Meg Ryan has cemented her status as one of America’s favourite actresses by playing some of the most endearing romantic roles of the 80s and 90s.
This charming actress with a short blonde haircut will forever be remembered by audiences for iconic films like Sleepless in Seattle and Here’s a Letter for You.
Back then, it seemed that Ryan’s star would never fade, but the fact is that she disappeared from the big screen after 2018.
Today, the “girl next door” from the ’90s tries to stay out of the media spotlight, but recently, 61-year-old Meg made a red carpet appearance that caught the attention of…
I can’t be the only one who fell in love with Meg Ryan in the 80s and 90s. This blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress was the queen of romantic comedies, and not for nothing did she earn the title of ‘America’s favourite actress’.
Her star burned brightly for two decades when she was one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood.
But it was far from obvious that Meg Ryan would become world famous.
Meg was born in 1961 in Fairfield, Connecticut. Her father, Harry Hira, was of Polish descent and taught maths. Meg’s mother, Susan Jordan, was also a teacher, but had worked as an actress before that, so the stage was part of her family.
Changed her surname
However, her parents separated in 1976 when Meg was only 15 years old, and the relationship became strained. In fact, Meg severed ties with her mother after a series of events. She also decided to change her last name to ‘Ryan’, her grandmother’s last name, when she registered with the United States Actors Guild.
As a young girl, Meg chose to study journalism at the University of Connecticut and then at New York University. Her time in college changed her life, but perhaps not in the direction many expected.
Meg Ryan started her acting career by appearing in television commercials and soap operas to make some extra money. Suddenly, she landed a role in As the World Turns and many producers took notice of the talented young actress.
Ryan dropped out of college and decided to focus on a career in the entertainment industry. Her first notable success was her participation in the blockbuster Top Gun, where she played the colourful role of Carol Bradshaw – the wife of Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards).
This romantic action film became the highest-grossing film of 1986 and opened the door for Meg Ryan to more significant roles.
She also found love on the set of Top Gun. She began dating her film partner and on-screen husband, Anthony Edwards. The couple dated for a while and even moved in together.
Meeting Dennis Quaid
In 1987, Ryan starred in the science fiction film Innerspace, where she met her future husband, Dennis Quaid.
“She had already played a small role in Top Gun, as well as the lead in Armed and Dangerous with John Candy. But it was a significant step forward for her. Of course, that’s when she met Dennis and they later got married,” director Joe Dante told Cinema Retro.
Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid fell in love with each other at first sight and married on 14 February 1991.
‘It was like a lightning strike,’ Dennis recalled. – “We both felt, ‘This is it. We’re going to be together.'”
The marriage ceremony took place in a hotel room on Valentine’s Day. However, Ryan’s mother Ryan was not invited to the wedding.
‘I was laughing and crying at the same time,’ Meg told the New York Post. – And I realised I could never get married in front of a large group of people.”
Queen of Romantic Comedies
Her rise to fame peaked when she landed the lead role in the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally… In the film, Ryan played Sally Albright paired with Billy Crystal.
Although the film was received coolly by critics, it is now considered a cult classic of romantic comedies.
The film also cemented Meg Ryan’s title as the ‘queen of romcoms,’ a title she has carried through her career.
In 1993, Meg Ryan again teamed up with Tom Hanks in another successful romantic comedy – Sleepless in Seattle. The charming image of the ‘girl from the next yard’ again won the audience, and the actress’ performance received many positive reviews.
‘I think her “cuteness” sometimes prevents people from seeing how talented she really is as a comedic actress,’ said director Nora Ephron in an interview with Vanity Fair in 1995.
Tom Hanks also revealed some interesting facts about his partner, noting that in life she may not be at all like her characters in Nora Ephron’s films. Despite critics calling her ‘the soul of romantic comedies,’ Meg Ryan had a different character.
“Meg is not that upbeat at all. I always had a strong feeling that with this woman jokes bad,” – said the actor in 1995.