In a recent interview with Elle UK, Winona Ryder, the "Stranger Things" actress, revealed a past crush on Al Pacino and the rather awkward moment she confessed her feelings. The pair worked together on the 1996 film "Looking for Richard," and Ryder, then in her early twenties, found herself completely smitten with the legendary actor.
Ryder recounted how Pacino, known for his intensity, had a penchant for coffee and would take her to various spots around New York City to sample different brews. As Ryder recalled, "I was absolutely in love with Al Pacino when I was working with him…I was actively in love with him. He was obsessed with coffee, and he would take me all over New York – like, to the weirdest places – to try different coffees. I'm 22, or whatever".
One evening, as Pacino was dropping her off, Ryder decided to express her feelings. "Finally, he's dropping me off wherever I'm staying, and I'm like, 'I love you, you know. I really am completely in love with you,'" she confessed. Pacino's response, however, was not what she had hoped for. According to Ryder, he simply said, "Aw, honey, noooo".
Ryder revealed that she later met one of Pacino's girlfriends who was younger than her at the time. Despite the rejection, Ryder harbors no ill will towards Pacino. In fact, the two have maintained a friendship over the years. "I still play poker with him sometimes. It's the best," she shared.
Al Pacino, now 85, has a long history of relationships with high-profile women, although he has never been married. His former partners include Diane Keaton, Beverly D'Angelo, and Kathleen Quinlan. He also has three children from previous relationships. Most recently, Pacino was linked to Noor Alfallah, who is over 50 years his junior. The couple welcomed a son, Roman, in 2023 but reportedly parted ways in October of the following year.
Winona Ryder, 53, has also had her share of relationships. She was famously engaged to Johnny Depp in the early 1990s. She has also been linked to Matt Damon, Dave Pirner, and others. Since 2011, Ryder has been in a relationship with fashion designer Scott Mackinlay Hahn. Ryder has stated that she prefers long-term relationships and would "rather never have been married than been divorced a few times".
Ryder, who began her career at a young age, also reflected on the pressures of maintaining a youthful appearance in Hollywood. While acknowledging that there is more acceptance of aging, she noted that the industry still places "enormous pressure" on actresses.
Currently, Ryder is preparing for the final season of "Stranger Things," set to be released on Netflix in three parts. The September issue of ELLE UK, featuring Winona Ryder, will be available on July 31.