Meg Ryan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Meg Ryan
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Ryan at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
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Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra
November 19, 1961 Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1981–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2, including Jack Quaid |
| Relatives | Andrew Hyra (brother) |
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Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra (born November 19, 1961), known professionally as Meg Ryan, is an American actress. She is famous for her roles in romantic comedies, especially during the 1980s and 1990s. A romantic comedy is a funny movie centered around a love story.
Because of her charming and friendly personality in these movies, the media called her "America's Sweetheart." She became one of the most popular and successful actresses in Hollywood.
Ryan started her acting career in 1981 with the movie Rich and Famous. The next year, she joined the TV show As the World Turns. She became a big star after acting in movies like Top Gun (1986) and the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989). Her role in When Harry Met Sally... earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Throughout the 1990s, Ryan starred in many hit films. These include Sleepless in Seattle (1993), French Kiss (1995), and You've Got Mail (1998). She also voiced the main character in the animated movie Anastasia (1997). In 2015, she directed her first movie, Ithaca. After a break from acting, she returned in the 2023 romantic comedy What Happens Later, which she also directed.
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Early Life and Education
Meg Ryan was born in Fairfield, Connecticut. Her mother, Susan Jordan, was a former actress and English teacher, and her father, Harry Hyra, was a math teacher. She has two sisters and a brother, musician Andrew Hyra. Her parents divorced when she was 15 years old.
Ryan went to Bethel High School and graduated in 1979. She then studied journalism in college, first at the University of Connecticut and later at New York University. To make money while in school, she acted in TV commercials and on the soap opera As the World Turns.
Her acting career became so successful that she left college one semester before graduating. When she joined the Screen Actors Guild, an organization for actors, she chose the stage name "Ryan," which was her grandmother's maiden name.
Acting Career
First Roles
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Ryan's first movie was Rich and Famous in 1981. From 1982 to 1984, she played Betsy Stewart on the TV show As the World Turns. Her character was part of a very popular love story on the show.
She also appeared in commercials for companies like Burger King. She had small roles in other movies and TV shows before getting a key part in the 1986 movie Top Gun. In Top Gun, she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife of the pilot Nick "Goose" Bradshaw.
Becoming a Star in the 1990s
Ryan's first leading role was in the 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.... She starred with actor Billy Crystal. The movie was a huge hit and made her a famous star. One of the most memorable parts of the movie is a funny scene in a New York deli.
In the 1990s, Ryan starred in many successful films. She acted with Tom Hanks in three popular movies: Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You've Got Mail (1998). Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail were major box-office hits.
She also showed her acting range in other types of movies. In When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), she played a more serious role that critics praised. In 1996, she starred in the war drama Courage Under Fire. The next year, she was the voice of the main character in the animated musical Anastasia.
Later Career and Directing
In the 2000s, Ryan continued to act in movies. She starred with Hugh Jackman in the romantic comedy Kate & Leopold (2001). In this film, a man from the 1800s travels through time to modern-day New York.
After taking a break, Ryan appeared in several independent films. These are movies made outside of the big Hollywood studios. In 2008, she starred in The Women with an all-female cast that included Annette Bening and Jada Pinkett Smith.
In 2015, Ryan directed her first movie, Ithaca, which was based on a classic novel. She also acted in the film. After an eight-year break from acting, she returned to the screen in 2023. She directed and starred in the romantic comedy What Happens Later with David Duchovny. In May 2025, it was announced that she was cast in the upcoming romantic comedy Good ....
Personal Life
Ryan married actor Dennis Quaid in 1991. They have a son, Jack Quaid, who is also an actor. Ryan and Quaid separated in 2000 and their divorce was finalized in 2001.
In 2006, Ryan adopted a daughter from China named Daisy True. From 2010 to 2014, and again from 2017 to 2019, she was in a relationship with singer-songwriter John Mellencamp. They were engaged in 2018 but later ended their engagement.
Political Views
Ryan has supported the Democratic Party in the United States. She is especially interested in programs that protect the environment. In 2003, she supported Wesley Clark for president. The next year, she supported John Kerry's presidential campaign.
Filmography
Awards and Nominations
Meg Ryan has been nominated for many awards during her career. This includes three Golden Globe Awards nominations for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. These nominations were for her roles in When Harry Met Sally... (1989), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You've Got Mail (1998).
Images for kids
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Ryan at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
See also
In Spanish: Meg Ryan para niños
