Winona Ryder recently opened up about how her parents shielded her from the pressures of Hollywood during her early career. In an interview with AnOther Magazine, the Beetlejuice star shared that her parents were very cautious about her entering the entertainment industry, especially when it came to relocating to Los Angeles.
Instead of moving the family from their home in San Francisco, her parents would drive the seven hours to L.A. each time she had an audition.
“They were very wary of Hollywood,” Ryder explained, noting that they were concerned about its negative impact on child actors, especially after seeing what happened to Judy Garland.
Education Came First!
Ryder also revealed that school remained a top priority in her family. “I had to keep up my grades to even be allowed to go on auditions,” she said. “I couldn’t work if it conflicted with school.” She believes this helped her avoid the burnout that many young actors experienced.
“I knew kids who relocated to Hollywood and ended up supporting their entire families. It didn’t turn out well for a lot of them,” Ryder reflected.
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A Reputation for Being ‘Choosy’
Interestingly, her family’s decision not to move gave her a reputation in the industry for being selective about her projects. “People thought I was really choosy, but the truth was we just couldn’t afford to go all the time,” she shared.
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Her Big Break: Auditioning for Beetlejuice!
One audition Ryder didn’t want to miss was for Beetlejuice, the 1988 Tim Burton film that would become her breakout role as Lydia Deetz. “Beetlejuice was so unique—I connected with Lydia right away,” she said. Determined to nail the audition, Ryder made her mom wait in the car because she wanted to do it alone.
Her first encounter with Tim Burton didn’t go exactly as she imagined. She recalled waiting in a side office of the Culver City studio when a young guy walked in.
“I thought he was from the art department,” Ryder said. They started talking about old movies and their mutual love for Peter Lorre, the iconic actor.
“I finally asked, ‘Do you know when Tim Burton’s going to show up?’” she laughed.
“He goes, ‘Oh, that’s me.’ I had no idea directors could be this cool, young guy. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry! Do you want me to read?’ And he said, ‘No, I want you to just do it.’”
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A Lasting Collaboration with Tim Burton
That meeting launched a long-standing professional relationship between Ryder and Burton. After Beetlejuice, the two worked together on Edward Scissorhands, Frankenweenie, and now, the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel.
Ryder has since cemented her place in Hollywood, but looking back, she’s thankful for the path her parents helped her take. “It was such a gift,” she said.