Winona Ryder returns to the cinematic universe that launched her to stardom in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice."

In 1988, she stepped into her generation-defining role in the original film as Lydia Deetz, a young woman who was cloaked in melancholy and saw the world through a black veil.

Lydia became an icon to misfits and inspired them to be comfortable in their own skin. In real life, at 52, Ryder has survived ups and downs in her Hollywood career and personal life.

"I never really thought about it for me," asked what she would tell her younger self. "It was a very different time because there was no internet; it was just a different world. It was overwhelming to be in something that did really well, and I think when you're young, you don't want to say no."

"You want to say yes to so many things, and then you can get exhausted and confused and overwhelmed," the actress added. "And that, I would definitely say: everything's going to be okay."

Winona Ryder is Lydia Deetz in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice." (Courtesy: Warner Bros. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”)

Ryder knows all too well the pressures of sudden fame, having also experienced a resurgence herself with "Stranger Things” and it made her feel protective towards Jenna Ortega, who plays Astrid, Lydia’s daughter.

Ortega is also the star of another Netflix hit series, “Wednesday.”

Ryder recalled meeting Ortega for the first time right after “Wednesday” premiered and how their connection was cemented during filming for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

"She's a great actress. She's really, really good. I really liked her," said Ryder. "I thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be good.’ And then something happened in the attic. That day we started talking, and we just went really deep. And this, we sort of formed this bond."

She added: "‘Wednesday’ and ‘Stranger Things,’ these shows, you're in people's homes. It can be very overwhelming. So I wanted to be there for her. I went through it. We had a special bond."

Returning to Lydia was more than just reprising a role for Ryder.

It was revisiting a part of her own history: the lonely teenager who once sought solace in the supernatural now finds herself in a new and unexpected chapter of her life.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” pairs Ryder with Justin Theroux, who plays her hilariously narcissistic boyfriend Rory.

Director Tim Burton’s unique comedic sensibilities helped Theroux find the balance to play the role.

"It was a lot of conversations with Tim (Burton) and trying to find little toeholds," Theroux shared. "We sort of knew he was codependent with Lydia. We sort of had this hilarious little email exchange of like: when one person in a couple starts trying to look like the other one. He was trying to look like his girlfriend."

The much-awaited Michael Keaton-led sequel comes out in the Philippines on Sept. 4 and in the U.S. on Sept. 6.