Meg Ryan biography 2022
Meg Ryan biography
Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra - known as Meg Ryan or Peggy to family and friends - was born on November 19, 1961, in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.
Daughter of Harry, a teacher, and Susan, a teacher, former actress, and casting director, Meg had no intention of becoming the Hollywood cutie she is today.
With original intentions of pursuing a journalism career, one would think that perhaps Meg inherited the acting gene from her mother, who left a 15-year-old Meg, her two sisters, and her brother to become an actor.
After graduating from Bethel High School, Meg pursued her academic studies at the University of Connecticut.
Meg got some acting jobs in several commercials to pay for her education. Her mother helped her join the Screen Actors Guild under her maiden name; thus, "Meg Ryan," as we know her today, was born.
Meg was cast in her feature film debut alongside Candice Bergen in the 1981 film Rich and Famous and decided to abandon her journalism studies to try acting. The former homecoming queen got her start on the small screen with roles in an After School Special, Amy the Angel, and appearances in the comedy Charles in Charge. She also became a regular on the daytime soap, As the World Turns, until 1984.
The series Wildside was the last of Meg's television career, one that would quickly be overshadowed by her current status as Hollywood's Sweetheart. After a role in 1983's Amityville III: The Demon, moviegoers caught a glimpse of the blonde actress in Top Gun as Goose's wife (played by Anthony Edwards).
But her claim to fame came with a starring role in 1989's When Harry Met Sally... starring Billy Crystal. Her scene-stealing fake orgasm in the restaurant went down in movie history and locked Meg into Hollywood's up-and-coming list. The Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks team-up started when the two paired up to star in Joe Versus the Volcano (which failed to flop at the box office) — and the two were paired again in 1993's chick flick (but sleeper hit), Sleepless in Seattle.
The latter secured Meg as an A-list actress and made audiences forget her roles in The Doors and Promised Land, which, while notable performances, failed to showcase Meg's endearing qualities.
The mid-90s were also marked by hits such as When a Man Loves a Woman and French Kiss, while Prelude to a Kiss and I.Q. were not the best ideas.
Other notable performances by Meg were in the period piece Restoration, Courage Under Fire (starring Denzel Washington and Matt Damon), and the animated film Anastasia. Addicted to Love proved that dark roles do not suit Meg, while City of Angels, opposite Nicolas Cage, was not so angelic.
In 1999, Meg reunited with her Sleepless in Seattle co-star Tom Hanks to star in. You've Got Mail. In addition to her acting duties, Meg is also the founder of her own production company, Prufrock Pictures, and the mother of her son Dennis Quaid, Jack Henry.
Meg first met Dennis Quaid on the set of 1987's Innerspace, and the pair began dating while filming D.O.A. Their marriage proved dead on arrival during the summer of 2000 when the divorce of one of Hollywood's most enduring couples was announced, and Meg was rumored to be dating her Proof Of Life co-star, Russell Crowe.
After a starring role in 1999's Hanging Up (with Lisa Kudrow), Meg will next be seen in the soon-to-be-released Proof of Life.
Her upcoming projects include Kate & Leopold and a remake of the 1939 classic, The Women, starring Julia Roberts.
Meg Ryan has proven to be lovable as an A-list and box office actress.
last updated October 2022
