Winona Ryder Praised Her "Beetlejuice" Costars Michael Keaton And Catherine O'Hara For Being "So Kind And So Thoughtful" When She Was Just 15

" I remember thinking that it was going to , like , change my condition , and it made it regretful . "

Growing up, I was the biggest fan ofWinona Ryder. She starred in the coolest movies — fromBeetlejuicetoEdward Scissorhandsto the 1994 adaptation ofLittle Women, which I had on DVD and played so often that I memorized most of her lines.

So, it’s easy to forget that Winona wasn’t always a beloved actor. But in a new interview withEsquire UK, the 52-year-old recalled being bullied in school, both before and afterBeetlejuice. She was just 15 while filming and 16 when the movie came out.

“I was very much like Lydia,” she said. “They didn’t have to do much with me. My brother found a picture of me taken like a month before that audition. I’d dyed my hair blue-black, I had these crazy short bangs, and I dressed in black.”

Despite the success of the film, the bullying only increased. “I remember thinking that it was going to, like, change my status, and it made it worse.”

She recalled, “They were like, ‘You’re a witch! You’re a freak!’ It amplified it. I was like, ‘But I’m in a movie!'”

Fortunately, it wasn’t all bad. The experience of making the movie helped Winona find herself.

The actor said she “felt like I was me” for the first time. “I wasn’t trying to be something else. That’s a huge moment, for a teenager. It really helped define me.”

Additionally, she sang the praises of her costars,Michael KeatonandCatherine O’Hara. “They always included me. They were so kind and so thoughtful. It was unique because as a kid actor you don’t always get that. It’s about the adults.”

“It truly was the first time I ever felt like I collaborated on a movie. And I really had a connection with Tim [Burton]. I remember going on to other movies and it was not like that. People weren’t so kind. It was much rougher.”

Now, she resumes her role as Lydia in the long-awaited sequel,Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which also starsJenna Ortega. Winona revealed that she met with Tim several times over the years and insisted the only way to “do it right” would be if she, Michael, and Catherine all returned for it.

After the sequel was confirmed, Winona was terrified. “I texted Michael and Catherine like, ‘I’m so excited, and I’m also really scared.’ And they were like, ‘So are we!'”

Beetlejuice Beetlejuicehits theaters on Sept. 6.

Winona Ryder posing in a ruffled dress at an event

Beetlejuice, with pale face and wild hair, stands in a tuxedo next to Lydia, dressed in a bridal gown with her face partially covered by a veil

Winona with medium-length dark hair in a blazer and shirt, smiling softly at the camera in a close-up shot

Winona Ryder smiles, wearing a dark leather jacket and a dark top

Winona Ryder in a black sweater, sitting on a couch, looking towards the camera

Winona Ryder smiles with hands on her cheeks, wearing a sleeveless white top against a light background

Beetlejuice in a disheveled suit, Lydia Deetz in a dramatic red dress, and a shrunken head man holding a bow tie

Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Jeffrey Jones in a movie scene, with Carter and Ryder looking distressed and Rickman holding them protectively

Jenna Ortega in a heart-shaped bodice gown and Winona Ryder in a dark tuxedo-style gown with bowtie at a red carpet event

Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder, and Tim Burton pose together, Keaton in a leather jacket, O'Hara in a patterned suit, Ryder in dark dress, and Burton in a dark suit

Growing up, I was the biggest fan ofWinona Ryder. She starred in the coolest movies — fromBeetlejuicetoEdward Scissorhandsto the 1994 adaptation ofLittle Women, which I had on DVD and played so often that I memorized most of her lines.#

So, it’s easy to forget that Winona wasn’t always a beloved actor. But in a new interview withEsquire UK, the 52-year-old recalled being bullied in school, both before and afterBeetlejuice. She was just 15 while filming and 16 when the movie came out.#

“I was very much like Lydia,” she said. “They didn’t have to do much with me. My brother found a picture of me taken like a month before that audition. I’d dyed my hair blue-black, I had these crazy short bangs, and I dressed in black.”#

Despite the success of the film, the bullying only increased. “I remember thinking that it was going to, like, change my status, and it made it worse.”#

She recalled, “They were like, ‘You’re a witch! You’re a freak!’ It amplified it. I was like, ‘But I’m in a movie!'”#

Fortunately, it wasn’t all bad. The experience of making the movie helped Winona find herself.#

The actor said she “felt like I was me” for the first time. “I wasn’t trying to be something else. That’s a huge moment, for a teenager. It really helped define me.”#

Additionally, she sang the praises of her costars,Michael KeatonandCatherine O’Hara. “They always included me. They were so kind and so thoughtful. It was unique because as a kid actor you don’t always get that. It’s about the adults.”#

“It truly was the first time I ever felt like I collaborated on a movie. And I really had a connection with Tim [Burton]. I remember going on to other movies and it was not like that. People weren’t so kind. It was much rougher.”#

Now, she resumes her role as Lydia in the long-awaited sequel,Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which also starsJenna Ortega. Winona revealed that she met with Tim several times over the years and insisted the only way to “do it right” would be if she, Michael, and Catherine all returned for it.#

After the sequel was confirmed, Winona was terrified. “I texted Michael and Catherine like, ‘I’m so excited, and I’m also really scared.’ And they were like, ‘So are we!'”#

Beetlejuice Beetlejuicehits theaters on Sept. 6.#