Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Winona Ryder
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Winona Ryder made an impact.
Winona Ryder is a celebrated American actress known for her roles portraying unconventional characters in the late 1980s and achieving broader recognition for her dramatic performances in the 1990s. She has received critical acclaim throughout her career, including a Golden Globe Award and nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
1985: Auditioned for Desert Bloom
In 1985, Winona Ryder sent a videotaped audition for Desert Bloom.
1986: Film Debut in Lucas
In 1986, Winona Ryder made her film debut in Lucas.
1987: Starred in Square Dance
In 1987, Winona Ryder starred in Square Dance, where she received acclaim for her performance.
1988: Starred in Beetlejuice
In 1988, Ryder starred in the comedy Beetlejuice, which led to her rise to prominence.
1989: Starred in Heathers
In 1989, Ryder starred in Heathers, a satirical take on teenage life.
1989: Starred in Heathers and Great Balls of Fire!
In 1989, Winona Ryder starred in the independent film Heathers and the biopic Great Balls of Fire!.
1990: Starred in Edward Scissorhands and Mermaids
In 1990, Ryder played major roles in Edward Scissorhands and Mermaids.
1991: Starred in Night on Earth
In 1991, Winona Ryder played a young taxicab driver in Jim Jarmusch's independent film Night on Earth.
November 1992: Premiere of Bram Stoker's Dracula
In November 1992, Bram Stoker's Dracula, starring Winona Ryder, premiered to critical and commercial success.
1992: Starred in Bram Stoker's Dracula
In 1992, Ryder starred in Bram Stoker's Dracula.
October 1993: Release of The Age of Innocence
In October 1993, The Age of Innocence, starring Winona Ryder, was released to critical praise.
October 1993: Release of The House of the Spirits
In October 1993, The House of the Spirits, starring Winona Ryder, was released, receiving poor reviews.
1993: Oscar Nomination for The Age of Innocence
In 1993, Ryder earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal in The Age of Innocence.
1993: Reward offered for Polly Klaas's return
In 1993, Winona Ryder offered a $200,000 reward in the hopes that it would lead to the safe return of kidnapped child Polly Klaas, who lived in Ryder's hometown of Petaluma.
1994: Oscar Nomination for Little Women and starred in Reality Bites
In 1994, Ryder received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Jo March in Little Women, and she starred in Reality Bites.
1994: Starred in Reality Bites and Little Women
In 1994, Winona Ryder starred in Reality Bites and Little Women, receiving her second Oscar nomination for the latter.
1994: Little Women film adaptation dedicated to Polly Klaas
In 1994, after Polly Klaas's death, Winona Ryder dedicated her performance as Jo in the 1994 film adaptation of Little Women, one of Klaas's favorite novels, to her memory.
1995: Starred in How to Make an American Quilt
In 1995, Ryder starred in How to Make an American Quilt.
1995: Starred in How to Make an American Quilt and Narrated Anne Frank's Diary
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 made several film appearances, including in Boys, Looking for Richard, and The Crucible.
1997: Starred in Alien Resurrection
In 1997, Ryder starred in Alien Resurrection.
1997: Alien Resurrection release and ShoWest Award
In 1997, Winona Ryder starred in Alien Resurrection as an android, alongside Sigourney Weaver. Though not the most successful in the Alien series, it grossed $161 million worldwide and Ryder received mostly positive reviews, winning a Blockbuster Entertainment Award. At the 1997 ShoWest event, she was presented with the 'Female Star of the Year' award.
1998: The Vagina Monologues, Celebrity, music video, Survivors: Testimonies of the Holocaust, Cannes Film Festival
In 1998, Winona Ryder performed in The Vagina Monologues, starred in Woody Allen's Celebrity, appeared in Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's music video, narrated Survivors: Testimonies of the Holocaust, and served as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival.
1999: Starred in Girl, Interrupted
In 1999, Ryder starred in Girl, Interrupted.
1999: Girl, Interrupted, South Park, Roustabout Studios
In 1999, Winona Ryder starred in and executive produced Girl, Interrupted, which had been in development since 1996. In the same year, she was parodied in South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and started her own music company, Roustabout Studios.
April 2000: Peter J. Owens Award
In April 2000, Winona Ryder was awarded the Peter J. Owens Award at the San Francisco Film Festival.
October 6, 2000: Hollywood Walk of Fame star
On October 6, 2000, Winona Ryder received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
May 18, 2002: Saturday Night Live host
On May 18, 2002, Winona Ryder hosted Saturday Night Live.
2005: Co-produced and co-narrated "The Day My God Died"
In 2005, Winona Ryder co-produced and co-narrated the documentary "The Day My God Died" with Tim Robbins.
2006: The Darwin Awards, A Scanner Darkly
In 2006, Winona Ryder starred in The Darwin Awards and Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly.
2007: The Ten, Sex and Death 101, Welcome, We're All Stuck Out In The Desert
In 2007, Winona Ryder appeared in The Ten, Sex and Death 101, the short film Welcome, and the music video for "We're All Stuck Out In The Desert."
2008: The Last Word, The Informers, Star Trek
In 2008, Winona Ryder played the female lead in The Last Word, starred in The Informers, and appeared in J.J. Abrams's Star Trek as Spock's mother.
2009: Appearance in Star Trek
In 2009, Winona Ryder made a smaller appearance in the film Star Trek, marking her return to acting after a break.
2009: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
In 2009, Winona Ryder starred in Rebecca Miller's The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.
2010: Appearance in Black Swan and When Love Is Not Enough
In 2010, Winona Ryder appeared in Black Swan and portrayed Lois Wilson in the Hallmark television film When Love Is Not Enough.
2011: Black Swan, Stay Cool, When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story, The Dilemma
In 2011, Winona Ryder had a supporting role in Black Swan, starred in Stay Cool and When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story, and appeared in The Dilemma.
2011: Appearance in The Dilemma
In 2011, Winona Ryder made a smaller appearance in the film The Dilemma.
2012: The Iceman, The Letter, Frankenweenie, TCM guest hosting
In 2012, Winona Ryder appeared in The Iceman and The Letter, reunited with Tim Burton for Frankenweenie, and guest hosted on TCM.
2013: Homefront, Drunk History
In 2013, Winona Ryder appeared in Homefront and in an episode of Drunk History called "Boston."
2014: Drunk History, Turks & Caicos, Rag & Bone
In 2014, Winona Ryder appeared in Drunk History as Peggy Shippen, in the British television film Turks & Caicos, and modeled for Rag & Bone.
October 2015: Experimenter release
In October 2015, the film Experimenter, starring Winona Ryder, was released to positive reviews.
July 2016: Stranger Things premiere
In July 2016, the first season of Stranger Things premiered, starring Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, to critical acclaim.
2016: Marc Jacobs ads
In 2016, Winona Ryder appeared in advertisements for Marc Jacobs' spring collection.
2016: Played Joyce Byers on Stranger Things
Since 2016, Winona Ryder has played Joyce Byers on the Netflix series Stranger Things, receiving her third Golden Globe nomination for the role.
October 2017: Stranger Things Season 2 release
In October 2017, the second season of the Netflix science fiction-horror series Stranger Things, in which Winona Ryder stars as Joyce Byers, was released.
2018: Destination Wedding, L'Oréal commercial, H&M campaign
In 2018, Winona Ryder appeared in the film Destination Wedding, a L'Oréal shampoo commercial, and H&M's spring collection campaign.
July 2019: Stranger Things Season 3 release
In July 2019, the third season of the Netflix science fiction-horror series Stranger Things, in which Winona Ryder stars as Joyce Byers, was released.
September 2020: Stranger Things filming resumed
In September 2020, filming for the fourth season of Stranger Things resumed after being halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Squarespace Super Bowl commercial, The Plot Against America
In 2020, Winona Ryder appeared in Squarespace's Super Bowl commercial and starred in The Plot Against America.
2020: Starred in The Plot Against America
In 2020, Winona Ryder starred in the HBO miniseries The Plot Against America.
2021: Cadillac Super Bowl ad, Gone in the Night
In 2021, Winona Ryder reprised her role as Kim Boggs in a Super Bowl ad for Cadillac and starred in the film Gone in the Night.
May 27, 2022: Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 premiere
On May 27, 2022, the first volume of season 4 of Stranger Things premiered.
July 1, 2022: Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 premiere
On July 1, 2022, the second volume of season 4 of Stranger Things premiered.
2023: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, filming wrapped
In 2023, filming for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel in which Ryder is reprising her role, wrapped.
2024: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, release scheduled
In 2024, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in which Ryder is reprising her role, has a release scheduled.
2024: Starred in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
In 2024, Winona Ryder starred in the comedy horror sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
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