Winona-Ryder

Winona Laura Horowitz, professionally referred to as Winona Ryder was born in Winona Minnesota. She was named by her parents for the town in which she grew in. Her father Michel Horowitz, and mother Cynthia Palmer are authors and editors. Ryder's father and mother are both Jewish. Ryder believes herself to be Jewish. Ryder has two half-siblings younger than her, Jubal and Sunyata. Ryder's family relocated to Mendocino County to California when she was seven years old. They lived in a place without electricity. Ryder was a voracious reader and spent her time reading books because there was no television. Ryder took acting classes when Ryder was 12years old at the American Conservatory Theatre. In the year she turned 15, Ryder landed her first acting job onscreen, playing Lucas. Ryder suffered bullying in high school. She thought that by becoming an actor, her bullying could be reduced. Sadly that didn't happen. She continued to pursue her ambitions. Beetlejuice which was a 1988 Tim Burton film, was her first big breakthrough. Ryder went on to have successful roles. Two Academy Awards were nominated, one of which was for The Age of Innocence (1996).