Wynona Ryder Recalls How Being ‘Wildy’ Sexually Harassed Altered Her Passion For Making Films: ‘I Understand What…’

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As a dedicated follower of Winona Ryder‘s career, I have always admired her talent and resilience. However, hearing about her experiences with sexual harassment in Hollywood has shed a darker light on the industry that I hold dear. It’s heartbreaking to know that such incidents can affect an artist’s passion for their craft and change their outlook on their career.

In her latest interview, Winona Ryder openly discussed encounters with sexual harassment during her late twenties and thirties, revealing how these experiences dampened her enthusiasm for filmmaking.

In an interview with Esquire (published on August 29), the actress from Stranger Things opened up about a distressing event that significantly affected both her personal and professional life. Although she didn’t reveal the identities in the conversation, she shared that she had gone through some difficult encounters with a pair of individuals who made unwanted sexual advances towards her, quite openly.

Ryder contemplated, “It wasn’t a physical attack. Yet, it was highly inappropriate and wild. It made me realize (the ordeal faced by Harvey Weinstein’s victims and others).” She considered herself fortunate as such incidents didn’t happen to her repeatedly due to her well-known status as an actress. She also mentioned, “There was a thought process going on in your head: You’re bargaining, you’re considering the consequences if you speak up. You’re weighing options while this person is acting strangely.”

In a recent conversation, the actress who played Edward Scissorhands mentioned that she hadn’t fully grasped how startling those scenes were until she discussed them with Jenna Ortega, who will co-star with her in the upcoming sequel to Beetlejuice, titled simply Beetlejuice.

Eventually, Ryder politely rejected unwanted advances by saying, “Ha ha!” She also handled inappropriate behavior or drunken attempts to flirt by using this method. The actress explained that she found it uncomfortable when someone touched her without consent.

After experiencing a profound impact from this event, the perspective of Heather’s star towards Hollywood shifted dramatically. She openly expressed that looking back, it had a significantly negative effect on her desire to continue filmmaking. Ryder acknowledged that all accomplished actors had frequently advised her, stating that when things weren’t “extraordinary” anymore, one should move on. Taking this advice to heart, Ryder made the decision to do just that.

Throughout her lengthy acting career spanning several decades, the actress gained significant recognition. Following the 2001 shoplifting incident that caused a stir, she re-emerged on screens in subsequent years. Notable appearances include roles in notable productions like Black Swan, A Scanner Darkly, and Stranger Things.

In September 6, 2024, we can expect the upcoming film project by Ryder, titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which has been generating a lot of excitement.

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2024-08-30 10:07