Latest news with #ElleUK
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Actress Winona Ryder claims director threatened to 'destroy her life'
, though both of her brothers have worked as production assistants on a select number of her movies. Photo: TNS Winona Ryder has revealed a director she once worked with decades ago threatened to 'destroy [her] f—ing life' after she reported him for inappropriate behaviour. The two-time Oscar nominee, 53, recalled to Elle UK that after she asked producers if they could handle the difficult director, he confronted her the following day when she had 'a big scene,' making one of his own. Ryder claims the director approached her as if he was going to discuss the scene, then 'changed his tone to a whisper.' 'He came up to me, and he was like, 'OK, so um, if we just try it like – you f—ing c–, I'm gonna destroy your f—ing life,'' recalled the Beetlejuice star, saying she was then forced to jump into the scene acting as if everything was OK. 'What's so crazy is my brother was working as a PA on the movie, and I didn't even tell him, and I didn't complain,' she said. The Stranger Things actress did not disclose the identity of the director nor the film, though both of her brothers have worked as production assistants on a select number of her movies. IMDb shows that Uri Ryder, who goes by Uri Horowitz, was a production assistant on 1994's Reality Bites , directed by Ben Stiller. Her half-brother, Jubal Palmer was meanwhile a production assistant on Janusz Kaminski's Lost Souls and Steven Brill's Mr. Deeds remake, both of which starred Winona. Palmer was also credited as his sister's own assistant on the set of Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly . Nearly a decade after Reality Bites , Ryder made a cameo in 2001's Zoolander ,1 also helmed by and starring Stiller, but she never again worked on projects directed by Linklater or Kaminski. The latter is best known as the Academy Award-winning cinematographer behind Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan . – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
1724652215-0%2FWinona-Ryder-(1)1724652215-0-640x480.webp&w=3840&q=100)
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Winona Ryder reveals why she was dropped from a Marlon Brando film
Winona Ryder is reflecting on how one of her most iconic early roles nearly ended her career before it began. In a recent interview with Elle UK, the actress revealed that her decision to star in the 1988 cult classic Heathers cost her a major role opposite screen legend Marlon Brando — a consequence that industry insiders warned her about. As a teenager, Ryder was advised by her team not to take the role of Veronica Sawyers, the sharp-tongued protagonist in Heathers, a dark comedy about a murderous high school clique. 'My agent at the time literally got down on her knees begging me not to do it,' Ryder previously told Harper's Bazaar. 'She said, 'You're going to destroy any chance of a career.'' Despite the warnings, Ryder took the role — and quickly saw fallout. She was dropped from the 1990 crime comedy The Freshman, which starred Brando and Matthew Broderick. 'They thought it was making fun of teen suicide. They were deeply offended and, yeah, they revoked the offer,' she said. 'I'm like, 'I can't work with Marlon Brando?' I had to stand my ground. I wasn't gonna apologize.' Heathers was polarizing at the time but ultimately became a cult favorite and a defining moment in Ryder's career. 'I never turn off Heathers if it's on. I know it basically by heart,' she said, expressing no regrets. Producer Denise Di Novi told Variety that Ryder was 'very brave and unusual' to take on such a controversial role, describing her as 'an amazing 15-year-old' who became obsessed with the script. Though The Freshman was a missed opportunity, Ryder's gamble on Heathers proved to be a bold move that solidified her reputation as a fearless and unconventional talent.
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Why Stranger Things Star Winona Ryder Missed Out On Marlon Brando's Film
Last Updated: Winona Ryder was initially cast in The Freshman (1990) alongside Marlon Brando, but the offer was revoked after the producers watched her in Heathers. Winona Ryder is returning as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things Season 5, which marks the final chapter of the hit Netflix series. While fans gear up for the first part of the final season releasing on November 26, Ryder has now shared a 35-year-old secret that once deeply impacted her career. Winona Ryder Was Once Rejected From A Marlon Brando Film In a recent interview with Elle UK, the 53-year-old actress revealed that she was initially cast in the 1990 film The Freshman, opposite Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick. But everything changed after the producers saw her in Heathers. In 1989, Winona Ryder starred in the cult dark comedy Heathers, where she played the role of Veronica Sawyer. The story follows Veronica as she teams up with JD, played by Christian Slater, to take revenge on the high school queen bee Heather Chandler, portrayed by Kim Walker. What begins as a prank turns deadly when Heather dies, and the duo stages it to look like a suicide. The film explores themes like gun violence, eating disorders, sexuality and murder, all wrapped in sharp humour and biting satire. Why Winona Ryder Lost The Role In The Freshman The Little Woman actress shared, ''I was told I was never gonna work again if I did Heathers'," admitting, 'I did lose a job." She further explained, 'They thought it was making fun of teen suicide. They were deeply offended and, yeah, they revoked the offer." In an emotional tone, Winona Ryder added, 'I'm like, 'I can't work with Marlon Brando?'" But she stood her ground. She shared, 'But I had to stand my ground. I wasn't gonna apologise." She admitted that Heather holds a special place in her heart. 'I never turn off Heathers if it's on. I know it basically by heart," she said. Heathers Director Defended The Film's Intent Earlier in an interview with The Denver Post Michael Lehman, the director of Heather clarified that it's a mix of dark crimes and comedy. He said, 'The more horrifying or disturbing human behavior is, the more opportunity there is to mine it for certain types of comedy," adding, 'You click it a few notches in one direction or another to make it absurd, and it allows to you to understand human behavior better, because people do horrible things with the best intentions." He also pointed out that much of the backlash was rooted in misinterpretation. Lehman said, 'When it came out a lot of people were very upset and there was a big politically correct backlash saying, 'How dare you make fun of teenage suicide!' But Columbine hadn't happened yet. And anyway, we weren't making fun of teenage suicide, we were making a comedy about the way teenagers are perceived by adults and how they behave to each other." Despite The Setback, Ryder's Career Soared Though she lost the role in The Freshman, Ryder's bold choice to stand by Heathers didn't slow her down. In 1990 alone, she starred in Edward Scissorhands and Mermaids. Her performances in The Age of Innocence (1993) and Little Women (1994) earned her two consecutive Oscar nominations. Over the years, she has collected a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and even a Grammy Award. Winona Ryder is set to return in Stranger Things 5, a series she has been associated with for almost a decade, continuing to win hearts as Joyce Byers. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Winona Ryder: 'I was absolutely in love with Al Pacino'
Winona Ryder has recalled being "absolutely" in love with Al Pacino when they worked together. The pair teamed up for Al's 1996 directorial debut Looking for Richard, which was filmed in New York City. In a new interview with Elle UK, Winona revealed she once had deep feelings for her iconic co-star. "I was absolutely in love with Al Pacino when I was working with him," the star reflected. "I was actively in love with him. He was obsessed with coffee, and he would take me all over New York - like, to the weirdest places - to try different coffees. I'm 22, or whatever." While Winona was convinced the pair should explore a romantic relationship, Al - who is three decades older - made it clear he wanted to remain friends. "Finally, he's dropping me off wherever I'm staying, and I'm like, 'I love you, you know. I really am completely in love with you.' And he was like 'Aw, honey, noooo.' Then, like 10 years later, I met his girlfriend, who's younger than me," Winona laughed. Although Winona was disappointed not to date 85-year-old Al, the pair have remained friends over the years and often meet up. She shared: "I still play poker with him sometimes. It's the best." Elsewhere in the interview, Winona touched upon the pressure to maintain a youthful appearance in her industry. While the 53-year-old star has continued to enjoy success in Hollywood, she admitted the choice of roles has dried up. "I started my career as the youngest, and I always wanted to be older. I always knew I looked young," Winona explained. "But I also knew that when I started ageing, it was gonna happen fast." The Stranger Things actress added, "It's nice that people are talking about how it's OK to age, but there's still enormous pressure. Every role I get is for a mother, you know? My career has definitely shifted."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Stranger Things actress Winona Ryder reveals moment she confessed love for her A-list co-star
Winona Ryder has confessed she once proclaimed her love for Al Pacino while working alongside him, but her advances were pushed back by the Hollywood megastar in an awkward moment. Winona Ryder has revealed how she fell for Hollywood icon Al Pacino when they worked together - but he rejected her advances. The pair starred in Richard III - Finding Richard together in 1996, where they portrayed love interests. "I was absolutely in love with Al Pacino when I was working with him," Winona told Elle UK. Continuing that the actor - who is over three decades her senior - didn't quite feel the same way, she explained, "I was actively in love with him. He was obsessed with coffee, and he would take me all over New York – like, to the weirdest places – to try different coffees. I'm 22, or whatever. "Finally, he's dropping me off wherever I'm staying, and I'm like, 'I love you, you know. I really am completely in love with you.'' And he was like 'Aw, honey, noooo.' Then, like 10 years later, I met his girlfriend, who's younger than me.' While they may not have been a romantic match, Winona says the friendship has stood the test of time, 'I still play poker with him sometimes. It's the best." Al Pacino's last public girlfriend was Noor Alfallah, who is over 50 years his junior. The couple began dating in 2022 and welcomed a son, Roman, the following year. However, in October last year, it was reported they had parted ways. The actor's romantic history includes high-profile relationships with stars like Diane Keaton, Beverly D'Angelo, and Kathleen Quinlan. Alongside his son Roman, he is a father to three other children; daughter Julie and twins Anton and Olivia with actress Beverly D'Angelo. Now over 40 years into the showbusiness industry, Stranger Things actress Winona also opened up about the pressure to look young. "I started my career as the youngest, and I always wanted to be older. I always knew I looked young. But I also knew that when I started ageing, it was gonna happen fast,' she said. "They'll say, 'Just relax your forehead. Relax.' I'm trying to be a great actor, and they're saying that over and over. It's nice that people are talking about how it's OK to age, but there's still enormous pressure. Every role I get is for a mother, you know? "My career has definitely shifted." Talking of the cosmetic surgery pressures, Winona admitted, 'I don't mind it. But what's weird is when you're surrounded by young women getting weird s*** done.' The September issue of ELLE UK is on sale from 31 July.
