Winona Ryder Discusses ‘Homefront,’ Describes Her Character As ‘Diabolical’

Winona Ryder portrays a different kind of character in the action flick Homefront.

The Beetlejuice star tackles the role of a drug-dealing biker chick in writer Sylvester Stallone and director Gary Fleder’s upcoming thriller. Although Ryder plays a villain in the movie, she said her character is both diabolical and a victim.

Ryder told the folks at V magazine:

“She’s this woman who had been in a biker gang, and that is a hard-core scene. What’s creepy is that she’s sober and she’s running this drug operation with James Franco’s character, and to me it’s the epitome of evil, in a weird way. If it’s possible to be a victim and be diabolical at the same time, I had never explored that. There was also a slightly campy, arm-candy element to her that appealed to me. She’s such a complete chick. She’s what you think of when you hear the words ‘biker chick.'”

Homefront stars Expendables alum Jason Statham as an ex-DEA agent who moves to a small town in the Midwest. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t take very long for trouble to find our hero. Instead of enjoying some peace and quiet with his family, Statham ends up battling a drug dealer named Gator (Franco).

Winona Ryder has appeared in a number of notable projects over the years, though the actress recently admitted that the 90s were a particularly difficult time during her career. Ryder said it’s difficult to stay relevant these days because people in the industry are only concerned about what you’re doing at that moment in time.

She explained:

“You have to work to be relevant. If you don’t then people will forget and the studios won’t want you because they won’t remember the last thing you did that made money. It’s all about knowing when to listen to that conversation and—without sounding really hokey—when to tune it out and follow your heart. I was fired from a movie because I did ‘Heathers’! I was cast in a movie and the director saw an advance screening and was offended by it and fired me. It wasn’t until years later that it became more appreciated.”

Ryder is currently on the comeback trail in Hollywood. In addition to her role in Homefront, she recently appeared alongside Michael Shannon in the acclaimed drama The Iceman.

Are you a fan of Winona Ryder? Do you plan to catch director Gary Fleder’s action flick Homefront in theaters on November 27?

[Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]