Occupation: Actress
Date of Birth: October 29, 1971
Place of Birth: Winona, Minn., USA
Sign: Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Pisces
Relations: Godfather: Timothy Leary (deceased); reported companion: Beck (musician); ex-companions: too numerous to mention
Education: Petaluma High School (graduated with a 4.0 average); American Conservatory Theatre

Having grown up on a commune with hippie parents and godfather Timothy Leary, Ryder had ample opportunity to observe the quirky teens she would portray on screen in Lucas (1986), Beetlejuice (1988), Mermaids (1990), and Edward Scissorhands (1990). Ryder turned in Oscar-nominated performances in The Age of Innocence (1993) and Little Women (1994). Her other film credits include Bram Stroker's Dracula (1992) and Alien Resurrection (1997), Girl Interrupted (with Angelina Jolie) and Autumn In New York.

Facts about Winona Ryder:

Her real hair color is blonde but when she made her first major film Lucas (1986) her hair color was dyed black and she was told to keep it that color and it has stayed that color since.

(2000) Was engaged to Matt Damon.

Her December 22, 1999 guest spot on "The Tonight Show" was her first ever appearance on a talk show. She did it to promote "Girl Interrupted" (the first film she has executive produced). She clearly had first-timer's jitters, but settled in comfortably.

(22 March 1999) Injured knee while filming Girl, Interrupted (1999).

(October 1997) Ranked #42 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

(1997) Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.

(1996) Dated David Duchovny.

She briefly checked herself into a hospital when she was 20, because she was suffering from depression, anxiety attacks, and exhaustion, resulting from constantly working on films.

Graduated from Petaluma High School with a 4.0 GPA.

Received a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood in October 2000, and, for the event, was voted Best Dressed Celebrity of the Week by Entertainment Weekly.

(1996) Helped Italian designer Giorgio Armani promote his Manhattan chain of stores.

(1996) Chosen as one of the "Top Players Under 35" list by People magazine.

In 1996 she began work on Girl, Interrupted, which took four more years to make it to the screen.

(1997) The role of Nola in Celebrity (1998) was actually written for Drew Barrymore.

When she was seven, though there was no electricity on the commune where they lived, Winona's mother began to run a old movie theater in a nearby barn, and would screen movies all day. She would allow Winona to miss school to watch movies with her.

She dedicated the film Little Women (1994) to Polly Klass, a young girl from her hometown who was kidnapped and brutally murdered. She offered a $200,000 reward for anyone with information on the subject, and remains a strong supporter in the Polly Klass Foundation.

Auditioned for the Marla Singer role in Fight Club (1999), which eventually went to Helena Bonham Carter.

(2000) Upset with MGM for refusing to pre-screen "Autumn in New York", saying she was very proud of the film and that the studio was giving it a bad name before it was even released.

(2000) Refused to do promotion for "Lost Souls".

(1995) Signed on to "The Girl You Want". After a few weeks of preproduction, she received a new version of the script, which she hated, and tried to get out of her contract. Touchstone Pictures threatened to sue her if she did, and so she completed the film. The film's title was changed to Boys (1996), and sat on the shelf for more than a year. After it finally got its release, it was released it less than 100 theaters in North America, and grossed less than five hundred thousand dollars.

Her favorite book is "Catcher in the Rye". She says she owns every paperback edition and translations.

In late 1999, she started her own music company, "Roustabout Studios".

Had to turn down the role of Alice Sutton in Conspiracy Theory (1997), which went to Julia Roberts, because of scheduling conflicts.

(1996) Received a Grammy nomination for her reading of the 1995 novel "Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl".

(1994) Turned down the lead role in Sabrina (1995) because she felt she could not fill Audrey Hepburn's shoes, and that the role was marked by sexism.

Her agent begged her not to do Heathers (1989), saying her career would be over.

Enrolled at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco at the age of 12.

The first house she bought was in the Hollywood Hills. She soon moved, saying she never fit in.

Says Sarah Miles (I)'s performance in Ryan's Daughter (1970) inspired her to become a professional actress.

First auditioned for the role of Blanca in House of the Spirits, The (1993) when she was sixteen, but the part went to Pernilla August. The film took years to get made, and when it finally did, August had to drop out at the last minute due to pregnancy, and Winona replaced her.

When she dropped out of "The Godfather Part III", rumors began to circulate that she was pregnant, that she had been discouraged by then-boyfriend Johnny Depp, had a drug problem, etc... She said in an interview later that year that she arrived in Rome to film and simply could not get out of bed. A doctor was called and ordered her to return home and sleep.

Dated Johnny Depp for many years. He had a tattoo of her name and after they broke up he had it reduced to WINO FOREVER.

Was considered for the part of Janet in a big-screen remake of "Three's Company" opposite Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, but the project was eventually cancelled.

(16 August 2001) Suffered severe stomach pains, and was doubled over in pain. She was sent to her hotel room in London and later, was admitted to the hospital, and diagnosed with a severe gastroenterological disorder. She left the UK on August 24th. The sickness caused her to drop out of the film Lily and the Secret Planting (2002), which eventually went to Kate Winslet instead. Winona was said to have been very passionate about her role in the film and was heartbroken to leave it. The incident brought to mind the similar 1990 stomach flu that caused her to drop out of Godfather: Part III, The (1990) two days before filming began, which caused a lot of controversy.

(December 12, 2001) Was arrested in Beverly Hills for allegedly stealing clothing items and carrying illegal pharmaceutical drugs without a prescription. Her lawyer denied the accusations, and Winona was released later that evening on $20,000 bail. She is due to be arrained on January 14th. Despite her alleged crime, Beverly Hills police described her as "very friendly, polite, and cooperative" and "a nice lady."

Appeared on the cover of the June 2002 cover of W magazine wearing a "Free Winona" T-shirt. "Free Winona" T-shirts became popular over the Internet following her December 22, 2001 arrest, with many fans sporting them and purses in support.

Personal quotes:

"People think that they just want movies like Pretty Woman, when really they--at least the ones that I know personally--have been waiting for something that doesn't completely insult them."
- Winona Ryder

"In Hollywood, she's revered, she gets nominated for Oscars, but I've never heard anyone in the public or among my friends say, 'Oh, I love her.'" [Jennifer Lopez on Winona Ryder] Movieline.