Winona Ryder Biography: Age, Boyfriend, Net Worth, Height, Movies, Parents, Siblings, TV Shows

Winona Laura Horowitz, professionally known as Winona Ryder, is an American actress celebrated for her versatile performances across film genres, from quirky teen roles in Beetlejuice (1988) to dramatic leads in Girl, Interrupted (1999), earning her two Academy Award nominations and a Golden Globe.

Rising to fame in the late 1980s, she became a cultural icon for her portrayals of complex, often outsider characters in films like Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Reality Bites (1994).

Profile

• Full Name: Winona Laura Horowitz
• Stage Name: Winona Ryder
• Born: 29, October 1971
• Age: 53 years old
• Birthplace: Winona, Minnesota, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 1.61m
• Parents: Michael Horowitz, and Cynthia Palmer
• Siblings: Uri Horowitz, Jubal Palmer, and Sunyata Palmer
• Spouse: None
• Boyfriend: Scott Mackinlay Hahn
• Children: None
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $18 million

Early Life and Education

Winona Laura Horowitz was born on October 29, 1971, in Winona, Minnesota, to Michael Horowitz, a bookseller and publisher, and Cynthia Palmer, an author and video producer.

She has a younger brother, Uri Horowitz, and two older half-siblings, Jubal Palmer and Sunyata Palmer, from her mother’s previous marriage.

She attended Petaluma High School, graduating in 1989, and studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco starting at age 12, which sparked her early career.

Of Jewish descent, her religion is Jewish.

Career

Winona Ryder began her acting career at 13, auditioning at the American Conservatory Theater and landing her film debut as Rina in Lucas (1986) after being spotted by a talent scout.

Her breakout came with Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988), where her role as the gothic teen Lydia Deetz won critical praise and established her as a quirky, relatable talent.

She quickly followed with roles in Heathers (1988), a dark comedy that became a cult classic, and Great Balls of Fire! (1989), showcasing her ability to navigate both humor and drama, which cemented her as a rising star by her late teens.

The 1990s marked Ryder’s ascent to Hollywood prominence, with starring roles in Edward Scissorhands (1990) opposite Johnny Depp, Mermaids (1990) earning her a Golden Globe nomination, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), showcasing her range in period pieces.

Her performance as Jo March in Little Women (1994) earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, followed by a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in The Age of Innocence (1993).

She also starred in Reality Bites (1994), defining Gen-X angst, and produced and acted in Girl, Interrupted (1999), sharing the screen with Angelina Jolie.

Despite a career setback following a 2001 shoplifting incident, she rebounded with roles in A Scanner Darkly (2006) and Black Swan (2010), proving her enduring talent.

Ryder’s resurgence came with her role as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things (2016–present), a Netflix phenomenon that revitalized her career and earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble.

Recent projects include The Plot Against America (2020) and the Beetlejuice sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), where she reprised her iconic Lydia role.

Her influence endures through her ability to portray vulnerable yet resilient characters, inspiring actors with her authenticity and commitment to diverse storytelling across mainstream and indie cinema.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @winonaryderofficial
• Facebook Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Winona Ryder has no spouse or children and has been in a relationship with fashion designer Scott Mackinlay Hahn since 2011, maintaining a private partnership that balances her Hollywood life.

Previously, she dated high-profile figures like Johnny Depp in the early 1990s and Matt Damon from 1998 to 2000, with her engagement to Depp drawing media attention.

Ryder leads a grounded lifestyle in Los Angeles and New York, focusing on privacy after past public scrutiny, enjoying reading, music, and supporting causes like the American Indian College Fund.

Filmography

• Lucas (1986)
• Beetlejuice (1988)
• Heathers (1988)
• Edward Scissorhands (1990)
• Mermaids (1990)
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
• The Age of Innocence (1993)
• Little Women (1994)
• Girl, Interrupted (1999)
• Black Swan (2010)
• Stranger Things (2016)
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Net Worth

Winona Ryder holds an estimated net worth of $18 million.

Her wealth primarily stems from her extensive film career, including major roles in Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Little Women, along with residuals from Stranger Things on Netflix, supplemented by producing credits and occasional endorsement deals tied to her iconic status in Hollywood.