Winona Ryder talks about the “enormous impact” of her arrest

Winona Ryder (52) has once again spoken about the fact that her Hollywood career was over after her arrest for shoplifting in 2001. This “definitely had a huge impact,” the actress explained in an interview with “Esquire.”

Ryder was convicted of grand theft in 2002

“I checked out,” she told the US magazine when asked how she had dealt with her arrest. “I think I just checked out.” The once sought-after Actress was accused of stealing $5,500 worth of clothing from a store in Beverly Hills, California. In 2002, she was convicted of grand larceny and shoplifting and sentenced to three years' probation, fines and community service. She then gave up acting for a few years and moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Prison sentence surprised the Hollywood star

At first she thought she had just made a simple mistake and that it was all about “paperwork”. When she found out that she might have to go to prison, she was completely surprised. “I just thought: 'Huh? What are you talking about?'” she said.

The actress was “really shocked” by reactions to the conviction

A lot has changed in the industry during her career break. She was “really shocked” by the harsh tone online that was being used towards young actresses. “It felt like there was a shift in the industry and the culture in terms of what was acceptable and what was rewarded,” she said.

Ryder had already spoken about her Hollywood break in an interview with “Net-A-Porter” in 2016. It was exactly what she needed. “Psychologically, I must have been at a point where I just wanted to quit,” she said at the time. They didn't start “the crime of the century.” “But it gave me the time I really needed to go back to San Francisco and devote myself to things that… I just had other interests, to be honest.”

In 2006, Winona Ryder returned to the screen with her first roles. Her new film “Beetlejuice” is now coming to cinemas. The film had its world premiere on Wednesday, August 28th, at the Venice International Film Festival.