Winona Ryder Opens Up About the Heartbreaking Story Behind Her ‘Stranger Things’ Role

Winona Ryder has opened up about a tragic event from her youth that deeply shaped her acting, including her role on Stranger Things.

In a recent interview with Interview magazine, the 54-year-old actress reflected on how the kidnapping and murder of a girl from her hometown affected her life and career.

“I had this experience when I was in my early twenties: there was a girl from the town that I grew up in. Her name was Polly Klaas and she was kidnapped. I knew her family,” Ryder said.

Polly Klaas, who lived in Petaluma, California, was abducted at age 12 during a slumber party in October 1993. After two months of searching, she was found m*******. Ryder explained how the tragedy left a lasting impression on her.

“She was missing for two months, and very tragically, she had been killed. I was doing whatever I could to help this family, to keep it in the news. When you’re around that kind of tangible grief, it’s otherworldly,” Ryder recalled.

Ryder dedicated her performance as Jo March in the 1994 adaptation of Little Women to Klaas, whose favorite book was the novel. “She wanted to be an actress and her favorite book was Little Women, so that was a big reason I did that movie and dedicated it to her,” Ryder said. She also raised awareness about Klaas’ case in interviews and offered a $200,000 reward for information at the time, according to historical reports.

The experience resurfaced for Ryder when she began working on Stranger Things, where she plays a mother searching for her missing child. “I was actually really freaked out with Stranger Things, because I wanted them to know how f***** serious that is, and that you can’t use disappearances as a tool to advance—it feels very personal,” she said.

Ryder even spoke with Polly’s father to inform her performance. “A lot of my performance in that first season was connected to him. I worked really, really hard that first season, and then the show took off in a way that I have certainly never been a part of. I remember having a moment that was really liberating and relieving, when I realized the show was no longer about me,” she added.

Polly Klaas’ kidnapping had been widely publicized at the time. Richard Allen Davis was convicted of her murder in 1996 and sentenced to death. Ryder’s advocacy and dedication to the case were highlighted throughout her career, including during a 2001 legal matter, when her attorney cited her charitable work with the Polly Klaas Foundation.

Ryder’s connection to Klaas’ story clearly continues to influence her work decades later. “Being around that kind of grief, it changes how you look at the world. It’s something that stays with you,” she told Interview.

Her candid reflections show how personal experiences can shape an actor’s craft. What do you think about the way personal tragedy can influence performances? Share your thoughts in the comments.