Meg Ryan
Actor
Biography
Meg Ryan (born November 19, 1961) is an American actress, producer and director. She began her acting career in 1981 when she made her acting debut in the drama film Rich and Famous. She later joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982.
She began to appear in supporting roles in films during the mid-1980s like box office hit Top Gun, achieving recognition in independent films such as Promised Land (1987) before her performance in the Rob Reiner-directed romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989) brought her widespread attention and her first Golden Globe nomination.
She subsequently established herself, both nationally and internationally, as one of the most successful actresses in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly in romantic comedy films such as When Harry Met Sally (1989), Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), French Kiss (1995), You've Got Mail (1998), and Kate & Leopold (2001). Her other films include Top Gun (1986), Innerspace (1987), The Doors (1991), Anastasia (1997), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), Courage Under Fire (1996), Addicted to Love (1997), City of Angels (1998), Proof of Life (2000), Against the Ropes (2004), and The Women (2008). In 2015, she made her directorial debut with Ithaca, in which she also starred.
In 1995, critic Richard Corliss called her "the current soul of romantic comedy." Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited Ryan as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.
She was married to actor Dennis Quaid (1991-2001), and they have a son, Jack. In 2000, Ryan became romantically involved with actor Russell Crowe while working on their film Proof of Life. In January 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old girl from China whom she named Daisy True. She was in a relationship with American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp (2010-2014). They reunited in 2017, and announced their engagement on November 8, 2018. In October 2019, it was reported that Ryan had ended their engagement.
As Director
Filmography
Top Gun
as Carole 1986
Anastasia
as Anastasia (voice) 1997
When Harry Met Sally...
as Sally Albright 1989
You've Got Mail
as Kathleen Kelly 1998
Sleepless in Seattle
as Annie Reed 1993
City of Angels
as Maggie Rice 1998
The Doors
as Pamela Courson 1991
Kate & Leopold
as Kate McKay 2001
Innerspace
as Lydia Maxwell 1987
Courage Under Fire
as Captain Karen Emma Walden 1996
Proof of Life
as Alice Bowman 2000
French Kiss
as Kate 1995
Joe Versus the Volcano
as DeDe / Angelica / Patricia Graynamore 1990
In the Land of Women
as Sarah Hardwicke 2007
I.Q.
as Catherine Boyd 1994
In the Cut
as Frannie Avery 2003
Addicted to Love
as Maggie 1997