Winona Ryder is an acclaimed American actress known for her captivating performances and unique blend of vulnerability and intensity. Born as Winona Laura Horowitz on October 29, 1971, in Olmsted County, Minnesota, she embarked on her acting career at a young age. Ryder gained widespread recognition and critical acclaim in the late 1980s and early 1990s with standout roles in films such as “Heathers,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Edward Scissorhands.”
Her ability to portray complex and unconventional characters with depth and emotional range quickly established her as one of Hollywood’s most promising talents. Ryder received multiple accolades, including Academy Award nominations for her performances in “The Age of Innocence” and “Little Women.” She continued to showcase her versatility in various genres, ranging from dramas like “Girl, Interrupted” to thrillers like “Black Swan.”
Ryder’s on-screen presence, often characterized by her distinctive dark hair, porcelain complexion, and expressive eyes, has captivated audiences for decades. Throughout her career, she has remained a symbol of alternative beauty and artistic integrity. With her indelible contributions to film and television, Winona Ryder has solidified her status as a respected and influential figure in the entertainment industry.
It is not uncommon for popular entertainment figures to be surrounded by gay rumors, and for someone who has been in the industry for almost four decades, it is no longer surprising how some fans speculate about the actress’s sexuality.
So, is Winona Ryder gay?
VOTE: What is Winona Ryder’s Sexuality?
Winona Ryder’s Relationships
Winona Ryder and Scott Mackinlay Hahn (2011 – present)
Winona Ryder has always been private about her love life, but it’s no secret that the Stranger Things star is in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Scott Mackinlay Hahn. The couple has been together for more than a decade now.
The two had been together since 2011 and have kept much of their romance private, except for a few red carpet appearances together.
I’m a serial monogamist. I was single for a while and dating and… I just didn’t know how to do it! I’ve always been like that: When I was 15, there was a guy I liked, and we made out, and I thought that meant he was my boyfriend. My mom had to explain it to me.”
Ryder told Net-a-Porter’s The Edit in July 2016
The actress also added that growing up with parents who were madly in love with each other for 45 years set her standards very high when it comes to relationships.
I’d rather never have been married than been divorced a few times. Not that there’s anything wrong with divorce, but I don’t think I could do it if that was a possibility. When your parents are madly in love for 45 years, your standards are really high. But I’ve been happily with someone for quite a while now.”
the actress said
The couple is still together as of the time of writing.
Winona Ryder and Matt Damon (1997 – 2000)
Winona Ryder and Matt Damon started as friends and started dating later, attending the Golden Globes together in 2000.
Ryder and Damon broke up in the same year, but there seems to be no bad blood between them.
Matt couldn’t be a greater, nicer guy.”
Ryder told Blackbook in 2009
Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp (1989 – 1993)<h/3>
Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp started dating after co-starring in the 1990s film “Edward Scissorhands.”
I had my first real relationship with Johnny, a fiercely deep love that I don’t know that I’ll ever [get over]. The first love is like that isn’t it? I don’t know today. It was a real wild time back then. … It’s really good to be able to think about past loves without having a pit in my stomach, or cringing or feeling heartbroken, or like they hate you. Don’t you think? Because for the few years after you break up you go through all of those feelings. I was very depressed after breaking off my engagement with Johnny ten years ago. I was embarrassingly dramatic at the time, but you have to remember I was only 19 years old.”
Ryder told Cinema.com in 2001
The couple were engaged at one point, and though they never made it down the aisle, there is an imprint of their relationship left on Depp’s body. On his arm, where a tattoo once read “Winona forever,” now sits a tattoo that reads “wino forever.”
Aside from her prominent relationships, Winona Ryder has been linked to several others.
In 1986, Ryder was with Charlie Sheen.
She was in a relationship with Rob Lowe from 1986 to 1988.
She was rumored to have a fling with Robert Downey Jr. in 1988.
In the same year, she had also briefly dated her Heathers co-star Christian Slater.
Winona Ryder was in a relationship with Dave Pirner from 1993 to 1996.
She was with David Duchovny in 1996.
She also had a fling with Daniel Day-Lewis in the same year.
In 1997, it was believed that Ryder had a brief romance with Stephan Jenkins.
In the same year, it was said that she dated Dave Grohl for a few months.
In the late 1990s, she was rumored to have hooked up with Jason Kay.
The actress was rumored to have dated Chris Noth in 2000.
In the same year, she was also linked to Beck Hansen.
Still in 2000, she was reportedly dating Jimmy Fallon for a short time.
She was in a short-lived romance with Pete Yorn in 2001.
Winona Ryder briefly dated Page Hamilton in 2003.
In 2003, the actress reportedly had a fling with Conor Oberst.
Ryder was rumored to have hooked up with Val Kilmer in 2005 after they were spotted kissing.
She briefly dated Henry Alex Rubin in 2006.
Winona Ryder was in a relationship with Blake Sennett from 2007 to 2008.
The actress was also linked to James Gooding in 2008.
She was also believed to have gone out with Tom Green in the same year after they were spotted going on dates.
In the very same year, she was also linked to Keanu Reeves.
Winona Ryder on Gay Rumors and Dealing with Homophobic Bullies
It is unclear where all the gay rumors about Winona Ryder originated, and there seems to be no evidence to support these claims. However, it is worth noting that the actress had been known to face attacks from homophobic bullies during her younger years.
According to Nigel Goodall‘s book, “Winona Ryder: The Biography”, Ryder had been called f*ggot when he was in seventh grade.
A group of boys hit me in the stomach and slammed my head hard into a locker. I think they thought I was a gay boy… They were calling me names, calling me a girl, and I was yelling, ‘But, wait, I am a girl.’”
Ryder said according to Goodall
The group hurt her badly, causing fractured ribs and needing stitches. Even after that, the school apparently thought Ryder was a “distraction” and told her to leave.
I’m sorry that gay bashing was such a distraction for them.”
she said
In a 2000 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the actress also shared how she stood up to one of her school bullies and shut them down.
Years later, I went to a coffee shop in Petaluma, and I ran into one of the girls who’d kicked me, and she said, ‘Winona, Winona, can I have your autograph?’ And I said, ‘Do you remember me? I went to Kenilworth. Remember how, in seventh grade, you beat up that kid?’ and she said, ‘Kind of,’ and I said, ‘That was me. Go f—k yourself!’”
Ryder told Harper’s Bazaar in 2000
In a recent interview, actress Winona Ryder spoke about an incident in which actor Mel Gibson allegedly made anti-Semitic and homophobic comments towards her and a gay friend.
Hollywood Life reported that Ryder was asked in an interview with The Sunday Times about her personal experiences with anti-Semitism in the entertainment industry. She recalled attending a party where she ran into Gibson.
The actress was with her friend Kevyn Aucoin at that time, an openly gay make-up artist and photographer. When they were introduced to Gibson, the actor reportedly said, “Oh wait, am I gonna get AIDS?”
During the conversation, the topic shifted to Jewish people, and Gibson made a hurtful remark to Ryder, who is Jewish. He said, “You’re not an oven dodger, are you?” The term “oven dodger” refers to the cruel Nazi practice of killing Jewish prisoners in incinerators.
However, Ryder also mentioned that the actor attempted to apologize for his comments afterward.
Is Winona Ryder Gay?
No, Winona Ryder is not gay. However, she has shared that she was a target of homophobic bullies in her younger years. They would call her derogatory names and physically attack her, resulting in fractured ribs and stitches. Despite these experiences, she does not identify herself as gay and has only been in relationships with men throughout her life. She is currently in a relationship with fashion designer Scott Mackinlay Hahn, and they have been together since 2011.