Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder will, and always will be, a 90s goth queen that all emos worship. Today's her birthday, so here's a run down of her extraordinary career. I recommend every title in this essay.
Winona Ryder was infamously born in Winona, Minnesota. Her birthday is October 29th (which also happens to be my sister’s birthday). She started her acting career in the mid 80s, first starring in a film called Lucas. Though her break is most notably Beetlejuice. She also went on to star in Edward Scissorhands. Being the star of 2 iconic Burton films while still being a teen is legendary let alone the rest of her career. Also, Heathers. Do yourself a favor and throw that in your 80s cult classic marathon.
The 90s was real prime time for Winona as her career was at it’s peak. I guess I gotta start off with her 2 Academy Award nominations for Age of Innocence and Little women, also winning a Golden Globe for her Age of Innocence performance. The way I see it, you get any nomination at this caliber, you’re one of the best in the industry. But you win, that makes you the best of the best. And Winona Ryder is one of the best of the best. She also did films like Reality Bites, Alien Resurrection, the Crucible and.... Dracula. I cannot express in words what my experience with Dracula is. That movie is something else.
Winona ended this very extraordinary decade with Girl Interrupted. Angelina Jolie got all the spotlight for this film, winning an Oscar and everything. But this was all Winona. The project was so personal to her and she was very involved in the film. I watch this movie and I know this is one of the projects she looks back on is is most proud of. An Oscar means nothing if you can portray such a important story like that.
Winona started the century off by receiving a star on the Hollywood walk of fame..... but it was all kinda downhill from here for a few years. She went kinda crazy, shoplifted that one time, I think was on drugs, I don’t know. A lot went down. But in the 2000s, she did manage to get a couple movies in with her husband Keanu... Did a few other things, you know not all was lost.
But she definitely got her life together again in the 2010s. We should have seen it coming considering the decade started with Black Swan. Not only was that an insanely good movie, but Winona had a little part of it and was great. She then reunited with with Tim Burton when she voiced in the wholesome Frankenweenie film. A few movies after that, and then Stranger Things happened. An outstanding series, and absolute phenomenon. A brilliant ensemble cast. And Winona is at the heart of it all. Not only being nominated for golden globe and SAG awards, not only because this is one of her greatest roles ever, but Joyce Byers is always the unsung hero of the series. And I love her.
On a final note, if you support Winona’s marriage to Keanu Reeves, go watch Destination wedding. It’s a rom com that came out a few years back and it’s pretty great. Also. That Edward Scissorhands super bowl commercial with her and Timothee Chalamet.... yeah that happened.
With the final season of Stranger Things on the horizon, I'm excited to see what's still in store her majesty. Winona is a legendary icon. And she's has had 51 years to prove it. Happy Birthday!
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