rather be interested or interesting?' And to me, it was always like, 'Interested!' How is that even a question? I feel very lucky that I'm just really, really interested in a lot of things.

- Winona Ryder

Lucky, Rather, Very, Remember When

I did this little movie I really love called 'Experimenter,' but that took six years to get made and no money.

- Winona Ryder

Love, Movie, Took, Six

I just did what I found interesting. I was so lucky that I was able to do that, especially in the '90s. I was really able to have a life to go back to.

- Winona Ryder

Interesting, Go, Back, Lucky

I don't believe I am influencing anybody but myself.

- Winona Ryder

I Am, Believe, Anybody, Myself

I'm used to being told what to say, but not what to think... that's usually left up to me.

- Winona Ryder

Me, Think, Say, Left

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