Winona Ryder Embarrassed By Shoplifting Attention

Painkillers were to blame for Winona Ryder's infamous shoplifting controversy, according to the actress herself.

Ryder shocked Hollywood when she was convicted of trying to steal clothing from the Beverly Hills, California branch of department store Saks Fifth Avenue in December 2001.

But the Heathers star insists painkillers she was taking after breaking her arm were responsible for her bizarre behavior.

Speaking to American magazine Vogue, she says, "Two months prior to that, I broke my arm in two places and the doctor was giving me a lot of stuff (Oxycodone) and I was taking it at first to get through the pain.

"And then there was this weird point when you don't know if you are in pain but you're taking it.

"Have you ever taken painkillers? It isn't a reckless (state) like you're out of your head. It's just confusion.

"The attention was what was embarrassing. It was the December after September 11th 2001. So much attention was being paid to me, when we had just been attacked, and there was all this really important news going on."