Actress Winona Ryder addresses age-related criticism she's faced recently
Winona Ryder Opens Up About Hollywood's Pressure on Aging Actresses and Her Work with 'Stranger Things' Gen-Z Cast
In a recent interview with ELLE UK, Winona Ryder has shared her thoughts on the pressure that actresses, including herself, face in Hollywood to maintain a youthful appearance. Ryder, who is currently 53 years old, recalled her career taking off at the age of 15 with her role in the 1984 film Beetlejuice.
Throughout her career, Ryder has solidified her fame with roles in films such as Heathers and Edward Scissorhands. However, as she has aged, she has noticed a shift in the types of roles she is offered, with many of them being motherly characters.
Ryder expressed her concern about the pressure on actresses to slow down signs of aging, often through cosmetic surgery and Botox. She found this pressure even coming from female directors who would urge actresses to "just relax your forehead," emphasizing appearance over acting.
Despite more conversations about accepting aging, Ryder noted that the expectation to look young persists strongly in the industry. She shared her experience of being told to "relax her forehead" multiple times during her work.
Ryder also spoke out about the societal pressure to age gracefully. She stated that she is often surrounded by young women getting cosmetic procedures, which she finds strange but indicative of the industry's demands.
However, Ryder emphasized that the work is the gift of acting. She expressed her admiration for the Gen-Z actors on Stranger Things, calling them special and magical. Ryder has been trying to change the narrative with these young actors, telling them that Netflix is lucky to have them on the show.
In conclusion, Ryder criticizes the pressure on actresses to maintain a youthful appearance, including from female directors. She finds the prevalence of cosmetic procedures among young actresses strange but indicative of the industry's demands. Her career trajectory has shifted accordingly, with more mother roles offered as she ages.
Ryder is currently involved in concluding filming for Stranger Things season 5. She shared her experience of working with the Gen-Z cast, mentioning that it's nice that people are talking about the acceptance of aging, but there's still pressure. She concluded by stating that she started her career as the youngest and always wanted to be older.
[1] Elle UK, July 2025 [3] Variety, July 2025 [5] The Hollywood Reporter, July 2025
- Winona Ryder believes that women in the entertainment industry, including successful actresses like herself, continue to face pressure to undergo cosmetic procedures to slow down the signs of aging, a topic she discussed in an interview with Elle UK.
- Throughout her career, Ryder has noticed a shift in the types of roles she is offered, moving from leading roles to more motherly characters, a trend she believes is influenced by societal expectations around aging and appearance.
- Despite the increased conversation about accepting aging, Ryder expressed concern that the pressure to look young persists in the industry, and she has often been urged by female directors to "relax her forehead" during her work.
