Winona Ryder Says This Note from Martin Scorsese Was "Perfect"

Winona Ryder keeps handwritten notes from directors as career mementos, and one in particular reveals how a few words changed her performance.

During her recent appearance on Hot Ones, Ryder shared a story about working with Martin Scorsese on The Age of Innocence.

The note she received for the scene was simple. "Kiss him twice."

A note as simple as that could change the energy of an important, albeit quiet, scene.

"I have all those notes," Ryder said. "That was like the greatest thing in the world."

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Scorsese's Note on The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence follows Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis), a man promised to May (Ryder) while struggling with his feelings for May's cousin, Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). The 1993 film, adapted from Edith Wharton's novel, takes place in Gilded Age New York society, where emotions remain unspoken and social restraint rules everything.

The note referred to a scene in which her character confronts Newland.

"When we're in Paris, and I basically destroy his plan," Ryder said.

(It seems Ryder is misremembering some of the film's story, as it takes place primarily in New York, with scenes in Paris as an epilogue. The scene in question happens after a big farewell party for Ellen, who is leaving for Europe, and Newland hopes to see her in Paris soon after.)

In a quiet meeting after the party, Newland tells May he plans to get away, leaving her behind (ostensibly to go after Ellen), but May tells him she's pregnant. She has already asked him earlier in the story if he loves anyone else, and he told her no, but here the subtext is that she knows he's been lying.

“It was such a perfect note because I kind of kiss him to end [his inquiry]," Ryder said. "I guess they say it’ll put a button on it, but it really changed the dynamic. ‘Kiss him twice.' It was just like, ‘No, this is the way it’s gonna be. I gave you a fucking out. You didn’t take it. So from now on shut the fuck up.’ You know what I mean?”

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Again, this memory might be from a version of the scene that didn't make it into the final film, as May ends the scene kneeling at Newland's feet, and there's no kiss. But that doesn't negate the note's value, as it would have shown a shift in the scene's power dynamics, with May knowing she's "won" and having separated him from his lover.

"It was like the role of a lifetime," Ryder said. "It's a beautiful movie. A gorgeous movie."

Sometimes the smallest intervention can make an impact on a performance. You don't need to over-explain or intellectualize every moment. Trust your actors to understand nuance.

A note like "kiss him twice" can work because it respects the actor's intelligence while providing clear, actionable direction. It reframes a scene without explaining why.

You can watch the whole Hot Ones episode below.

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