Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra (born November 19, 1961),[1] known by her stage nameMeg Ryan, is an American actress.[2] Known for her leading roles as quirky, charismatic women since the late 1980s, Ryan is particularly recognized for her work inromantic comedies, a genre she dominated during the 1980s and 1990s. Dubbed "America's Sweetheart" by the media, she became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars of the latter decade.
Ryan was born and raised inFairfield, Connecticut, to Susan Jordan (née Duggan), a former actress and English teacher, and Harry Hyra, a math teacher. Her father is of Polish descent.[3][4] She was raised Catholic[5] and attended St. Pius X Elementary School in Fairfield. She has two sisters, Dana (d. 2022) and Annie (d. 2019), and a brother, musicianAndrew Hyra, a member of the bandBilly Pilgrim. Her parents divorced in 1976 when she was 15.[6]
Ryan graduated fromBethel High School in 1979.[7] She studied journalism as an undergraduate, first at theUniversity of Connecticut and then atNew York University. During college, she acted in television commercials and the soap operaAs the World Turns to earn extra money. Her success as an actress led her to leave college a semester before she planned to graduate.[8][9] When she joined theScreen Actors Guild, she used the surname "Ryan", her maternal grandmother's maiden name.[4]
In 1986, she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife ofAnthony Edwards' character, naval flight officer Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, inTop Gun. Scenes with them were reprised in the 2022 sequelTop Gun: Maverick as flashbacks to illustrate the emotional conflicts between lead character Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and the Bradshaws' grown son, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Miles Teller).
Ryan next appeared inOliver Stone's moderately successful filmThe Doors, and inPrelude to a Kiss, which flopped.[11] In 1993, the hugely successful romantic comedySleepless in Seattle paired Ryan for a second time withTom Hanks. They had previously been the romantic leads, with Ryan playing three different women, inJohn Patrick Shanley'sJoe Versus the Volcano in 1990 — a commercial disappointment which later developed a cult following. (Hanks and Ryan were once again paired in another box-office success,You've Got Mail, in 1998.)[12] She earned her second nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her performance inSleepless in Seattle. She was offered the role of FBI agentClarice Starling, the protagonist ofThe Silence of the Lambs (1991), but rejected it due to the film's gruesome and violent themes.
In 1995, criticRichard Corliss called Ryan "the current soul of romantic comedy". The same year she also starred oppositeKevin Kline inLawrence Kasdan'sFrench Kiss, a comedy catering to her "America's Sweetheart" image, and was awarded theWomen in FilmCrystal Award – given to "outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry."[17]
In 1996, Ryan starred as a helicopter pilot in the war dramaCourage Under Fire, a critical and commercial success. The following year, she voiced the lead role in the animated filmAnastasia, which met with good reviews and box office success, and she andMatthew Broderick played a pair of jilted lovers bent on revenge in the black comedyAddicted to Love, giving Ryan a female lead at least superficially different from her usual roles.In 1998, she starred in two films.City of Angels (an American remake ofWim Wenders'Wings of Desire) drew positive reviews and earned nearly $200 million worldwide.You've Got Mail, reteaming Ryan with Hanks, earned her a third nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and made more than $250 million worldwide. She also appeared in 1998'sHurlyburly withSean Penn.
2000–2006: Continued roles
Ryan's first film of the 2000s wasHanging Up, aDiane Keaton-directed family comedy-drama about a trio of sisters who bond over the approaching death of their curmudgeonly father. Also starring Keaton,Lisa Kudrow andWalter Matthau, the film adaptation ofDelia Ephron's 1995 novel received poor reviews from critics.
The same year, Ryan was cast in the action thrillerProof of Life withRussell Crowe, directed byTaylor Hackford. In the film, she portrayed the distraught wife of a kidnapped engineer, played byDavid Morse, while relying on a resourceful troubleshooter who makes a profession of dealing with international bandits. While the film became a lukewarm critical and commercial success, grossing $63 million worldwide, it garnered much reportage in thetabloid press in association with Ryan and Crowe's affair.[18] Stephen Holden, film critic forThe New York Times, did not think the film worked well and opined that the actors did not connect.[19]
Ryan in September 2006
A year later, she once again returned to her romantic comedy roots withKate & Leopold (2001), alongsideHugh Jackman. A film about a British Duke whotravels through time from New York in 1876 to the present and falls in love with a successful market researcher in the modern New York, theJames Mangold-directed film received a mixed-to-positive response,[13] with Lael Loewenstein ofVariety summing it as "a mostly charming and diverting tale".[20] At a total gross of $70 million, it would be Ryan's highest-grossing film of the decade.[21]
In 2003, Ryan broke away from her usual roles, starring alongsideMark Ruffalo andJennifer Jason Leigh inJane Campion'serotic thriller filmIn the Cut. Co-producerNicole Kidman had originally been cast in the lead, but the actress eventually dropped out after five years of development, leaving the role to Ryan, who appeared nude in a lengthy and rather graphic love scene for the first time in her career. Although her image-conflicting depiction earned Ryan and the film much media attention, the film failed with critics and grossed only $23 million in theaters.[22] While promotingIn the Cut onMichael Parkinson's talk showParkinson, the actress was offended by the host's questions regarding filming nude scenes,[23] appearing disinterested, delivering one-word responses, and suggesting that Parkinson end their interview when asked what she would do in his position.[24] The interaction is considered to be one of the most infamous in talk show history.[25][26] Three years after the interview aired, Ryan explained that she felt Parkinson was berating her for performing nudity and had attempted to disagree with his views respectfully.[27][28] Parkinson eventually apologized for losing his temper in 2021, but maintained that Ryan's behavior "played a part in it too".[29]
She continued the strategy of acting against type with a leading role inCharles S. Dutton's directorial debutAgainst the Ropes (2004), a fictionalizedsport drama about American boxing managerJackie Kallen, the first woman to become a success in the sport. The film grossed less than $6 million in the U.S. and was panned by critics, in part because of its resemblance to other boxing films, such as theRocky series.
2007–2009: Independent films
Following a three-year hiatus, Ryan returned to film withJon Kasdan's 2007 independent filmIn the Land of Women. Starring alongsideKristen Stewart andOlympia Dukakis, she played Sarah Hardwicke, a mother and wife facing breast cancer, who connects with her neighbor's much younger grandson, played byAdam Brody. Released to mixed reviews by critics,[30] the film grossed $17.5 million worldwide,[31] exceeding its budget of $10 million.[32] Ryan received a positive response for her performance, withKenneth Turan of theLos Angeles Times noting it "the best work [she] has done in forever".[33]
Ryan's first film release of 2008 wasThe Deal, asatiricalcomedy film based onPeter Lefcourt's 1991 novel of the same title about Hollywood. Directed bySteven Schachter and co-starringWilliam H. Macy, the film was shot inCape Town and other South African locations and celebrated its world premiere at the2008 Sundance Film Festival. Garnering generally mixed to negative reviews, it failed to draw interest among film studios, resulting in astraight-to-DVD release in January 2009.[34] In his review forVariety, Peter Debruge said, "The characters seem to be doing all the laughing, while the general public has nothing to cling to but the horndog flirtation between mismatched leads William H. Macy and Meg Ryan—hardly ideal ingredients for mainstream success."[35] Ryan also starred inGeorge Gallo'sMy Mom's New Boyfriend, shot in 2006 but released direct-to-DVD in 2008.[36] Co-starringColin Hanks,Selma Blair andAntonio Banderas, the action comedy received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with David Nusair ofReel Film noting it "an unmitigated disaster virtually from its opening frames".[36]
Ryan's last film of 2008 wasThe Women, a remake of the1939 production. The all-female cast comprisesAnnette Bening,Debra Messing, andJada Pinkett Smith.[37] Written, produced and directed byDiane English, the film centers on a group of four femaleManhattan socialites whose primary interest is idlegossip, with Ryan portraying a wealthy woman whose husband is cheating on her with a shop girl, played byEva Mendes. Ryan was the first actress to join the long-delayed production, which had struggled to find financing since the early 1990s, resulting in an independent production budgeted at $18 million.[37] Upon its release,The Women received a disastrous response from critics, withRichard Schickel ofTime calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen".[38] The film was a financial success, however, becoming Ryan's most successful film since 2001'sKate & Leopold with a worldwide gross of $50 million.[39]
In 2009, Ryan starred alongsideKristen Bell andJustin Long in the independent comedy filmSerious Moonlight. In this film, directed by actressCheryl Hines and based on a screenplay by late writerAdrienne Shelly, who was murdered a year prior to filming, Ryan portrayed a high-powered female attorney who learns that her husband, played byTimothy Hutton, is about to leave their troubled marriage, and decides to hold him captive by duct-taping him to a toilet.[40] Picked up byMagnolia Pictures, the production received a limited release throughout North America only and grossed less than $150,000 worldwide.[41] Critical reaction to the film was generally mixed-to-negative,[42] although Ryan was praised for her "terrific" performance.[43] Also in 2009, Ryan guest-starred on the seventh season ofCurb Your Enthusiasm.
2010–present: Directing
Ryan was attached to several productions in the early 2010s—including the ensemble dramaLives of The Saints oppositeKat Dennings,Kevin Zegers, andJohn Lithgow,[44] andLong Time Gone, a film adaptation of the April Stevens novelAngel Angel,[45][46]—all of which failed to materialize. In April 2011, it was announced that Ryan would make her feature film directing debut inInto the Beautiful, described as "a contemporaryBig Chill with longtime friends reconnecting", but it was never made.[47]
In October 2012, Ryan was featured in thePBS documentaryHalf the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The series introduces women and girls living under difficult circumstances and fighting to challenge them.[48] The same month, Ryan's audiobook recording ofWilliam Saroyan'sThe Human Comedy was released. In October 2013, it was reported that Ryan would be returning to television to produce and star in a new comedy forNBC revolving around a former hotshot New York editor, for which it again failed to get production approval.[49]
Following another four-year hiatus, Ryan re-teamed withLisa Kudrow on her improvisational comedy seriesWeb Therapy, for which she filmed five episodes in 2013. The following year, she provided the future voice ofGreta Gerwig's character in the pilot ofHow I Met Your Dad, a woman-centric variation of theCBS sitcomHow I Met Your Mother that was not picked up.[50] CBS later passed on the project.[51]
During the peak of her career, Ryan was one of Hollywood's mostbankable stars, comparable toJulia Roberts.[57] She has been called one of the greatest actresses of the 1990s.[58] She was also one of Hollywood's highest-paid,[2] earning as much as $15 million per film by the end of the decade.[59][60] Ryan is particularly known for her work in romantic comedies, having starred in several from the late 1980s until the early 2000s.[58][61] The 1990s were particularly prolific for Ryan's work in the genre, appearing in six romantic comedies during the decade.[61] Two of her films,When Harry Met Sally...(1989) andSleepless in Seattle (1993), are ranked among the10 greatest romantic comedies of all time by theAmerican Film Institute.[62] The organization also ranked the same films among the100 greatest romance films, at numbers 25 and 45 respectively.[63] JournalistJane Pauley, as well as Kate Erbland ofIndieWire, recognized Ryan as one of the leading ladies responsible for the genre's resurgence,[64][65] earning her the nickname the "Queen of Rom-coms".[66][67][68] Benjamin Lee ofThe Guardian attributes Ryan's association with the genre to her "endless source of warmth and charisma, boasting a magic, ineffable charm that only a handful of other actors have ever truly had".[69] JournalistMichael Shnayerson declared Ryan the "queen of thescrewball romantic comedy" whose "instinct forphysical comedy puts her in a league with the greats—Carole Lombard,Rosalind Russell,Jean Arthur".[59]
For much of her career, Ryan typically played cheerful, witty,[70] and quirky women in romantic comedies,[71] but she has also starred in thrillers, dramas, and action films.[61] Ryan does not feel she waspigeonholed into the romantic comedy genre, explaining that they comprise a comparatively small portion of herfilmography,[72] and insists that her desire to explore different genres as an actor did not stem from any pressure to reinvent herself, but rather a genuine passion for trying new roles.[73][74] Described as an embodiment of thegirl next door archetype,[2][73] the media dubbed Ryan "America's sweetheart" due to both her wholesome on and offscreen personas,[68] a label she admitted to feeling conflicted about.[75][76] Joanna Robinson ofVanity Fair felt Ryan's early roles limited both the jobs she was offered and audience perception of her.[70] However, journalistAndrew Anthony insists Ryan was greatly responsible for the image she perpetuated, rather than a victim of it.[73]
Some of the actress' attempts to explore differentarchetypes and genres have been met with mixed results. Notably, her role inIn the Cut (2003) drew backlash from critics and fans,[2][74] after which she dramatically limited her workload and public appearances.[77][58]The New Republic's David Thomson said Ryan became "widely regarded as that nice girl next door ... who lost her sweetness" after the film.[77] In retrospect, Ryan said they should have prepared audiences for her departure from the archetype she had become known for.[2][66] According to Anthony Brett ofThe Daily Telegraph, Ryan's infamousParkinson interview damaged her reputation for several years.[26] Ryan's public image also suffered from rumors that she had cheated on then-husbandDennis Quaid withProof of Life (2000) co-starRussell Crowe.[58][60] In 2019, Ryan described herself as a "terrible celebrity" who finds fame to be uncomfortable, exhausting and disabling.[58]
Ryan is particularly fond of movies from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, citing actorsClaudette Colbert,Clark Gable,Carole Lombard,Katharine Hepburn andJimmy Stewart as personal favorites and influences of hers.[71] She claims to have never read an article written about her or her work, describing herself as too vulnerable.[72] Ryan also became known for theshag haircut she wore during the 1990s, which was often requested by fans and nicknamed "The Meg" after her.[78][79]
Personal life
Ryan married actorDennis Quaid on February 14, 1991. They have one child together,Jack Quaid, born April 24, 1992.[80][81] She and Quaid announced their separation in June 2000,[82] and their divorce became final in July 2001.[83] There were allegations of infidelity on both sides,[84] and Quaid added that Ryan's fame was a factor in the divorce.[85]
In January 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old girl from China whom she named Daisy True.[87][88] From 2010 to 2014, Ryan was in a relationship with American singer-songwriterJohn Mellencamp.[89][90][91] They reunited in 2017,[92] and Ryan announced their engagement on November 8, 2018.[93] In October 2019, it was reported that Ryan had ended their engagement.[94]
^abNina Rothe, E. (August 6, 2018)."Meg Ryan: how a Hollywood 'girl next door' came of age".The National. RetrievedApril 15, 2024.People did not like it and they didn't like me doing it. What I really learnt is that I had assumed a kind of girl-next-door archetype, and when you mess with an archetype, you have to ask permission.
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