What has Winona Ryder said about ex Johnny Depp? The Stranger Things star defended her ex-fiancé during his trial against Amber Heard, is the face of Marc Jacobs, and might join a Beetlejuice sequel

Jun 2 , 2022

Winona Ryder dated Johnny Depp for four years until they broke up in 1993 ... but what has she been up to since? Photos: AP, @fashionlooks12/Twitter

The whole world watched as the Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp trial unfolded and among those dragged along into the picture were Depp’s ex-partners, who have talked about their past with the actor – his former wife Vanessa Paradis gave her statement while ex-girlfriend Kate Moss testified via video. But if you rewind a few decades back, there was also Winona Ryder, who was also formerly engaged to the actor.

So, where is Ryder now and what does she think of former flame Depp and the trial? Here’s what we know …

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder: one of the 90s’ hottest and most-followed couple

Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp were among Hollywood’s hottest couples in the 90s. Photo: @winonaryderofficial/Instagram

It was in 1989 when Ryder and Depp first met at the premiere of Great Balls of Fire!, and Depp has been widely quoted as calling the serendipitous moment “love at first sight”. She was 17 while he was 25. Per US Weekly, the two went on their first date just a few months after. Five months later, in 1990, Depp proposed.

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Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder in Edward Scissorhands (1990). Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Depp and Ryder then co-starred in the hit 1990s film Edward Scissorhands together, and the infatuated actor got “Winona forever” tattooed on his arm. A 1991 Rolling Stone report shared that Ryder watched in awe as her fiancé got inked – she was “pretty squeamish” and “couldn’t believe it was real”.

After four years together, Depp and Ryder broke up in 1993. And as their relationship grew – and grew apart – in the era of tabloid journalism, it’s been said that the media had played a role in the two’s decision to go separate ways. Following the split, Depp would have his tattoo altered to “Wino forever”.

Depp’s ex-fiancé spoke up on his trial against Amber Heard

US actress Winona Ryder defended her ex-fiancé Johnny Depp during the Amber Heard trial. Photo: AFP

As detailed in Time magazine, in light of the Depp and Heard trial, Ryder opened up about her relationship with the actor. Stressing that she “can only speak from my own experience”, Ryder shared: “He was never, never that way towards me. Never abusive at all towards me. I only know him as a really good, loving, caring guy who is very, very protective of the people that he loves.”

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Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder in the press room of the 1990 ShoWest Awards. Photo: @Mov11eMag/Twitter

The actress noted that while their relationship happened decades ago, it was still four years of being together and was “a big relationship for me”. Ryder, who revealed how she’s “shocked” as she’s never seen Depp behave violently to anyone in the past, also added: “I wasn’t there. I don’t know what happened. I’m not calling anyone a liar. I’m just saying, it’s difficult and upsetting for me to wrap my head around it.”

The 90s ‘It’ girl’s had her fair share of up and downs

Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice (1988). Photo: @winonaryderxx/Twitter

Dubbed an ‘It’ girl of the 90s, the Hollywood actress, with her moody, dark demeanour, took on eccentric roles. Ryder was only a teenager when she began to make films. In 1988, she starred in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, and it is considered one of her best performances to this day. A rumoured sequel is said to be in the works, in which Ryder is reportedly keen to be a part of.

Ryder would go on to earn plenty major roles, such as in the 80s teenage movie Heathers, the film adaptation of Little Women in 1994, the romcom drama Reality Bites and the iconic Girl, Interrupted in 1999.

Actress Winona Ryder arrives for her jury selection hearing at the Beverly Hills Municipal Court House in October 2002, in Beverly Hills. Photo: AP

In 2001, however, Ryder took a four-year hiatus. In December of that year, she was arrested for shoplifting nearly US$6,000 worth of designer goods from Saks Fifth Avenue. Per Fox News, Ryder was sentenced and was required to go through three years probation, community service and drug and psychological counselling.

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Many years later, the actress would speak up on her clinical depression and having prescription meds mess with her judgment.

US actress Winona Ryder stars in Netflix’s Stranger Things. Photo: AFP

She eventually returned to making shows and films, slowly but surely, figuring in memorable roles such as in 2010’s Black Swan, where she took on the dark and dreary character of the bitter ballerina of the past; and, since 2016, she’s joined the cast of the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, playing the role of a neurotic mum. She was also just named as the new face of Marc Jacobs, per Dazed Digital, joining a list of growing celebrity collaborations with the brand, from Nicki Minaj to Christina Ricci.

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Fame and celebrity

One of the hottest Hollywood couples before they broke up in 1993, Ryder defended Depp during the Heard trial, alongside his other exes Kate Moss and Vanessa Paradis
Ryder made her comeback with Black Swan alongside Natalie Portman and also became the face of Marc Jacobs, who’s worked with Nicki Minaj and Christina Ricci too