Not that ‘Friends’ needed a celebrity or two to appear on the show, but it was certainly appreciated. Such were the feelings of the audience when Winona Ryder showed up on ‘Friends.’ The legions of fans jumped and screamed in joy when ‘Heathers’ and ‘Reality Bites’ star made a quick stop at the Central Perk.

Winona Ryder, whom the millennials know as Joyce Beyers from ‘Stranger Things,’ appeared on the show during its seventh season. It was a difficult time for her career-wise, and an appearance on the show breathed some life back into her. Ryder’s time on the sitcom was also marked by controversy.

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Which Character Did Winona Ryder Play On ‘Friends’?

In the ‘Friends’ episode ‘The One With Rachel’s Big Kiss,’ Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) runs into her sorority sister Melissa Warburton (Winona Ryder). After the group makes fun of their pseudo-sincere greetings, Rachel tells everyone that she and Melissa ended up kissing at a party courtesy of Sangria. While everyone is intrigued, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) remains unconvinced. 

Melissa, who’s left real estate for her dream job of party planning, meets Rachel for dinner. When Rachel brings up their saucy night together, Melissa declines any recollection. Rachel doesn’t let it go and passionately kisses Melissa after dinner. Melissa takes this as a sign of love, saying she never forgot their night at the party. But when she tries to kiss Rachel, she backs off. Heartbroken and embarrassed, Melissa leaves in a cab.

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The Story Behind Winona Ryder’s ‘Friends ‘Appearance

Doing a guest spot on ‘Friends’ was crucial for Winona Ryder. Despite having a string of hits in the 90s, her film appearances during the early 2000s were few and few between. She had no acting roles except her cameo in Ben Stiller’s ‘Zoolander.’ ‘Friends’ was her way to get back in the cultural zeitgeist. 

Unfortunately, her brief time on the show angered the LGBTQ+ community. Her kiss with Jennifer Aniston was seen as a cheap stunt to bump the ratings. It was humiliating, as Winona’s character was seen as a throwaway gag in a heterosexual character’s attempt to prove a point. Years later, she has again come to public notice with the Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’.

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