One of the biggest appeals of Stranger Things is its ability to whisk its audience back to the retro era. The show pays homage to sci-fi, adventure, and horror films of the 1970s to 1990s, largely thriving on nostalgia. And what could be more nostalgic than having the '80s It Girl, Winona Ryder, someone fans grew up watching and loving? It was the Duffer Brothers' show that prompted Ryder to revisit the '80s time capsule after a long hiatus from her career.

Even though Ryder had a rough ride in the first season, like every other cast member, Stranger Things became an integral part of her life. And before bidding it farewell, the actress shared some lessons she will carry forward from the show.

Winona Ryder's character in Stranger Things, Joyce Byers, is a love letter to all single mothers out there with an accept-me-for-who-I-am personality. However, she not only played a maternal role on-screen but also grew to cherish the young actors off-screen. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, the actress mentioned the entire cast of young actors in the show, whom she was going to miss the most. "I feel like I have learned so much from them," added the actress, despite being the biggest star attached to the series.

Ryder's warm gesture stood as proof of her humble nature. In the interview, the Heathers actress also shared how Joyce Byers is the first role she has been playing for almost a decade. And it was "huge" for the 52-year-old to join the show as she did not even "know what streaming was" back then, which was something even Shawn Levy had talked about once. Nonetheless, despite the show being so special to her, the actress was in two minds on returning for the season 5. 

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In fact, she gave the Stranger Things maker a condition, agreeing to come back only after it was met.

Winona Ryder is currently gearing up for her highly anticipated reunion with the Beetlejuice franchise. Her upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the 2024 fantasy horror comedy, will have its premiere in August this year. And it was this project that stood in the way of her role in Stranger Things season 5, potentially due to the risk of schedule overlapping. This led Ryder to set her priorities straight. 

Ryder made it very clear to the Duffer Brothers that she would only do Stranger Things season 5 if it did not prevent her from working on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. "If Beetlejuice 2 happens, you'll let me go do that," said the actress to the makers. Fortunately, the Duffers went along with Ryder's conditions, making sure Stranger Things would not be missing its Hollywood royalty in the final showdown.

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What do you think about Winona Ryder's interview? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!