Winona Ryder Said She Was Bullied In School After "Beetlejuice" Came Out: "You’re A Freak"

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"I remember thinking that it was going to, like, change my status, and it made it worse."

Growing up, I was the biggest fan of Winona Ryder. She starred in the coolest movies — from Beetlejuice to Edward Scissorhands to the 1994 adaptation of Little Women, which I had on DVD and played so often that I memorized most of her lines.

Winona Ryder posing in a ruffled black dress at an event

So, it's easy to forget that Winona wasn't always a beloved actor. But in a new interview with Esquire UK, the 52-year-old recalled being bullied in school, both before and after Beetlejuice. She was just 15 while filming and 16 when the movie came out.

Beetlejuice, with pale face and wild hair, stands in a tuxedo next to Lydia, dressed in a bridal gown with her face partially covered by a veil

"I was very much like Lydia," she said. "They didn’t have to do much with me. My brother found a picture of me taken like a month before that audition. I’d dyed my hair blue-black, I had these crazy short bangs, and I dressed in black."

Young person with medium-length dark hair in a gray blazer and black shirt, smiling softly at the camera in a close-up shot. Names not provided

Despite the success of the film, the bullying only increased. "I remember thinking that it was going to, like, change my status, and it made it worse."

Winona Ryder smiles, wearing a black leather jacket and a black top

She recalled, "They were like, 'You’re a witch! You’re a freak!' It amplified it. I was like, 'But I’m in a movie!'"

Winona Ryder in a black sweater, sitting on a couch, looking towards the camera

Fortunately, it wasn't all bad. The experience of making the movie helped Winona find herself.

Person dressed in eccentric clothing stands on a staircase, raising one arm in the air. They appear to be mid-performance or expressing excitement

The actor said she "felt like I was me" for the first time. "I wasn’t trying to be something else. That’s a huge moment, for a teenager. It really helped define me."

Winona Ryder smiles with hands on her cheeks, wearing a sleeveless white top against a light background

Additionally, she sang the praises of her costars, Michael Keaton and Catherine O'Hara. "They always included me. They were so kind and so thoughtful. It was unique because as a kid actor you don’t always get that. It’s about the adults."

Beetlejuice in a disheveled suit, Lydia Deetz in a dramatic red dress, and a shrunken head man holding a bow tie

"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 weren’t so kind. It was much rougher."

Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Jeffrey Jones in a movie scene, with Carter and Ryder looking distressed and Rickman holding them protectively

Now, she resumes her role as Lydia in the long-awaited sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which also stars Jenna Ortega. Winona revealed that she met with Tim several times over the years and insisted the only way to "do it right" would be if she, Michael, and Catherine all returned for it.

Two women posing on a red carpet. Both are smiling. The woman on the left wears a strapless red gown. The woman on the right wears a black tuxedo with sheer skirt

After the sequel was confirmed, Winona was terrified. "I texted Michael and Catherine like, 'I’m so excited, and I’m also really scared.' And they were like, 'So are we!'"

Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder, and Tim Burton pose together, Keaton in leather jacket, O'Hara in patterned suit, Ryder in black dress, and Burton in black suit

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hits theaters on Sept. 6.

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