Did you know that ‘Stranger Things’ sensation Winona Ryder once had Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Depp so smitten he etched her name into his skin forever? According to reports from The Independent and Depp’s own trial testimony, back in the early 1990s, when Winona was skyrocketing through hits like Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice, she and Johnny shared a whirlwind romance that became tabloid gold, as detailed in Hollywood archives and pop culture recaps.At the peak of their passion in 1990, Depp got a bold black-ink tattoo on his right biceps proclaiming “Winona Forever” as a testament to their young love, according to The Independent. It was the kind of grand gesture that screamed true devotion, spotted flashing on red carpets and fueling fan frenzy, per those same sources.
The height of Hollywood romance
Johnny and Winona met on the set of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ in 1989, where their chemistry sparked instantly, according to Depp’s trial coverage. By 1990, they were engaged, and Depp, then 27, dove headfirst into the ultimate romantic vow with that tattoo, which he later called a spontaneous act of love done just weeks into dating, as per The Independent. Fans adored the pair, nicknaming them “the beautiful ones,” while paparazzi trailed their every move from premieres to private getaways, according to pop culture accounts. Winona, 19 and already a star, mirrored the intensity, sporting a tiny “J” on her shoulder, as noted in multiple media reports. Their story felt like a modern fairy tale, blending ‘Stranger Things’-esque nostalgia with 90s rebel cool.
Heartbreak and the tattoo makeover
Sadly, the fairy tale faded by 1993 after four intense years, strained by fame’s pressures and youth’s turbulence, according to Depp’s testimony. Depp, heartbroken, didn’t erase the ink but cleverly altered it to “Wino Forever,” swapping “Winona” for “wino” as a cheeky nod to his love of wine, as revealed in trial coverage and as reported by the Independent. The change became pop culture lore, resurfacing during his 2022 defamation trial when he quipped about it on the stand, noting ex Amber Heard disliked the remnant, per those sources. Winona has spoken fondly of the time, calling Johnny her first love, while he praised her kindness, according to Hollywood recaps. Today, with Ryder slaying as Joyce Byers in ‘Stranger Things’, that tattoo tale reminds us of love’s wild, permanent marks.
