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Mary Elizabeth Winstead is an American actress who portrayed Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Winstead received critical acclaim for her role as Ramona in both the film and anime.
Origins[]
The fifth and youngest child of Betty Lou (née Knight) and James Ronald Winstead, Winstead was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina When she was five, her family moved to Sandy, Utah, a Salt Lake City suburb.
As a girl, Winstead attended Peruvian Park Elementary, where she excelled academically and attended advanced classes. A talented dancer and singer, Winstead studied dance in a Joffrey Ballet summer program in Chicago, Illinois and was also a member of the International Children's Choir. In her youth, Winstead initially hoped to pursue a career as a ballerina and appeared in local ballet productions.
As she entered her teens, however, Winstead was forced to quit ballet due to her height. She later stated, "I realized pretty early on that I was already too tall by the time I was thirteen... You know, your body has to stay that way for your entire life, and it's pretty hard on your muscles and your bones". Realizing that her career as a ballerina was unlikely, Winstead turned to acting.
Career[]
Winstead started her acting career with television roles in shows like Touched by an Angel and Promised Land. She gained attention for her role in the Disney Channel film The Long Road Home (1999). In 2005, she played the lead role in the horror film Final Destination 3.
Winstead gained broader recognition with her role as Gwen Grayson in the superhero film "Sky High" (2005). She then appeared in Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's double-feature Grindhouse (2007), where she played significant roles in both "Death Proof" and "Planet Terror."
In 2012, she starred in the prequel to John Carpenter's The Thing. Winstead also appeared in films like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) and A Good Day to Die Hard (2013). She played the lead role in the psychological thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), receiving praise for her performance.
Winstead ventured into television with notable roles in the third season of the anthology series Fargo (2017). In 2020, she played the character Huntress in the DC Comics film Birds of Prey.
In addition to her acting career, Winstead is a singer and has showcased her musical talents in various projects, including Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and her band, Got a Girl, which she formed with Dan the Automator.
External links[]
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead on Wikipedia
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead on Internet Movie Database