Winona Ryder as Mina & Elisabeta
With the exception of one backlot shot, director Francis Ford Coppola and photographer Michael Ballhaus made their film on elaborate sets where they had full control of the frame. In almost every shot, something's going on beyond the simple narrative flow. On Coppola's densely layered, crowded screen, the background may contain an unusual twist to the action, or an odd arrangement of shapes. The simple act of stepping over a threshold may seem strange and hesitant because the action has been filmed backward, then run forward through the projector. The familiar plot is presented as a romantic love story taken to an operatic extreme. Gary Oldman is perhaps the most Byronic Dracula ever brought to the screen. Despite all the changes in makeup--many of them hideous and grotesque--he's handsome, exotic, dark, larger than life. Closely based on Bram Stoker's classic novel, the story starts as a young lawyer (Jonathan Harker) is assigned to a gloomy village in the mists of eastern Europe. He is captured and imprisoned by the undead vampire Dracula, who travels to London, inspired by a photograph of Harker's betrothed, Mina Murray. In Britain, Dracula begins a reign of seduction and terror, draining the life from Mina's closest friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy's friends gather together to try to drive Dracula away.
Biography for Winone Ryder
Date of birth
29 October 1971
Winona, Minnesota, USA
Birth name
Winona Laura Horowitz
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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 (I), 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 Ford 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".
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Trade mark
Frequently plays a character who writes. In most of her films, she's played a journalist, reporter, a writer, or just a teenager who writes in a journal or diary.
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Trivia
Her real hair color is blonde but when she made her first major film, Lucas (1986), her hair color was dyed black. She was told to keep it that color and it has stayed that color since.
Her December 22, 1999 guest spot on "The Tonight Show" was her first ever appearance on a talk show. She did it to promote "Girl Interrupted" (the first film she has executive produced). She clearly had first-timer's jitters, but settled in comfortably.
The name Horowitz is not her actual surname; it comes from her grandmother Ethel Horowitz (a Russian immigrant), she revealed in an interview with US Vogue magazine.
(22 March 1999) Injured knee while filming Girl, Interrupted (1999).
(October 1997) Ranked #42 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
(1997) Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.
(1996) Dated David Duchovny.
She briefly checked herself into a hospital when she was 20, because she was suffering from depression, anxiety attacks, and exhaustion, resulting from constantly working on films.
Dad is Michael Horowitz, Mom is Cindy Horowitz. Has one sister, Sunyata.
Brothers: Jubal and Uri
Is actually a natural blonde, but has been dyeing her hair since 11.
Graduated from Petaluma High School with a 4.0 GPA.
Received a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood in October 2000, and, for the event, was voted Best Dressed Celebrity of the Week by Entertainment Weekly.
(1996) Helped Italian designer Giorgio Armani promote his Manhattan chain of stores.
(1997) Had to turn down the role of Nina in Object of My Affection, The (1998) due to scheduling conflicts.
(1996) Chosen as one of the "Top Players Under 35" list by People magazine.
(1996) Began work on Girl, Interrupted (1999), which took four more years to make it to the screen.
(1997) The role of Nola in Celebrity (1998) was actually written for Drew Barrymore.
When she was seven, though there was no electricity on the commune where they lived, Winona's mother began to run a old movie theater in a nearby barn, and would screen movies all day. She would allow Winona to miss school to watch movies with her.
Independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch wrote a part specifically for her in Night on Earth (1991), as a tattooed, chain-smoking cabbie who dreams of becoming a mechanic.
She dedicated the film Little Women (1994) to Polly Klass, a young girl from her hometown who was kidnapped and brutally murdered. She offered a $200,000 reward for anyone with information on the subject, and remains a strong supporter in the Polly Klass Foundation.
Auditioned for the Marla Singer role in Fight Club (1999), which eventually went to Helena Bonham Carter.
Beat poet Allen Ginsberg was a close friend of her parents.
(2000) Upset with MGM for refusing to pre-screen "Autumn in New York", saying she was very proud of the film and that the studio was giving it a bad name before it was even released.
(2000) Refused to do promotion for "Lost Souls".
(1995) Signed on to "The Girl You Want". After a few weeks of preproduction, she received a new version of the script, which she hated, and tried to get out of her contract. Touchstone Pictures threatened to sue her if she did, and so she completed the film. The film's title was changed to Boys (1996), and sat on the shelf for more than a year. After it finally got its release, it was released it less than 100 theaters in North America, and grossed less than five hundred thousand dollars.
Her favorite book is "Catcher in the Rye". She says she owns every paperback edition and translations.
In late 1999, she started her own music company, "Roustabout Studios".
(March 2000) Presented Best Picture contender Cider House Rules, The (1999) at the 72nd Academy Awards.
(19 May 2001) Appeared on the season finale of "Saturday Night Live", as herself.
Presented singer Bjork at the 2001 Academy Awards in the category Best Original Song.
Had to turn down the role of Alice Sutton in Conspiracy Theory (1997), which went to Julia Roberts, because of scheduling conflicts.
The film Lost Souls (2000), though it was released in late 2000, was actually shot in 1998, and New Line Cinema kept in on the shelf for two years.
(1996) Received a Grammy nomination for her reading of the 1995 novel "Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl".
Had one date with Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller, who wrote the song "Rollerskate Skinny" about her.
(1994) Turned down the lead role in Sabrina (1995) because she felt she could not fill Audrey Hepburn's shoes, and that the role was marked by sexism.
Her agent begged her not to do Heathers (1989), saying her career would be over.
Enrolled at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco at the age of 12.
The first house she bought was in the Hollywood Hills. She soon moved, saying she never fit in.
Says Sarah Miles (I)'s performance in Ryan's Daughter (1970) inspired her to become a professional actress.
First auditioned for the role of Blanca in House of the Spirits, The (1993) when she was sixteen, but the part went to Pernilla August. The film took years to get made, and when it finally did, August had to drop out at the last minute due to pregnancy, and Winona replaced her.
When she dropped out of "The Godfather Part III", rumors began to circulate that she was pregnant, that she had been discouraged by then-boyfriend Johnny Depp, had a drug problem, etc... She said in an interview later that year that she arrived in Rome to film and simply could not get out of bed. A doctor was called and ordered her to return home and sleep.
Dated Johnny Depp for many years. He had a tatoo of her name and after they broke up he had it reduced to WINO FOREVER.
Was considered for the part of Janet in a big-screen remake of "Three's Company" opposite Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, but the project was eventually cancelled.
(16 August 2001) Suffered severe stomach pains, and was doubled over in pain. She was sent to her hotel room in London and later, was admitted to the hospital, and diagnosed with a severe gastroenterological disorder. She left the UK on August 24th. The sickness caused her to drop out of the film Lily and the Secret Planting (2002), which eventually went to Kate Winslet instead. Winona was said to have been very passionate about her role in the film and was heartbroken to leave it. The incident brought to mind the similar 1990 stomach flu that caused her to drop out of Godfather: Part III, The (1990) two days before filming began, which caused a lot of controversy.
(December 12, 2001) Was arrested in Beverly Hills for allegedly stealing clothing items and carrying illegal pharmaceutical drugs without a prescription. Her lawyer denied the accusations, and Winona was released later that evening on $20,000 bail. She is due to be arrained on January 14th. Despite her alleged crime, Beverly Hills police described her as "very friendly, polite, and cooperative" and "a nice lady."
Smokes a pack of cigarettes a day!
Appeared on the cover of the June 2002 cover of W magazine wearing a "Free Winona" T-shirt. "Free Winona" T-shirts became popular over the Internet following her December 22, 2001 arrest, with many fans sporting them and purses in support.
In March 2002, she appeared in her second Caff� Latt� commercial, as well as a commercial for Subaru.
Broke her arm during the filming of Mr. Deeds (2002), in the scene where she and Adam Sandler are riding bikes down a flight of stairs.
6 December 2002 - Sentenced to 480 hours of community service, three years' probation, $3700 in fines, and $6355 in restitution for her arrest on shoplifting charges.
Dropped out of Eulogy (2004).
Turned down the role of Katrina in Sleepy Hollow (1999), which went to Christina Ricci.
A fan of the film Grey Gardens (1975).
Suffers from insomnia. She allegedly has had a habit of talking on the phone with actor Al Pacino, who also suffers from insomnia.
Suffers from hydrophobia due to a trauma she received when she nearly drowned at the age of 12. This caused problems when she had to act in some of the under-water scenes in Alien: Resurrection (1997). The scenes had to be retaken endless times because of this.
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Personal quotes
When asked why is she always playing teenagers, during a press junket for Mermaids (1990) in 1990: "Like, I'm nineteen. What am I supposed to do, play a judge?!"
"I read biographies of the greats, and they were so messed up that I thought I'd better mess myself up. But I couldn't. I'm too small."
"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."
On Heathers (1989): "It's a brilliant piece of literature, and I call it literature because it really is. I held it up next to 'Catcher in the Rye' and all the great books that I've read."
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Biography from Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia:
Raven-haired, mesmerizing young actress of considerable talent and range. The daughter of confirmed counterculture types (her godfather is Dr. Timothy Leary) who grew up on a California commune, Ryder performed on stage in small theaters as a preteen. Her fair skin, contrasted with dark, soulful eyes, made her a natural for sensitive teen types in Lucas (1986) and Square Dance (1987), but she really scored as the blackgarbed, death-obsessed daughter in Beetlejuice (1988), a high-profile hit comedy that opened doors for her. She was convincing as the child-bride cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis in Great Balls of Fire! a high-school conspirator in Heathers (both 1989), a small-town weirdo in Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael the longsuffering daughter of Cher in Mermaids and the sensitive blond girlfriend of Edward Scissorhands (all 1990). That nonstop work schedule caused her to bow out of The Godfather, Part III but her career picked up with the female lead in Francis Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), a project she brought to the director's attention. Martin Scorsese then chose her to play the deceptively docile fianc�e in The Age of Innocence (1993), for which she earned a Supporting Oscar nomination. She followed with The House of the Spirits (also 1993), then starred in Reality Bites and earned a Best Actress nomination for her enchanting work as Jo March in Little Women (both 1994), a pet project of hers.
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Links:
Oskur Fishman (2005) (in production)
Mary Warner (2005) (pre-production) .... Mary Warner
Darwin Awards (2005) (post-production) .... Insurance investigator
A Scanner Darkly (2005) (post-production) .... Donna
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004) .... Psychologist
... aka Livre de J�r�mie, Le (France)
The Day My God Died (2003) (voice) .... Narrator
Simone (2002) .... Herself
Mr. Deeds (2002) .... Louise 'Babe' Bennett
Zoolander (2001) .... Herself
73rd Annual Academy Awards, The (2001) (TV) (uncredited) .... Presenter
Lost Souls (2000) .... Maya Larkin
Autumn in New York (2000) .... Charlotte Fielding
Girl, Interrupted (1999) .... Susanna Kaysen/Narrator
... aka Durchgeknallt (2000) (Germany)
Being John Malkovich (1999) .... Herself
Celebrity (1998) .... Nola
Alien: Resurrection (1997) .... Annalee Call
... aka Alien 4 (1997)
Salute to Martin Scorsese, A (1997) (TV) .... Guest
... aka 25th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award: A Salute to Martin Scorsese, The (1997) (TV) (USA: complete title)
Crucible, The (1996) .... Abigail 'Abby' Williams
Looking for Richard (1996) .... Lady Anne/ Herself
Boys (1996) .... Patty Vare
How to Make an American Quilt (1995) .... Finn Dodd
Reality Bites (1994) .... Lelaina Pierce
Little Women (1994) .... Josephine 'Jo' March
Age of Innocence, The (1993) .... May Welland
House of the Spirits, The (1993) .... Blanca
... aka Casa dos Esp�ritos, A (1993) (Portugal)
... aka Geisterhaus, Das (1993) (Germany)
... aka �ndernes hus (1993) (Denmark)
Dracula (1992) .... Mina Murray/Elisabeta
... aka Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) (USA: complete title)
Night on Earth (1991) .... Corky
... aka Une nuit sur terre (1991) (France)
Mermaids (1990) .... Charlotte Flax
Edward Scissorhands (1990) .... Kim Boggs
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) .... Dinky Bossetti
Great Balls of Fire! (1989) .... Myra Gale Lewis
Heathers (1989) .... Veronica Sawyer
1969 (1988) .... Beth
Beetlejuice (1988) .... Lydia Deitz
Square Dance (1987) .... Gemma
... aka Home Is Where the Heart Is (1987) (USA: TV title)
Lucas (1986) .... Rina
Other Winona Ryder pages on Women of Horror:
Alien Resurrection Beetlejuice
