Winona Ryder Reveals Being Labeled With ‘Obnoxious Term’ In High School After Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Came Out

As a dedicated follower of Winona Ryder’s career and a lover of timeless classics like Beetlejuice, I can’t help but feel a pang of empathy for her high school days. It’s heartbreaking to think that instead of gaining social status from playing the beloved Lydia Deetz, she was labeled as a ‘witch’ and a ‘freak’. Yet, it seems fitting that a character who embodied the outsider would resonate so deeply with the actress herself.


Winona Ryder recently reminisced about the unexpected response she encountered in high school upon portraying her cherished character Lydia Deetz in the 1988 dark fantasy-comedy horror movie Beetlejuice. At just fifteen, Ryder was filming this memorable production. Interestingly, despite enjoying the role, the actress admitted that she was branded with a ‘pesky nickname’ when the film was released. Keep reading for more details!

In a recent interview with Esquire, Winona Ryder opened up about her experience working with her co-stars Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara, who also returned to reprise their characters for upcoming Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice sequel. 

In addition, Ryder talked about the criticism she encountered in high school following her portrayal of the main character in the initial movie. Reflecting on this experience, she acknowledged that she anticipated her role as Lydia Deetz would boost her popularity. However, she confessed it instead led to unpleasant comments being directed towards her.

She recalled, “They were like, ‘You’re a witch! You’re a freak!’ It amplified it. I was like, ‘But I’m in a movie!’”

Ryder shared that she was quite similar to her character Lydia during that period, mentioning that her brother discovered a picture of her taken about a month before her audition. She disclosed, “I’d colored my hair a deep blue-black, sported wild short bangs, and dressed in black attire.”

In her conversation with the publication, the actress from The Black Swan reminisced about reconnecting with her co-stars. She shared that Keaton and O’Hara were incredibly kind and thoughtful towards her. Notably, they made sure to include her in their interactions, which was a particularly special experience for her given she was a young actor at the time.

Ryder noted that working on the film represented her initial genuine partnership, and she enjoyed collaborating with director Tim Burton immensely. Yet, upon taking on subsequent projects, she found the experience contrasted significantly as people seemed less gracious and the atmosphere was more challenging, describing it as “less welcoming.”

Regarding Beetlejuice 2, Winona Ryder revealed that for over 15 years she and Tim Burton have been secretly discussing a sequel. Upon learning that the film was actually happening, she confessed to feeling both terrified and thrilled about reprising her role as Lydia on the big screen once more.

Meanwhile, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released in theaters on September 6, 2024.

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2024-08-29 19:38