Winona Ryder, the celebrated star of “Beetlejuice,” recently opened up in an interview with Esquire about her harrowing experiences in Hollywood, particularly with disgraced former Miramax boss Harvey Weinstein. While Ryder escaped sexual assault, she shared how she became blacklisted in Hollywood after rejecting Weinstein’s advances.
Ryder recounted a troubling meeting with Weinstein, during which she felt his expectations were more than just professional. When she declined his offer to star in his adaptation of the play “Little Voice,” suggesting that Jane Horrocks, the original stage actor, was better suited for the role, Weinstein’s behavior became “weird,” and he quickly left. “He did not like me,” Ryder explained, reflecting on the chilling impact of Weinstein’s power in Hollywood.
Ryder was only 16 when her performance in “Beetlejuice” (1988) catapulted her to stardom. Despite her early success, including two Oscar nominations for “The Age of Innocence” (1994) and “Little Women” (1995), Ryder’s relationship with Hollywood soured as she faced sexual harassment and manipulation. She shared that these experiences, coupled with her growing disillusionment, made her empathize deeply with Weinstein’s victims.
More Read
She also touched on her infamous 2001 shoplifting incident, describing it as a possible subconscious attempt to break away from Hollywood. Her journey back into acting began in the 2010s with roles in “Black Swan” and Netflix’s hit series “Stranger Things.” Ryder is now returning to her roots, starring in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to her breakout film, set to release on September 6.
Weinstein, once a powerful figure in the film industry, was sentenced to 23 years in prison in New York for rape and sexual assault in 2020. Though his conviction was recently overturned, he remains imprisoned due to a separate conviction in California, where he was sentenced to 16 years.
