Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Winona Ryder
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Winona Ryder made an impact.
Winona Ryder is an American actress who gained recognition in the late 1980s for her roles as unconventional characters and further solidified her career with dramatic performances in the 1990s. She has received numerous awards, including a Golden Globe, and has been nominated for prestigious accolades such as Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award. Ryder's work has established her as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
1988: Beetlejuice Release and 1969 Appearance
In 1988, Winona Ryder starred in Tim Burton's film 'Beetlejuice', a box office success where she played a goth teenager. Also in 1988, she appeared in '1969', a drama about the Vietnam War, alongside Kiefer Sutherland and Robert Downey Jr.
1989: Starring in Heathers, Great Balls of Fire!, and Music Video Appearance
In 1989, Winona Ryder starred in the independent film 'Heathers', a satirical take on teenage life. Also in 1989, she starred in the biopic 'Great Balls of Fire!', and appeared in the music video for Mojo Nixon's "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child".
1990: Offer for 'The Freshman' Rescinded
In 1990, Winona Ryder received an offer to co-star in the film 'The Freshman', but it was rescinded due to the controversial subject matter of 'Heathers'.
1990: Starring Roles in Edward Scissorhands, Mermaids, and Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, ShoWest Award
In 1990, Winona Ryder starred in 'Edward Scissorhands' alongside Johnny Depp, 'Mermaids' with Cher and Christina Ricci, and 'Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael' with Jeff Daniels. She also made a cameo in Roy Orbison's music video and was awarded 'ShoWest's Female Star of Tomorrow'.
1992: Expressed willingness for Beetlejuice sequel
As early as 1992, Winona Ryder had expressed her willingness to appear in a sequel to Beetlejuice.
October 1993: The Age of Innocence Release
In October 1993, 'The Age of Innocence', starring Winona Ryder, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daniel Day-Lewis, was released. Winona Ryder won a Golden Globe and received Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for her performance.
October 1993: The House of the Spirits Release
In October 1993, 'The House of the Spirits', starring Winona Ryder, Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons, Antonio Banderas, and Glenn Close, was released. The film was poorly reviewed and a box-office flop.
1993: Offered reward for Polly Klaas's safe return
In 1993, Winona Ryder offered a $200,000 reward in hopes that it would lead to the safe return of kidnapped child Polly Klaas, who lived in Ryder's hometown of Petaluma.
1994: Dedicated Little Women performance to Polly Klaas
In 1994, Winona Ryder dedicated her performance as Jo in the film adaptation of Little Women to the memory of Polly Klaas, after Klaas's death.
1994: Starring in Reality Bites, Little Women, and Guest Appearance in The Simpsons
In 1994, Winona Ryder starred in 'Reality Bites' and 'Little Women'. She also made a guest appearance in 'The Simpsons' episode "Lisa's Rival" as Allison Taylor. She received her second Oscar nomination for Little Women.
1995: Starring in How to Make an American Quilt and Narrating The Diary of a Young Girl
In 1995, Winona Ryder starred in 'How to Make an American Quilt' and narrated Anne Frank's 'The Diary of a Young Girl', receiving a Grammy Award nomination for the narration.
1996: Film Appearances in 'Boys', 'Looking for Richard', and 'The Crucible'
In 1996, Winona Ryder appeared in several films. She starred in 'Boys', which was a box office failure and received negative reviews. She also appeared in Al Pacino's 'Looking for Richard', which received moderate acclaim. Finally, she starred in 'The Crucible', which was a commercial failure despite expectations, though Ryder's performance was praised.
1996: 'Girl, Interrupted' film in development
In late 1996, development began for the film 'Girl, Interrupted,' starring Winona Ryder, based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir.
1997: Starring in 'Alien Resurrection' and 'Female Star of the Year' award
In 1997, Winona Ryder starred in 'Alien Resurrection' alongside Sigourney Weaver. The film was commercially successful, and Ryder won a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Actress. Also in 1997, she was presented with the 'Female Star of the Year' award at ShoWest.
1998: Performance in 'The Vagina Monologues', Role in 'Celebrity', and other appearances
In 1998, Winona Ryder performed in Eve Ensler's play 'The Vagina Monologues' on Valentine's Day. She also starred in Woody Allen's film 'Celebrity'. Additionally, she appeared in the music video for Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's song "Talk About the Blues", narrated Survivors: Testimonies of the Holocaust, and served as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival.
1999: Starring in and Producing 'Girl, Interrupted'
In 1999, Winona Ryder starred in and served as an executive producer for the movie 'Girl, Interrupted', based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir. She played Kaysen, who has borderline personality disorder. In the same year, Winona Ryder was parodied in South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and started her own music company, Roustabout Studios.
August 2001: Hospitalization and Withdrawal from 'Lily and the Secret of Planting'
In August 2001, Winona Ryder was hospitalized for a severe stomach-related disorder and subsequently withdrew from the film 'Lily and the Secret of Planting'.
2003: Advertising Campaign for Marc Jacobs
In 2003, after media attention on her courtroom appearances in Marc Jacobs clothes, Winona Ryder appeared in Marc Jacobs' Spring advertising campaign.
2004: Co-producing 'The Day My God Died'
In 2004, Winona Ryder co-produced and co-narrated the documentary 'The Day My God Died', which focuses on international child sex trafficking.
2004: Unable to be cast in 'Melinda and Melinda' due to insurance issues
In 2004, Woody Allen wanted to cast Winona Ryder in his film 'Melinda and Melinda', but was unable to because insurance could not be obtained for her.
2005: Co-producing 'The Day My God Died'
In 2005, Winona Ryder co-produced and co-narrated the documentary 'The Day My God Died', which focuses on international child sex trafficking.
2006: Appearances in 'The Darwin Awards' and 'A Scanner Darkly'
In 2006, Winona Ryder made appearances in the films 'The Darwin Awards' and 'A Scanner Darkly', marking a return to independent films.
2007: Appearances in 'The Ten', 'Sex and Death 101', and others
In 2007, Winona Ryder appeared in several films, including 'The Ten' and 'Sex and Death 101'. She also starred in the short film 'Welcome' and made an appearance in the music video for "We're All Stuck Out In The Desert" by Jonathan Rice.
2008: Leading role in 'The Last Word' and Appearance in 'Star Trek'
In 2008, Winona Ryder played the female lead in 'The Last Word' and appeared as Spock's mother, Amanda Grayson, in the film 'Star Trek'.
2009: Starring in 'The Private Lives of Pippa Lee'
In 2009, Winona Ryder starred alongside Robin Wright and Julianne Moore in Rebecca Miller's 'The Private Lives of Pippa Lee'.
2011: Role in 'Black Swan', 'Stay Cool', and 'The Dilemma'
In 2011, Winona Ryder had a supporting role in 'Black Swan', starred in 'Stay Cool', and appeared in 'The Dilemma'. She was also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in 'When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story'.
2012: Roles in 'The Iceman', 'The Letter', and 'Frankenweenie'
In 2012, Winona Ryder played Deborah Kuklinski in 'The Iceman', appeared in 'The Letter', and reunited with Tim Burton in 'Frankenweenie'. She also guest-hosted on TCM.
November 2013: Hinted at Beetlejuice return
In November 2013, Winona Ryder hinted at a return to Beetlejuice in an interview, provided that Burton and Keaton were involved.
2013: Appearance in 'Homefront' and 'Drunk History'
In 2013, Winona Ryder appeared in the action thriller 'Homefront' and starred in a segment of 'Drunk History' called "Boston" as Mary Dyer.
2014: Appearance in 'Turks & Caicos' and Rag & Bone campaign
In 2014, Winona Ryder appeared in the British television film 'Turks & Caicos' and modeled in the Fall advertising campaign of fashion label Rag & Bone.
August 2015: Confirmed Beetlejuice sequel role
In August 2015, Winona Ryder confirmed that she would reprise her role in the Beetlejuice sequel.
October 2015: Release of 'Experimenter'
In October 2015, the biopic 'Experimenter', in which Winona Ryder starred alongside Peter Sarsgaard, was released to positive reviews.
2015: Juror at Sundance Film Festival, 'Show Me a Hero', and 'Experimenter'
In 2015, Winona Ryder was a juror at the Sundance Film Festival, starred in the HBO miniseries 'Show Me a Hero', and appeared in the biopic 'Experimenter'.
July 2016: Premiere of 'Stranger Things' Season 1
In July 2016, the first season of the Netflix science fiction-horror series 'Stranger Things', starring Winona Ryder, premiered to critical acclaim and high audience ratings.
2016: Marc Jacobs Advertisements
In 2016, Winona Ryder appeared in advertisements for Marc Jacobs cosmetics and their spring collection.
October 2017: Release of 'Stranger Things' Season 2
In October 2017, the second season of 'Stranger Things', starring Winona Ryder, was released.
2018: Destination Wedding Film, L'Oréal commercial, and H&M campaign
In 2018, Winona Ryder appeared in the film Destination Wedding with Keanu Reeves. She also starred in a L'Oréal shampoo commercial and H&M's spring collection campaign alongside Elizabeth Olsen.
July 2019: Release of 'Stranger Things' Season 3
In July 2019, the third season of 'Stranger Things', starring Winona Ryder, was released.
September 2020: Resumption of 'Stranger Things' Season 4 Filming
In September 2020, filming for the fourth season of 'Stranger Things', starring Winona Ryder, resumed after being halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Squarespace Super Bowl commercial and The Plot Against America
In 2020, Winona Ryder appeared in Squarespace's Super Bowl commercial. Later that year, she starred in The Plot Against America, an HBO limited series based on Philip Roth's 2004 novel.
2021: Super Bowl ad for Cadillac and Gone in the Night Film
In 2021, Winona Ryder reprised her role as Kim Boggs in Edward Scissorhands in a Super Bowl ad for Cadillac. Also in 2021, her next film, Gone in the Night, co-starring Dermot Mulroney, was released.
May 27, 2022: Premiere of 'Stranger Things' Season 4, Volume 1
On May 27, 2022, the first volume of season 4 of 'Stranger Things', starring Winona Ryder, premiered.
July 1, 2022: Premiere of 'Stranger Things' Season 4, Volume 2
On July 1, 2022, the second volume of season 4 of 'Stranger Things', starring Winona Ryder, premiered.
2023: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice filming wrapped
In late 2023, filming wrapped for the movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
October 2024: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice released
In October 2024, the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, was released.
Mentioned in this timeline
H M or Hennes Mauritz AB is a Swedish multinational...
Home Box Office HBO is an American pay television service...
Stranger Things created by the Duffer Brothers is a popular...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
John Christopher Depp II known as Johnny Depp is an...
Saturday Night Live SNL is a late-night live sketch comedy...
Trending
20 days ago HBO Max Offers Huge Black Friday Discount: One Year for Just $36!
2 months ago Bones Hyland NBA Fantasy Picks and Betting Tips for October 29 Games
7 months ago Timberwolves-Thunder Game 4: Gilgeous-Alexander's Impact and How to Watch the Decisive Match
3 months ago Iran faces snapback sanctions from Europe amid nuclear program deadlock and economic fears.
10 days ago Quinnen Williams' Impact on Cowboys' Defense and Resurgence; More Than Just One Player
1 month ago Jerry Jones claims unlocking $100B gas bounty, invests $1B, Prescott understands fan frustration.
Popular
Candace Owens is an American conservative political commentator and author...
Ilhan Omar is an American politician currently serving as the...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Tom Cotton is an American politician and Army veteran currently...
Oprah Winfrey an American talk show host television producer actress...
Matt and Ross Duffer known as the Duffer Brothers are...