Before she was Joyce Byers in Netflix’s Stranger Things, Winona Ryder had an impressive portfolio of diverse roles across genres. The Heathers actor was once set to play Al Pacino’s daughter in Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather Part III. However, Ryder’s life took a turn in the tabloid spotlight once she entered a relationship with Johnny Depp.
The Girl, Interrupted actress crossed paths with Johnny Depp at the premiere of Great Balls of Fire! in 1989. Romance blossomed between the two, leading to their engagement in 1990, and their relationship lasted until 1993. Ryder and Depp couldn’t escape the wrath of the media during this period.
Winona Ryder Believed The Tabloids Tarnished Her Good Girl Image
Winona Ryder found the tabloids and gossip columns to be intrusive and bothersome, especially when it came to her relationship with Johnny Depp. At the time, Ryder was America’s sweetheart, thanks to her roles in films like Mermaids and Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael. However, once her relationship became public, Ryder believed that the media painted her as a bad girl hanging out with the bad boy. The Beetlejuice actress shared:
“When I was young, I was the sweetheart of the press. They loved me but were kind of waiting for me to mess up. I had no skeletons in my closet, no major past to talk about. I wasn’t with anyone and didn’t fall into that Drew Barrymore drug syndrome. Then I became engaged to Johnny, and it’s been bad ever since.”
Ryder’s mention of Barrymore refers to the latter’s earlier struggles as a teenager, where she faced challenges with early fame, engaged in a partying lifestyle, and even entered rehab at the age of 13. Despite the media criticism, the Edward Scissorhands actress remained confident in her relationship with her co-star.
Also Read: “I was scared”: Immense Pressure to Impress Johnny Depp Made Winona Ryder Feel Insecure
Winona Ryder’s Public Image Became Linked With Johnny Depp’s Bad Boy Image
For Hollywood, Winona Ryder was the teenage innocent, bright, and funny girl. The Washington Post once described the Star Trek actress as “the most likable, best-drawn young adult protagonist since the s*xual innocent of Gregory’s Girl”. In contrast, Johnny Depp carried a reputation as a bad boy due to his outspoken nature and all his tattoos.
Audiences were interested to know the dynamics between two people with such contrasting public images. The tabloids seized upon this opportunity to judge both the actors for their characters. Depp and Ryder repeatedly made headlines with their romance, especially when Depp proposed with a diamond ring only five months into their relationship.
Johnny Depp later hinted that the media frenzy surrounding their relationship played a major role in their decision to part ways in 1993. The constant judgment about their characters and their young age eventually played a part in ruining one of the most beautiful Hollywood relationships.
Source: LA Times
