Winona Ryder Winona Laura Horowitz , better known as Winona Ryder , is the Academy Award - nominated actress who played ' s mother , , in the film . The role was originated by the late Jane Wyatt in the episode . Ryder is known for starring in numerous acclaimed and popular films . Some of her biggest box office hits have included " Beetlejuice " , " Edward Scissorhands " , " Bram Stoker ' s Dracula " , " Little Women " , " Alien Resurrection " , and " Mr . Deeds " . Throughout her career , she has received two Academy Award nominations , a Golden Globe , an additional Golden Globe nomination , two National Board of Review Awards , a BAFTA Award nomination , an Independent Spirit Award nomination , and three Saturn Award nominations , among many other accolades . Early career . Hailing from Olmsted County , Minnesota , Ryder made her film debut in the 1986 comedy " Lucas " . She then acquired recognition for her role as Lydia in director Tim Burton ' s " Beetlejuice " in 1988 . She later reunited with Burton for 1990 ' s " Edward Scissorhands " , which also featured Todd Bryant , Aaron Lustig , and Biff Yeager . Her performance in " Edward Scissorhands " earned Ryder her first Saturn Award nomination from the Academy of Science Fiction , Fantasy & Horror Films . In addition , Ryder co - starred with Mariette Hartley and Joanna Cassidy in " 1969 " , a 1988 dramatic film . Ryder ' s breakthrough came when she starred opposite Christian Slater in the cult 1989 black comedy " Heathers " . Her performance in this film earned Ryder a nomination as Best Female Lead from the Independent Spirit Awards . Ryder played Myra Gale Brown , the 13 - year - old cousin and third wife of musician Jerry Lee Lewis , in the biographical drama " Great Balls of Fire ! " , winning a Young Artist Award for her performance . In 1990 , she starred in the comedy film " Welcome Home , Roxy Carmichael " . This movie also featured guest actress Heidi Swedberg . Ryder then starred in the film " Mermaids " , for which she received a Golden Globe nomination . She also won a National Board of Review for her performance in this film . Ryder portrayed Mina Murray in the 1992 blockbuster " Bram Stoker ' s Dracula " , for which she received her second Saturn Award nomination . Billy Campbell and Jay Robinson also had roles in this film . Oscar - nominated roles . Ryder has been nominated for two Academy Awards . She received her first nomination for her performance as May Welland in Martin Scorsese ' s 1993 adaptation of Edith Wharton ' s novel " The Age of Innocence " ( which also featured Norman Lloyd ) . Ryder also won a Golden Globe and a National Board of Review Award for her work in this film , and was nominated for a BAFTA Award . She was again nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Jo March in 1994 ' s " Little Women " . Ryder ' s co - stars in this film included guest performers Kirsten Dunst and John Neville . Prior to filming Ryder became the celebrity advocate for kidnapped Polly Klass who lived in Ryder ' s hometown of Petaluma , California . Ryder served as the unofficial spokesman for the Klass family holding up the sketch of the suspect later identified as Richard Allen Davis . Tragically the case ended in the discovery of Klass ' body followed by the subsequent murder trial in which Davis was convicted and sentenced to California ' s death row . Ryder attended the trial and dedicated the film in Klass ' honor . Other notable works . Ryder has worked with fellow " Star Trek " movie actress Alfre Woodard in two films : 1995 ' s " How to Make an American Quilt " ( which co - starred Jean Simmons and Gail Strickland ) and 2000 ' s " Lost Souls " ( with Brad Greenquist ) . She has also appeared in two films with guest star Famke Janssen : Woody Allen ' s " Celebrity " ( with Bebe Neuwirth and Sonita Henry ) in 1998 and David Wain ' s " The Ten " in 2007 . In 1996 , Ryder portrayed Abigail Williams opposite Bruce Davison ' s Reverend Parris in the film adaptation of Arthur Miller ' s play , " The Crucible " . That same year , Ryder worked alongside such actors as Al Pacino , Alec Baldwin , Kevin Spacey , and " Trek " alumni Kevin Conway , Richard Cox , F . Murray Abraham , and Harris Yulin in Pacino ' s documentary " Looking for Richard " , in which Ryder portrayed Lady Anne in a production of William Shakespeare ' s " Richard III " . She received her third Saturn Award nomination for her role in 1997 ' s " Alien Resurrection " . She also won a Blockbuster Entertainment Award as Favorite Supporting Actress - Sci - Fi for this film . Her co - stars in " Alien Resurrection " included fellow " Star Trek " alumni Raymond Cruz , Brad Dourif , Leland Orser , and Ron Perlman . Ryder ' s other film credits include Ben Stiller ' s " Reality Bites " ( co - starring Bill Bolender and Andy Dick ) , " Boys " ( with Matt Malloy ) , and " Girl , Interrupted " ( co - starring Whoopi Goldberg and Kurtwood Smith ) . Her biggest box office success to date as a leading actress is the 2002 comedy " Mr . Deeds " , which co - starred Erick Avari , Scott Thompson Baker , Bruce French , and Harve Presnell . Ryder ' s rare television work includes voicing in the " Lisa ' s Rival " episode of the long - running animated series " The Simpsons " and a guest - starring role on the popular sitcom " Friends " ( in the episode " The One with Rachel ' s Big Kiss " ) . She also hosted NBC ' s " Saturday Night Live " on 18 May 2002 . Arrest and recent film career . On 12 December 2001 , Ryder was arrested on shoplifting and illegal drug possession charges in Beverly Hills , California , in what became a worldwide media frenzy . The following year , she was convicted of grand theft and vandalism and sentenced to three years ' probation and 480 hours of community service , in addition to being ordered to pay over US $ 10 , 000 in fines and restitution and to attend psychological and drug counseling . In June of 2004 , her case was reviewed and her felony charges were dropped to misdemeanors . After the shoplifting incident , Ryder took a brief hiatus from the spotlight and her film career slowed down considerably . She returned in 2003 with an uncredited cameo in Asia Argento ' s drama " The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things " , which also featured Jimmy Bennett . She later played the female leads in Finn Taylor ' s 2006 comedy " The Darwin Awards " , in Richard Linklater ' s well - received 2006 science fiction thriller " A Scanner Darkly " , and in the 2008 romantic drama " The Last Word " . The latter also featured former regular John Billingsley . Ryder ' s other recent film credits include the aforementioned " The Ten " , the 2008 dark comedy " Sex and Death 101 " , the 2009 crime drama " The Informers " , and the 2009 drama " The Private Lives of Pippa Lee " . She also starred in the 2007 short film " Welcome " , which was directed by her " Little Women " co - star and fellow " Star Trek " alum , Kirsten Dunst . Ryder will next be seen in the title role of the CBS made - for - TV movie " When Love Is Not Enough : The Lois Wilson Story " , which co - stars Paul Popowich . Ryder also starred in the ballet drama " Black Swan " with TNG guest performer Mark Margolis . Ryder ' s upcoming feature films include ( which also features Joanna Cassidy ) and in April 2010 , she was cast in the comedy " Dilemma " , the latest film from acclaimed director co - starring his brother Clint Howard . Ryder ' s current project has reunited her with featured director Tim Burton . This time Ryder is lending her voice to the animated " Frankenweenie " ( 2012 ) with Frank Welker . As of 2016 , Ryder has starred in the Netflix series " Stranger Things " .