Ryder was just 15 years old when she filmed Beetlejuice and 16 when the film premiered. Recalling her high school experience, she noted how her role as the dark and quirky Lydia Deetz affected her social status. “I remember thinking that it was going to, like, change my status, and it made it worse,” Ryder said. “They were like, ‘You’re a witch! You’re a freak!’ It amplified it. I was like, ‘But I’m in a movie!’”
At the time of filming, Ryder’s personal style and demeanor closely mirrored that of her character. “They didn’t have to do much with me,” she explained. “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.” This alignment with her character’s gothic sensibility contributed to her memorable portrayal.
Directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice tells the story of Barbara and Adam Maitland, a deceased couple who seek to haunt the new inhabitants of their home, the Deetz family, with the assistance of the mischievous and chaotic ghost, Beetlejuice, played by Michael Keaton. The film, known for its unique blend of horror and comedy, became a cultural phenomenon and established Ryder as a prominent young actress.
As she prepares to return to her role for the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ryder reflected on her experience working with the original cast and crew. She praised Keaton and Catherine O’Hara, who played her on-screen mother, as well as Burton, for their support and kindness. “Michael [Keaton] was so gentle with me. And Catherine [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,” Ryder told Esquire UK.
Ryder also noted that her experience on Beetlejuice was distinctive in that it was the first time she felt she was truly collaborating on a film. “It truly was the first time I ever felt like I collaborated on a movie,” she said. “And I really had a connection with Tim. I remember going on to other movies, and it was not like that. People weren’t so kind. It was much rougher.”
The sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, will see Ryder, Keaton, and O’Hara reprise their roles, alongside new cast members including Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. The follow-up film will continue the story of the Deetz family as they reunite and move back to Winter River, where the notorious Beetlejuice is once again awakened.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is scheduled to be released in theaters on September 6. Ryder’s reflections on her past role and the anticipation surrounding the sequel underscore the lasting impact of the original film and the excitement for its return.
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For more details and insights from Ryder, readers can find the full interview in the Autumn issue of Esquire UK, which is now available for purchase.
