Growing up, I was the biggest fan ofWinona Ryder.
So, it’s easy to forget that Winona wasn’t always a beloved actor.
She was just 15 while filming and 16 when the movie came out.
“I was very much like Lydia,” she said.
“They didnt have to do much with me.
My brother found a picture of me taken like a month before that audition.
Id dyed my hair blue-black, I had these crazy short bangs, and I dressed in black.”
Despite the success of the film, the bullying only increased.
She recalled, “They were like, ‘Youre a witch!
Youre a freak!’
I was like, ‘But Im in a movie!'”
Fortunately, it wasn’t all bad.
The experience of making the movie helped Winona find herself.
The actor said she “felt like I was me” for the first time.
“I wasnt trying to be something else.
Thats a huge moment, for a teenager.
It really helped define me.”
Additionally, she sang the praises of her costars,Michael KeatonandCatherine O’Hara.
“They always included me.
They were so kind and so thoughtful.
It was unique because as a kid actor you dont always get that.
Its about the adults.”
“It truly was the first time I ever felt like I collaborated on a movie.
And I really had a connection with Tim [Burton].
I remember going on to other movies and it was not like that.
People werent so kind.
It was much rougher.”
After the sequel was confirmed, Winona was terrified.
“I texted Michael and Catherine like, ‘Im so excited, and Im also really scared.’
And they were like, ‘So are we!'”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuicehits theaters on Sept. 6.
