Winona Ryder Riding High Again Years After Shoplifting Scandal

Winona Ryder's small but juicy role as an aging former ingénue displaced by Natalie Portman's budding ingénue in "Black Swan," could be a mirror for Ryder's real life.

After growing up on film sets, starring in some of the iconic roles of the 80s and 90s and seeing her career derailed by a shoplifting scandal, Ryder is no longer the new kid on the block.

"I did relate to Beth on a certain level," she said in the current issue of Elle about her character in "Swan." "Just that thing of, you know, when I'm told I'm not the ingénue anymore. And now I'm 39. I remember when I was younger, I couldn't wait to be older, because I was always the kid on the set, I was always younger than everyone else. And now I'm older than a lot of the people I work with. I've been doing this for 25 years, which is so strange."

"I was watching TV, and there was this oldies-but-goodies film fest, and 'Lucas' came on. I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm an oldie!'" Ryder recounted.

Released in 1986, "Lucas" was Ryder's first film, in which she played opposite Corey Haim and Charlie Sheen. She followed it with roles as a goth teen in "Bettlejuice," a teenage murderess in "Heathers," Johnny Depp's on (and off) screen girlfriend in "Edward Scissorhands," and a Gen Xer in "Reality Bites." She also earned two Academy Award nominations for "Little Women" and "The Age of Innocence."

But don't expect "Black Swan" to be her swan song. If anything, Ryder appears to be gearing up for the next phase of her career.

With little fanfare, Ryder has chosen smaller roles or smaller films in recent years -- and Hollywood has taken notice. Even though she wasn't exactly gone -- she only lowered her profile -- Ryder is definitely back.

"She can act. She can do drama like 'Black Swan' and comedy like 'The Dilemma," Lindsay Powers, deputy editor for The Hollywood Reporter.com told ABCNews.com.

In next month's "The Dilemma," a Ron Howard comedy, Ryder plays Kevin James' wife, who is caught cheating by his best friend, Vince Vaughn. The two movies couldn't be more different, but both showcase Ryder's wide talent.

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