Winona Laura Ryder (born October 29 1971) is an American actress and producer who has performed in film, television, and theater. She achieved early prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s with leading roles in a series of commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies, and later experienced a career resurgence in the 2010s.
Early life and education
Ryder was born in Winona, Minnesota, and moved with her family to Los Angeles, California, at age six. She attended the California Institute of the Arts, where she studied acting and graduated in 1991.
Career
Film
Ryder’s first major film role was as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice (1988), directed by Tim Burton. She followed this with performances in Heathers (1988), Mermaids (1990), and Edward Scissorhands (1990). Her portrayal of a kidnapped child in Little Women (1994) and her role as Margo McCarty in The Crucible (1996) further solidified her reputation. In the 2000s, Ryder appeared in a range of genres, including Girl Interrupted (1999) and Mr. Deeds (2002). After a period of reduced screen presence, she returned to prominence with the Netflix series Stranger Things (2016–present), playing Joyce Byers, a role that earned her several award nominations.
Television
Beyond Stranger Things, Ryder has contributed to television series such as The L Word (2005) and starred in the HBO limited series The Plot Against America (2020).
Theatre
Ryder made her stage debut with the New York production of The Seagull (2002). She has participated in various theatrical projects, though her primary body of work remains in screen media.
Awards and nominations
Ryder has received two Academy Award nominations: Best Supporting Actress for The Age of Innocence (1993) and Best Actress for Little Women (1994). She has also been nominated for multiple Golden Globe Awards and has won a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble cast of Stranger Things.
Personal life
Ryder married Canadian businessman Keith Johansson in 2001; the couple divorced in 2005. She has been in a long‑term relationship with filmmaker David O. Russell since 2002. Ryder has been involved in various charitable causes, including environmental conservation and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Public image and legacy
Ryder is frequently cited as an iconic figure of late‑20th‑century American cinema. Her early work contributed to the rise of teen‑drama and indie film movements, and her later television role has been noted for its impact on contemporary streaming culture.