Winona Ryder was one of the biggest A-list actors back in the 90s. Throughout her career, this talented actress not only played many iconic characters but also received numerous awards. Some of the accolades Ryder has received include a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA Award, as well as nominations for a Grammy Award and two Academy Awards.
In addition to starring in many iconic 80s and 90s movies, Winona Ryder’s career has been filled with its fair share of scandals and controversies.But the biggest one of them has to be her 2001 shoplifting fiasco. Although Ryder’s career is now back on track, the media hasn’t forgotten about this incident, but what about the actress? Most recently, the Stranger Things star revealed what really happened back then and how she really feels about this incident.
Winona Ryder Landed Her First Film Role By Accident
Like many other successful actors, Winona Ryder knew she wanted to pursue a professional acting career from a very young age. In fact, she landed her first professional gig before she even started high school!
In 1985, Ryder auditioned for the lead in the film Desert Bloom, but she was ultimately not picked for the role. However, writer and director David Seltzer saw her tape and, instead, cast her in his teen drama movie Lucas (1986), which starred Charlie Sheen, Corey Haim, and Kerri Green.
After her film debut, Ryder landed a leading role in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988). The film would not only go on to make more than $74 million at the box office worldwide but would also help launch Ryder into international stardom. The young actress’s fame grew even bigger when she landed major roles in other commercially successful films, such as Heathers (1989), Great Balls of Fire (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) alongside Keanu Reeves.
In addition to this, Ryder also starred in critically acclaimed movies such as Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence (1993) and Gillian Armstrong’s Little Women (1994). In fact, the actress won two consecutive Academy Award nominations for her performance in these films. Other projects Winona Ryder worked on before taking a break from Hollywood are Reality Bites (1994), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Alien Resurrection (1997), and Girl, Interrupted (1999).
Winona Ryder Was Arrested For Shoplifting In The Early 2000s
In 2001, Winona Ryder was arrested on shoplifting charges after being accused of stealing $5,500 worth of designer clothes and accessories at a Saks Fifth Avenue department store. This incident nearly ruined her career and got her banned from Hollywood.
Although Ryder claimed she was only doing research for a film where she would play a kleptomaniac character, the Beetlejuice star was ultimately found guilty of grand theft and vandalism.
She was then sentenced to three years of probation plus 480 hours of community service. She also had to pay $3,700 in fines and $6,355 in restitution to the store and had to attend counseling.
A year later, Ryder made the headlines again when it was revealed that she was in the possession of various prescription drugs during her 2001 arrest.
Because of her arrest and subsequent drug scandal, Ryder lost many job opportunities, including a role in Woody Allen’s film Melinda and Melinda (2003). Ultimately, the actress decided to take a five-year break from Hollywood.
Winona Ryder Has Finally Revealed What Really Happened In Her 2001 Shoplifting Fiasco
Although Winona Ryder has been able to get her career back on track after her five-year hiatus from acting, landing major roles in movies and popular series like Stranger Things, fans and the media haven’t forgotten about her 2001 shoplifting fiasco. In a 2016 interview, Ryder revealed what really happened back then.
“Psychologically, I must have been at a place where I just wanted to stop,” the Beetlejuice star explained. “I won’t get into what happened, but it wasn’t what people think. And it wasn’t like the crime of the century!”
Although it was a huge scandal back then, Winona Ryder now thinks that the shoplifting fiasco was actually very beneficial for her.
“It allowed me time that I really needed, where I went back to San Francisco and got back into things that... I just had other interests, frankly.”
Taking a break from Hollywood proved to be a good choice for this actress, whose career is now right back on track.
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