Claim: Winona Ryder is an actress.

Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 American romantic dark fantasy film directed by Tim Burton , produced by Denise Di Novi and Tim Burton , and written by Caroline Thompson from a story by Tim Burton and Caroline Thompson , starring Johnny Depp as an artificial man named Edward , an unfinished creation who has scissor blades instead of hands . The young man is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter Kim -LRB- Winona Ryder -RRB- . Additional roles were played by Dianne Wiest , Anthony Michael Hall , Kathy Baker , Vincent Price and Alan Arkin .   Burton conceived Edward Scissorhands from his childhood upbringing in suburban Burbank , California . During pre-production of Beetlejuice , Caroline Thompson was hired to adapt Burton 's story into a screenplay , and the film began development at 20th Century Fox , after Warner Bros. declined . Edward Scissorhands was then fast track after Burton 's critical and financial success with Batman . The majority of filming took place in Lakeland , Florida between March 10 and June 10 , 1990 . The film also marks the fourth collaboration between Burton and film score composer Danny Elfman . The leading role of Edward had been connected to several actors prior to Depp 's casting : a meeting between Burton and the preferred choice of the studio , Tom Cruise , was not fruitful , and Gary Oldman and Tom Hanks turned down the part . The character of The Inventor was devised specifically for Vincent Price , and would be his last major role . Edward 's scissor hands were created and designed by Stan Winston .   Edward Scissorhands was released to positive feedback from critics , and was a financial success . The film received numerous nominations at the Academy Awards , British Academy Film Awards , and the Saturn Awards , as well as winning the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation . Both Burton and Elfman consider Edward Scissorhands their most personal and favorite work .