Binge Worthy
About Meg Ryan
Ryan was born November 19, 1961 in Fairfield, Connecticut. After graduating high school, Ryan attended New York University for journalism. While in school, Ryan started acting in television commercials to earn some extra money. But Ryan ditched her journalism degree during her final year of college when Hollywood picked up on her talent. She landed her first role in a movie at age 20 as Candice Bergen’s teen daughter in Rich and Famous.
Ryan Moves to Television
She quickly switched to television where she landed a role on the short lived sitcom, One of the Guys, in 1982. Once the show was canceled, Meg joined the daytime soap, As the World Turns. Her unrequited love story with another character in the drama boosted the shows plummeting ratings before she left the role in 1984.
In 1986, she played the role as Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Naval Flight Officer Nick Bradshaw, in the blockbuster Top Gun. And in 1987, her role in the drama movie, Promised Land, led Meg to pick up her first Independent Spirit Awards nomination.
Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally
Finally, at the end of the 1980’s, Meg’s acting reached a huge commercial breakthrough. Landing the lead role in When Harry Met Sally, Ryan played the cute girl-next-door with a high maintenance attitude. Her role won audiences over as she earned the new star Golden Globe nomination. Around the same time, off the screen, Meg said, “Yes” to Dennis Quaid with the condition he addressed his cocaine addiction. The couple wed on Valentine’s Day in 1991 and she gave birth to their son, Jack, in 1992.
Sleepless in Seattle
In the 1990’s Meg switched up her roles a bit. In 1994, she played an alcoholic high school counselor in When a Man Loves a Woman. She also starred alongside of Tim Robbins in the comedy and of course, Sleepless in Seattle, it partnered her with Tom Hanks, who she would reunite with later. In 1997, Ryan also voiced the lead role in the animated film Anastasia. And 1998 was a huge year for Meg as she played the lead roles in blockbuster films City of Angels and You’ve Got Mail. She earned her third Golden Globe nomination with You’ve Got Mail.
The 2000s brought a lot of personal change for Ryan. In 2000, she announced Quaid and her were separating. And in 2006, Meg adopted a 14-month-old girl from China. And in late 2010, she decided to give the romance a go again with American singer and songwriter John Mellencamp.
In October 2010, she was cast in the ensemble drama Lives of The Saints. Most recently she appeared in the 2012 documentary, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The documentary is centered on women and girls living in difficult circumstances and how they overcome those situations.
