Winona Ryder Admits She Was Smitten With Al Pacino During 1996’s City Hall

Winona Ryder recently confessed she was absolutely in love with Al Pacino while filming the 1996 drama City Hall.

Quinn Parker here and I’m sprinting on espresso fumes, ready to spill every last drop of this Hollywood confession. I have THOUGHTS and FEELINGS, and we need to talk about this. Picture 1995 New York City, a movie set buzzing with paparazzi and coffee carts, and a young Winona Ryder stepping onto the streets to film alongside the legendary Al Pacino. Fast forward to a recent interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers where Ryder leaned into the mic and declared that her on-screen chemistry was not just acting magic but also genuine admiration crossed with full-on infatuation.

In that interview, Ryder didn’t hold back. “I was absolutely in love with him,” she admitted, and let me tell you, that line landed like a plot twist in a summer blockbuster

. Ryder went on to describe Pacino’s magnetic presence, his booming voice echoing through the metal scaffolding of City Hall, and how every time he delivered a monologue she felt her heart sprint. Sources from New York Post and People Magazine confirmed these remarks, making this revelation as solid as a star-powered cameo.

Here’s where it gets juicy. Ryder was only in her early twenties when she joined Pacino in the film directed by Harold Becker, and she says she was a bundle of nerves. Behind the scenes, crew members noticed that she would hang on his every word and blush whenever he complimented her performance. Insiders told People Magazine that she even scribbled notes about Pacino’s acting rhythm on her script margins, as if she were studying for a masterclass in charm and gravitas.

Let’s not forget the film’s release in March 1996, coming hot on the heels of Pacino’s critically acclaimed roles in Heat and Carlito’s Way. Ryder was riding her own wave of acclaim after Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Reality Bites. The pairing was electric, and fans still quote their courtroom scene exchanges online today. Does art imitate life, or did life imitate art? I say it’s a caffeine-fueled mix of both.

This confession also taps into the timeless allure of a seasoned icon showing rookie talent the ropes. Ryder praised Pacino’s generosity on set, sharing how he offered her tips on handling intense courtroom dialogue and offered extra takes when she stumbled over lines. It was mentorship wrapped in a glamour glove, but with a big red ribbon labeled “butterflies in the stomach.”

So what’s next? Will Ryder and Pacino ever reunite on screen and revisit those swoony sparks? We’ll be watching trailers, scanning interviews, and yes, drinking more coffee. Whew, that was a LOT to process!

Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed