Winona Ryder gained global superstardom in 1988 by delivering a critically acclaimed performance in Tim Burton’s movie Beetlejuice. While she has played many influential characters on the silver screen, her role as Lydia Deetz in Burton’s fantasy horror comedy remains a fan-favorite character and super iconic.
Ryder, who is once again returning as Lydia Deetz in the upcoming sequel of the Beetlejuice franchise, recently shared her thoughts on reprising this iconic role and teaming up with her co-star Michael Keaton in this project.
In addition to sharing her experience working in the movie, she addresses the changes in her character after initially playing the role in the original film.
Winona Ryder on reprising her role as Lydia Deetz in the Beetlejuice sequel
Winona Ryder shared her thoughts on reprising her Beetlejuice character Lydia Deetz for the upcoming sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
In a recent interview with Empire Online, the actress revealed that she finds it difficult to express how it feels to reprise her role 36 years later as Lydia Deetz. She said, “I struggle to find the words.”
The actress added, “It’s just one of the most special experiences that I’ve ever had. The fact that we’re coming back to it, it’s… It’s beyond.”
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Ryder mentioned that she had never felt this way before because it was the first time she revisited a character, noting, “I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this way. This is a first for me. I’ve never revisited a character, ever.”
Winona Ryder opens up on rediscovering her character Lydia Deetz
During the same interview, the 52-year-old actress shared her thoughts on rediscovering her character of Lydia Deetz in the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel. She shared, “I went through so many stages of, ‘Who is she now?’, but I always wanted to have it be Lydia.”
Winona Ryder added, “She can’t lose who she was. She can’t be the same person. She can’t be just completely deadpan. She has to have evolved, but she also has to have kept that thing she had when we first met her. So that was the big challenge for me.”
She continued, “My lived experience, even though it’s very different… You know, you grow up, and things change. Life happens.”
The Beetlejuice sequel features a star-studded cast, with original members Michael Keaton reprising his role as the title character and Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara returning as Lydia and Delia, respectively. In addition, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, and Burn Gorman will also join them in the movie.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is set to release on September 6, 2024.
