A Hollywood Crush Meets Grace as Winona Ryder Recounts Her Young Infatuation with Al Pacino
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
24 July 2025
Winona Ryder, known for her enchanting presence in Beetlejuice, Stranger Things, and Girl, Interrupted, has revealed a heartfelt confession from her early days in the spotlight: at age 22, she was “absolutely in love” with acting legend Al Pacino. In a candid interview with Elle UK, the 53-year-old actress recalled the period around 1995 when she participated in a theatrical workshop for Richard III with Pacino, a setting that later evolved into the 1996 documentary Looking for Richard. During that time, Ryder admits she was completely smitten, accompanying Pacino on coffee runs throughout New York City and nurturing deep, unspoken feelings that would eventually lead her to baring her heart.
Ryder shared the story of one defining moment, reflecting how Pacino, then fifty-four and already a towering figure in cinema, would indulge his caffeine obsession by dragging her to offbeat cafés across the city. At 22, she was a young actress drawn to Pacino’s intensity and charisma. After one such coffee-fueled day, as he dropped her off at her lodging, Ryder found the courage to confess: “I love you, you know. I really am completely in love with you,” she told Elle. Pacino’s response was gentle yet definitive: “Aw, honey, noooo,” a phrase that Ryder now recalls with affectionate clarity.
In the years that followed, Ryder discovered that Pacino would eventually pursue relationships with women younger than herself, a fact that left her amused rather than wounded. She told Elle, intriguingly, that about a decade later she met one of Pacino’s girlfriends, noting with humor and bemusement how life had its ways of moving forward. Instead of rancor or regret, Ryder emerged from the experience with a sense of maturity and warmth. Her admiration never gave way to bitterness; instead, a meaningful friendship endured.
That enduring bond became evident in their continued collaboration, most notably in the 2002 sci-fi drama S1m0ne, where they shared screen time again. Beyond the studio lights, the two seasoned performers maintain a friendship grounded in mutual respect. Ryder revealed that they have preserved their connection through poker games low-key evenings that speak volumes about their genuine rapport and remains one of the highlights of her personal life.
Shifting focus to Ryder’s current life, she reflected on her relationship with partner Scott Mackinlay Hahn, whom she has been with since 2011. Meeting at the premiere of Black Swan, Hahn an eco-conscious fashion designer quickly became a supportive presence in her life. Ryder told Elle that while marriage was never a youthful dream, she considers Hahn her husband in all but name. She praised his culinary talent, particularly the “best curry” she’s ever tasted delicious proof that love, perhaps, can simmer just as perfectly on a stove as it does on a screen.
Ryder’s revelations highlight a woman at ease with her past, secure in her present, and deeply respectful in her reflections. Her unreciprocated affection for Pacino, instead of casting shadows, seems to have deepened her wisdom. She did not spiral into heartbreak; instead, she gleaned acceptance, even humor, about the folly of youthful infatuation. That she later found love with someone attuned to her soul suggests that lessons learned in the coffee shops of New York can flourish into lasting partnerships.
Styled like a mature magazine profile, Ryder’s story resonates beyond celebrity gossip. It reminds readers that love, at any age and at any intensity, is a teacher. It can stir the soul, reject us gently, and leave us stronger than before. Even rejected, Ryder navigated the moment with poise transitioning from impetuous young actress to thoughtful artist who cherishes shared laughter and honest companionship.
Today, Ryder continues to enchant audiences through her work on Stranger Things and other projects, maintaining the mystique that captured Hollywood’s heart decades ago. Her memories of Pacino and her ongoing relationship with Hahn reveal a woman grounded in authenticity, guided by respect, and enriched by genuine connection. Ryder’s experiences with love romantic, unrequited, enduring mirror a life lived fully, with no regrets, only gratitude.
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