Winona Ryder Reveals Why Jeff Bridges Wouldn't Kiss Her During Their Fearless Audition

Winona Ryder says Jeff Bridges refused to give her a smooch during an audition for the 1993 film Fearless but for good reason. 

In a new episode of Josh Horowitzs Happy Sad Confused podcast , the Beetlejuice star, 52, reflected on an audition the two did together for the thriller.

The script called for Bridges to kiss Ryder at the end of their scene. But Bridges declined because she was too young, Ryder said. He planted a kiss on her forehead instead. 

According to Ryder, Bridges told her at the time, Youre like, my daughters age. 

And Ryder, a big fan of his, remembered reacting: I was like, Nooo, I love you!  

Fearless, directed by Peter Weir, follows a traveler named Max (Bridges) who develops a sense of invulnerability after surviving a plane crash. The film hit theaters in 1993, which means Ryder would have been around 22 years old when they auditioned together, and Bridges would have been around 44.

Ryder ultimately didnt land a part in Fearless. But things worked out in her favor, as she went on to snag a role in Martin Scorseses The Age of Innocence, which landed the actor her first Oscar nomination.

Earlier in the interview, Ryder, whod starred in teen comedy Heathers in 1988,  said that film was a kind of graduation.

When youre a teen actor and a kid, youre always hearing about the transition into adult roles and how its impossible, she said. And then youre either a daughter or youre too young to be the DA or even the rookie cop. 

Watch Ryders Happy Sad Confused interview below.