About
Meg Ryan
Overview
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.
Known for
Acting |
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2024 | Making angels | Actor | Herself | 59 Average |
2023 | What Happens Later | Actor | Willa | 58 Average |
2021 | Parkinson at 50 | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
2016 | There's Something About Romcoms | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
2015 | Fan Girl | Actor | Mary Farrow | 58 Average |
2015 | Ithaca | Actor | Mrs. Macauley | 58 Average |
2015 | Everything Is Copy | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2012 | Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2009 | Serious Moonlight | Actor | Louise | 56 Average |
2008 | The Deal | Actor | Deidre Hearn | 58 Average |
2008 | The Women | Actor | Mary Haines | 55 Average |
2008 | My Mom's New Boyfriend | Actor | Marthy Durand | 57 Average |
2007 | In the Land of Women | Actor | Sarah Hardwicke | 58 Average |
2004 | Against the Ropes | Actor | Jackie Kallen | 57 Average |
2003 | In the Cut | Actor | Frannie Avery | 55 Average |
2002 | Searching for Debra Winger | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2001 | Kate & Leopold | Actor | Kate McKay | 61 Fair |
2001 | The Concert for New York City | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
2001 | How Harry Met Sally… | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
2000 | Proof of Life | Actor | Alice Bowman | 60 Fair |
2000 | Hanging Up | Actor | Eve Mozell Marks | 57 Average |
1998 | Hurlyburly | Actor | Bonnie | 58 Average |
1998 | You've Got Mail | Actor | Kathleen Kelly | 65 Fair |
1998 | City of Angels | Actor | Maggie Rice | 66 Fair |
1997 | Anastasia | Actor | Anastasia (voice) | 74 Good |
1997 | Addicted to Love | Actor | Maggie | 59 Average |
1996 | Courage Under Fire | Actor | Captain Karen Emma Walden | 62 Fair |
1995 | Restoration | Actor | Katharine | 59 Average |
1995 | French Kiss | Actor | Kate | 62 Fair |
1994 | I.Q. | Actor | Catherine Boyd | 59 Average |
1994 | When a Man Loves a Woman | Actor | Alice Green | 61 Fair |
1993 | Flesh and Bone | Actor | Kay Davies | 59 Average |
1993 | Sleepless in Seattle | Actor | Annie Reed | 65 Fair |
1992 | Prelude to a Kiss | Actor | Rita Boyle | 58 Average |
1991 | The Doors | Actor | Pamela Courson | 67 Fair |
1990 | Rabbit Ears - Little Red Riding Hood/Goldilocks | Actor | Narrator (voice) | N/A N/A |
1990 | Joe Versus the Volcano | Actor | DeDe / Angelica / Patricia Graynamore | 57 Average |
1989 | When Harry Met Sally... | Actor | Sally Albright | 72 Good |
1988 | The Presidio | Actor | Donna Caldwell | 58 Average |
1988 | D.O.A. | Actor | Sydney Fuller | 60 Fair |
1988 | Promised Land | Actor | Bev Sykes | 58 Average |
1987 | Innerspace | Actor | Lydia Maxwell | 65 Fair |
1986 | Armed and Dangerous | Actor | Maggie Cavanaugh | 58 Average |
1986 | Top Gun | Actor | Carole | 70 Good |
1985 | Wildside | Actor | Cally Oaks | 69 Fair |
1983 | Amityville 3-D | Actor | Lisa | 55 Average |
1982 | Amy and the Angel | Actor | Denise | 59 Average |
1982 | One of the Boys | Actor | Jane | 69 Fair |
1981 | Rich and Famous | Actor | Debby Blake, 18 Years | 58 Average |
How I Met Your Dad | Actor | Future Sally Javits | 69 Fair |
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Directing |
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2023 | What Happens Later | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
2015 | Ithaca | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
Writing |
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2023 | What Happens Later | Writing | Writer | 58 Average |
Production |
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2023 | What Happens Later | Production | Executive Producer | 58 Average |
2002 | Desert Saints | Production | Producer | 58 Average |
2001 | The Wedding Planner | Production | Executive Producer | 59 Average |
2000 | Lost Souls | Production | Producer | 56 Average |
1998 | Northern Lights | Production | Executive Producer | 58 Average |
1995 | French Kiss | Production | Producer | 62 Fair |
Crew |
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2008 | My Best Friend's Girl | Crew | Thanks | 57 Average |