Meg Ryan became one of America’s favorite actresses during the 80s and 90s, thanks to her unforgettable roles in romantic comedies. With her iconic blond shag haircut, she charmed audiences in classics like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.
Back then, it seemed like Ryan’s star would shine forever, but she vanished from the big screen after 2018. Today, at 61, the once-ubiquitous actress has stayed out of the spotlight, but her recent appearance on the red carpet surprised many.
If you had a crush on Meg Ryan in the 80s and 90s, you weren’t alone. Her blonde hair and blue eyes made her the queen of romantic comedies, earning her the title “America’s sweetheart.” For two decades, she was one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
But Meg Ryan’s rise to fame wasn’t a given. Born in 1961 in Fairfield, Connecticut, she was the daughter of Harry Hyra, a Polish math teacher, and Susan Jordan, a former actress. Her parents’ divorce in 1976 strained their relationship, and Meg eventually distanced herself from her mother. She adopted her grandmother’s maiden name, “Ryan,” for her Screen Actors Guild registration.
Ryan studied journalism at the University of Connecticut and then at New York University, but acting was calling her. She started with TV commercials and soap operas, eventually landing a role in As the World Turns. She left college to pursue acting full-time.
Her breakthrough came with a small but memorable part in Top Gun, where she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Anthony Edwards’ character. The film was a major hit, helping Ryan secure bigger roles.
On the Top Gun set, Ryan also found love with Edwards. The two dated and lived together before Ryan moved on to star in Innerspace with Dennis Quaid. Director Joe Dante recalled, “This was a great step up for her, and of course, she was introduced to Dennis and later they got married.”
Ryan and Quaid fell in love instantly and married on February 14, 1991. “It was like a thunderbolt,” Quaid said. “Both of us felt, ‘This is it. We’re going to be together.’” Their wedding took place in their hotel room on Valentine’s Day, and Ryan’s mother was not invited.
Ryan later shared with the New York Post, “I was laughing and crying at the same time. I realized I could’ve never gotten married in front of a whole group of people.”
Ryan’s career skyrocketed with her role in When Harry Met Sally …, where she played Sally Albright opposite Billy Crystal. Although the film wasn’t an instant hit with critics, it became a classic, cementing Ryan’s status as the queen of romantic comedies.
In 1993, Ryan teamed up with Tom Hanks for Sleepless in Seattle, another romantic comedy success. Nora Ephron, the film’s director, told Vanity Fair, “I think her ‘cuteness’ sometimes blinds people to how genuinely gifted she is as a comic actress.” Tom Hanks agreed, noting, “Meg is not perky; I always got the distinct impression that this woman is not to be messed around with.”
Despite being the sixth choice for the role of Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle, Ryan delivered a memorable performance. She was initially passed over by Julia Roberts, Kim Basinger, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
After Sleepless in Seattle, Ryan turned down a role in The Silence of the Lambs to focus on romantic comedies. However, in 1996, she took on a darker role in the war drama Courage Under Fire, starring alongside Denzel Washington and Matt Damon. The film was a success, as was City of Angels in 1998, which grossed nearly $200 million.
That same year, Ryan reunited with Tom Hanks for You’ve Got Mail, a film about two rivals who fall in love through email without knowing each other’s true identities. The New York Times praised her performance, saying, “Ms. Ryan plays her role blithely and credibly this time, with an air of freshness, a minimum of cute fidgeting, and a lot of fond chemistry with Mr. Hanks.”
The 90s were golden for Ryan, but the 2000s brought challenges. Her personal life became turbulent, and her acting career faced setbacks. Rumors of an affair with Russell Crowe while she was married to Dennis Quaid swirled around her. Ryan’s marriage to Quaid, which seemed like a Hollywood fairytale, was actually troubled.
Ryan admitted to InStyle Magazine in 2008, “Dennis was not faithful to me for a long time, and that was very painful.”
Despite the public’s perception, Ryan clarified that Crowe was not the cause of her divorce. “Russell didn’t break up the marriage. He was definitely there at the end, but it wasn’t his fault,” Ryan explained. Quaid, however, took issue with Ryan’s comments, saying, “It’s unbelievable that Meg continues publicly to rehash and rewrite the story of our relationship.”
Ryan and Quaid’s son, Jack Quaid, born in 1992, followed his parents into acting. Jack starred in The Hunger Games and numerous TV shows. In 2015, Meg directed Jack in the film Ithaca. Jack appreciated the support, saying, “I didn’t grow up in a house that would tell me, ‘Oh that probably isn’t the wisest choice. You should have a backup plan.’”
In 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old baby girl from China, naming her Daisy. Ryan told Redbook magazine in 2007, “I just really wanted a baby; I was on a mission to connect with somebody, and Daisy and I got to meet each other this way at this time. We are so compatible.”
Ryan’s last major role was in The Women in 2008. She took a break from acting and focused on her personal life. She later directed Ithaca, though she admitted to the New York Times in 2019, “I wasn’t as curious about acting as I was about other things that life can give you. I wanted to live more.”
Today, Ryan isn’t as prominent in the public eye but remains active. She writes romantic comedies, helps produce a show for NBC, and manages an Instagram account with over 600,000 followers. “I appreciate hearing from people because it allows for more of a complexity in the understanding of a person,” she told Instyle.
Rumors of a comeback swirl around Ryan. A source close to her told OK! Magazine in 2020 that she is “ready to conquer Hollywood once again.” It’s clear that while she may not be as big as she once was, Meg Ryan’s impact on film and on her fans is lasting. Thanks for all the memories, Meg, and good luck with what’s next!