Winona Ryder says her agent didn’t want her to star in this cult ’80s film

Winona Ryder revealed that her agent begged her not to play the role of Veronica Sawyer in the classic 80s teen comedy “Heathers.”

The “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” actress said during a game of Harper Bazaar’s “All About Me” with co-star Jenna Ortega that she was “not considered pretty enough” when she auditioned for the role in Los Angeles, so she went to Macy’s at the Beverly Center mall.

“They had me given a makeover,” said Ryder, who told Entertainment Weekly in 2014 that she was “very pale” at the time and had “dyed blue-black hair,” much like her “Beetlejuice” character Lydia Deetz.

She continued: “Then I went back and said, ‘Please,’ but my agent at the time literally fell to her knees. She said, ‘Please, you’re going to destroy any chance of a career.'”

Ryder – who was 15 when the film began shooting – liked Veronica’s “outsider” character and reportedly wanted to take on the role for free, according to a 2018 article by iD UK.

She revealed to Harper’s Bazaar that she also lost her job around the time of the release of “Heathers.”

“I had been cast in a movie and the director was very offended,” said Ryder, who did not name the film or the director.

“I think you felt better,” Ortega said to Ryder.

“Yes? I think I made the right decision,” Ryder replied.

“Heathers” was initially considered a box office flop, but later developed into a cult film and was eventually adapted into both a musical and a television film.

You can watch more videos of Ryder and Ortega with Harper’s Bazaar below: