Winona Ryder is no stranger to playing complex characters, but in a rare moment of vulnerability, she recently opened up about a real-life emotional twist of her own. In a new interview with Elle, the Stranger Things star revealed she was “absolutely in love” with Oscar-winner Al Pacino in the mid-1990s — despite a 32-year age difference.
The two actors worked closely on Looking for Richard, a 1996 Shakespeare documentary led by Pacino. Ryder, then in her early twenties, said their bond extended off set, often grabbing coffee together across New York. But as feelings grew, Ryder couldn’t keep quiet.
“I’m 22, or whatever. Finally, he’s dropping me off wherever I’m staying, and I’m like, ‘I love you, you know. I really am completely in love with you,’” she recalled. His gentle letdown? “Aw, honey, noooo.”
Ryder, now 52, laughed off the memory, even joking about meeting a later girlfriend of Pacino’s who was younger than she was. Despite the rejection, their friendship endures — they still play poker on occasion.
As Stranger Things heads into its final season this fall, Ryder remains at the top of her game, reminding us that some of the best love stories are the ones we survive — and laugh about.
—
Photo Credit: Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com