But I’m very grateful to still be rising."
Her roles in smaller independent films likeSmashedandThe Spectacular Nowhave made her anindie darling.
And her role asRamona Flowersin the cult-hitScott Pilgrim vs. the Worldhas made her a comic geek goddess.
The actress gravitated toward action-centric roles later in her career, including Ang Lee’sGemini Manand DC’sBirds of Prey.
While Winstead’s on-screen talent is obvious, the details of her life and career are not.
This is the truth about Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Over the years, the film has grown a cult fan following and has even spawneda Broadway musical.
Winstead had an opportunity to audition for the part and she turned it down.
And I just was sort of like, ‘Oh, okay.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead took what kind of lessons for Fargo?
In Season 3 ofFargo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Nikki Swango, a bridge-playing ex-con with a dark agenda.
To get into character and to play bridge like a true competitor, Winstead prepped by taking bridge lessons.
She added, “It’s so complicated and strategic and mathy … there’s so many numbers.”
I thought I would be playing bridge all season long."
Instead, Winstead was pleasantly surprised to be given the layered role of Nikki, who oozes sex appeal.
The actress normally strayed away from “sexier” roles in the past, as she toldGlamourin April 2017.
“Sometimes you get in your head,” she shared.
I don’t want to be seen as sexy because that’s not interesting or substantive.'"
She noted, “It’s taken me a lot of time to get to that place.”
In the film, Winstead plays a woman struggling to keep her alcoholism under control.
It really just set me in a clear direction in terms of what I wanted to do."
She toldThe Guardianin November 2012, “I wasn’t allowed out anywhere.
I had two friends.
But I was also terrified of hanging out with other teenagers and going to parties.
I didn’t fit.”
The actress enjoys her low-key celebrity status and likes not being recognized out in public a lot.
She toldVulturein October 2018, “I definitely prefer to fly under the radar.
Eventually, she turned to acting and it became her career.
She discussed the experience in an interview withGlamourin April 2017, saying, “Yeah, I quit.
I know, right?
I was the first person on that show to quit!
I wanted the opportunity to try and explore something else.”
In the movie, Winstead plays Gwen, a popular student at Sky High who spoiler alert!
actually turns out to be the villain.
“She went on, “And that was like, ‘Okay, you did it.’
And then after that I never really went very long without working, so I got very lucky.”
AfterSky High, Winstead went on to star inFinal Destination 3,Black Christmas, and Quentin Tarantino’sDeath Proof.
The couple began dating when Winstead was just 18, after they met on a cruise ship.
Riley was similarly tagging along on hisvacationand was with a friend and his friend’s parents.”
They married, and Winstead later starred in Stearns’ thrillerFaultsin 2014.
Sadly, the couplesplitin May 2017.
But their relationship was shrouded with controversy because both actors weremarriedwhen their relationship went public.
Winstead previously announced she’dsplit with her husbandvia a now-deleted Instagram post in May 2017.
Thankfully, it didn’t last long because she has gone on to star in several films since.
Despite this, Winstead never spoke negatively about the genre.
