Winona Ryder Reflects on 2001 Shoplifting Arrest and Hollywood Break

In an exclusive interview with Porter magazine, Winona Ryder opens up about her infamous shoplifting incident that took place in 2001.

The actress, now 44 years old, reveals that the incident was not as extreme as it was portrayed by the media and that it actually provided her with a much-needed break from the pressures of Hollywood.

Ryder explains that she was in a psychological state where she felt the need to take a step back from her career.

While she doesn't go into detail about what exactly happened, she emphasizes that it was not as significant as people believed it to be.

“It wasn't like the crime of the century!”

she exclaims.

During her time away from the spotlight, Ryder returned to her hometown of San Francisco and reconnected with her personal interests.

She admits that she had other passions outside of acting that she wanted to explore.

This period of self-reflection and rediscovery allowed her to rejuvenate and gain a fresh perspective on her life.

However, upon returning to acting, Ryder faced the challenge of breaking free from the public's perception of her based on her earlier films such as “Edward Scissorhands,” “Reality Bites,” and “Boys.”

People still associated her with the 1990s and struggled to accept her as the woman she had become.

Ryder recalls a line from the movie “First Wives Club,” which perfectly encapsulates this struggle: “There are three ages for women: babe, district attorney, and Driving Miss Daisy!”

She laments not having the opportunity to play more mature, complex roles that would showcase her growth as an actress.

While rumors of a sequel to the popular 1988 film “Beetlejuice” swirl around, Ryder expresses uncertainty about its actualization.

For now, she is focusing on promoting her Netflix series, “Stranger Things.”

During the filming process, Ryder pushed herself to authentically portray her character's emotional state.

She admits that she spent two months crying every day, experiencing a level of exhaustion