Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves have been close friends for a long time. They have shared the screen a few times in films such as “A Scanner Darkly” in 2006, “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee” in 2009, and “Destination Wedding” in 2018. However, their performance together in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” in 1992 is something that many people still talk about today for a litany of reasons.
Based on Bram Stoker’s 1987 novel “Dracula,” the film was directed and produced by the legendary Francis Ford Coppola. Several stars made their mark in the movie, including Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, and of course Ryder and Reeves. While the film itself received positive reviews, Reeves’ performance – precisely his English accent – received some criticism. However, it was a box office success and was nominated for several awards, winning three Academy Awards.
In “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” Reeves and Ryder’s characters marry one another. This was a hauntingly beautiful scene in the film, especially considering that Reeves and Ryder were becoming great friends behind the scenes. While it’s common for co-stars to date after spending so much time together on set, Reeves and Ryder may have taken that a step further. According to multiple interviews over the years, Reeves and Ryder say that they have been married since filming the 1992 film as a real priest was involved in the wedding ceremony scene.
As the movie’s cast and crew celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, let’s take a look at some of the more memorable moments “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” gave us.
The 1992 film “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” has been remembered for several reasons. The film came when Ryder started to make a name for herself in Hollywood, following her work in “Beetlejuice” and “Edward Scissorhands.” However, Reeves’ performance is the one that many people remember, albeit not for the best reasons.
While Reeves was already an acclaimed star at the time, his performance wasn’t seen in the best light. According to Screen Rant, critics weren’t fans of his fake English accent. Surprisingly, Reeves wasn’t a fan of the role himself. He explained that he was exhausted from filming other projects at the time and “just didn’t have anything left to give.”
The film also included memorable scenes between Reeves and Ryder. According to The Straits Times, in a statement to The Sunday Times, Ryder said that her long friendship with Reeves first began on the set of “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” where Reeves was asked to insult his co-star to make her cry. He was told to do this by director Coppola during a vital scene of the movie.
Ryder struggled to make herself cry on command, and no tactics seemed to be doing the job. Coppola instructed the other cast members to make Ryder cry, but they refused. Fortunately, Reeves’ refusal to insult Winona Ryder went a long way and resulted in a lasting friendship that has spanned decades.
However, their friendship may go deeper than people think. According to Sky News, Ryder has joked repeatedly that she and Reeves are married. She said, “We actually got married in ‘Dracula.’ No, I swear to God I think we’re married in real life.”
Ryder continued, “In that scene, Francis used a real Romanian priest, and we shot the master, and he did the whole thing. So I think we’re married.” Screen Rant confirmed that Coppola brought in a real Romanian priest to make the scene feel more authentic. This would mean that Ryder and Reeves could potentially be legally married, although they were only acting.
During a press release for her film “Destination Wedding,” Ryder reminded her co-star Reeves about their marital vows and how they performed the filmed ceremony on Valentine’s Day. Reeves replied, “Oh my gosh, we’re married.”
Speaking with Esquire in November 2021, Reeves talked about his possible marriage to Ryder based on their wedding scene in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” He said:
“Winona says we are. Coppola says we are. So I guess we’re married under the eyes of God.”
However, the legitimacy of their marriage is still questionable, as many prerequisites would have had to be met for their wedding to be official, especially if they never signed any legal documents or a marriage license. Each actor has also been in public relationships since filming, and Reeves is currently dating artist Alexandra Grant and Ryder is with Scott Mackinlay Hahn.
Still, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” is very memorable. The movie will be celebrating its 30th anniversary on Nov. 13, 2022. According to Screen Rant, the film was released on Nov. 13, 1992, and coincided with the 95th anniversary of the original “Dracula” book. It also timed well with the 80th anniversary of Stoker’s death.
What are your thoughts on “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” starring Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder? Do you enjoy seeing their partnership? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your friends and family.
