Meg Ryan Biography
Summary
"Meg Ryan" (born November 19, 1961) is an American actress who specializes in romantic comedies but has also worked in other film genres.
Biography
Early life
Ryan was born "Margaret Mary Emily Hyra" in Fairfield, Connecticut, daughter of Susan Jordan (née Ryan), a former teacher of English, actress, and casting director, and Harry Hyra, a math teacher. She went by the name Peggy (also her grandmother's nickname) as a child. She has two sisters, Dana and Annie, and a brother, Andrew. Ryan was raised in the Catholic religion and graduated from Saint Pius X Elementary School in Fairfield, where her mother taught the sixth grade. There, Ryan was confirmed into the Catholic Church, choosing Anne as her confirmation name. Ryan's mother had appeared in one television commercial and later worked briefly as an assistant casting director in New York City. She supported and encouraged her young daughter's study of acting. At age 18, through her mother's connections, she booked her first television commercial, doing chin-ups and giggling to promote 'Tickle' deodorant.
She graduated from Bethel High School in 1979, where she was elected Homecoming Queen. She went on to study journalism at the University of Connecticut and then at New York University, while acting in television commercials to earn extra money. Her success led her to drop out of college only a semester shy of graduating.
Soap opera career & early film work: 1982-1988
After her first role in a feature film, "Rich and Famousz" (1981), Ryan (then using her screen name) played Betsy Stewart in the daytime drama "As the World Turns" from 1982 to 1984. Several TV film and smaller movie roles followed. Ryan's first film role was a small role in "Amityville 3-D", She appealed to much larger audiences in the 1986 blockbuster "Top Gun". Ryan then appeared in the indie film "The Promise Land", where she received her first Independent Spirit Award Nominaton. Ryan then appeared in two romantic movies "D.O.A." and "The Presidio".
Film success 1989-1999
Her first full-blown hit in a leading role was the romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally..." (1989) which paired her with comedic leading man Billy Crystal. Her portrayal of Sally Albright, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination, is memorable for her depiction of a theatrical faked orgasm in a Manhattan delicatessen (shot at the legendary Katz's on E. Houston Street.) The film would be the first of three successful Nora Ephron films in which Ryan would be typecast as a bubbly, feisty, incurable romantic. Ryan then starred in "The Doors", and "Prelude to a Kiss". Both films were moderately successful.She had much success with her on-screen pairing with Tom Hanks. They starred in three films together: "Joe Versus the Volcano", "Sleepless In Seattle" and "You've Got Mail". She made several attempts to break away from the romantic comedy ingenue stereotype, and garnered critical acclaim for her work in "When a Man Loves a Woman" in which she played an alcoholic and "Courage Under Fire", portraying a captain in the Gulf War. Many of her films of the 1990s were hits not only in North America, but also abroad. In 1994, Ryan won the Harvard Hasty Pudding Award as 'Woman of the Year'. That same year, People Magazine dubbed her one of 'The 50 most beautiful people in the world'. In 1997 Ryan steped in the animated film "Anastasia" which garnered good reviews, and box office. In 1998 Ryan released two films, one of them being "City of Angels", which drew negative reviews, but it became a huge financial success, topping nearly 200 million worldwide, her final film was "You've Got Mail" which garnered her third and final "Golden Globe" nomination, it also made over 250 million worldwide, becoming her last box office smash.
Personal and professional setbacks 2000-2003
In 2000 Ryan starred in the action thriller "Proof of Life" opposite "Russell Crowe". The two actors carried on a clandestine love affair during filming. The media then pounced on the story, and critics and audiences scorned the movie. That same year Ryan returned to her Romantic comedy roots in the film "Kate & Leopold". The film was well-received by critics, but failed to find an audience. In 2003, she consciously broke away from her usual roles. Ryan had generally refused to do nude scenes during her career, but at the age of 42 starred in Jane Campion's "In the Cut", an erotic crime thriller in which Ryan appeared in love scenes featuring full-frontal nudity. That decision got Ryan much attention, but movie still proved to be a failure with both critics and audiences.
Hiatus and Activism 2005-2006
Ryan talked with Oprah Winfrey (March 1, 2006, "The Oprah Winfrey Show") about her work with CARE in India and empowering women in poor countries.
In January 2006, Ryan adopted a daughter, one-year-old Daisy True, from China.
Comeback attempts 2007 - present
Ryan's most recent project, George Gallo's "My Mom's New Boyfriend", was shot in the fall of 2006 in Shreveport, Louisiana and is due to be released in 2008. The romantic comedy stars Ryan opposite Antonio Banderas. Ryan is joined by former co-star Tom Hanks's son, Colin, who plays her son in the film. In 2007 she played the role of Sarah, in "In The Land of Women", co-staring Adam Brody. Meg won over critics from both the industry and the public.
Ryan's next project is a remake of the 1939 classic film "The Women", which is slated to begin filming in New York City in August 2007. The $18 million remake of the George Cukor classic is being directed by "Murphy Brown" creator Diane English and produced by Mick Jagger. It's slated for release in 2008. Ryan will play the central character, Mary Haines, a wealthy woman who is one of the last to find out that her husband is cheating on her with a shop girl. The leading role was originally made famous by actress Norma Shearer. Annette Bening, Eva Mendes and Candice Bergen are also slated to star in the remake.
Personal life
Ryan married actor Dennis Quaid on Valentine's Day in 1991, after starring in two films with him. It was during Ryan's engagement to Quaid that she had a falling out with her mother over his alleged drug abuse. Ryan agreed to marry him only after he kicked his drug and alcohol addiction. Quaid and Ryan have one child together, Jack Henry, born April 24, 1992. The couple divorced on July 16, 2001. Although Ryan had a relationship with actor Russell Crowe, with whom she made a movie, both she and Quaid deny it was a factor in their divorce. In a 2006 interview with "Allure", Ryan indicated that Quaid had not been faithful to her during their marriage.
Ryan tends to support the U.S. Democratic Party, especially its environment protection programs and initiatives. In 2003, she supported General Wesley Clark's campaign for U.S. president. She supported John Kerry during the 2004 presidential elections.
Filmography
"Rich and Famous" (1981)
"Amityville 3-D" (1983)
"Top Gun" (1986)
"Armed and Dangerous" (1986)
"Promised Land" (1987)
"Innerspace" (1987)
"D.O.A." (1988)
"The Presidio" (1988)
"When Harry Met Sally..." (1989)
"Joe Versus the Volcano" (1990)
"The Doors" (1991)
"Prelude to a Kiss" (1992)
"Sleepless in Seattle" (1993)
"Flesh and Bone" (1993)
"A Century of Cinema" (1994) (documentary)
"When a Man Loves a Woman" (1994)
"I.Q." (1994)
"French Kiss" (1995)
"Restoration" (1995)
"Courage Under Fire" (1996)
"Addicted to Love" (1997)
"Anastasia" (1997) (voice)
"City of Angels" (1998)
"Hurlyburly" (1998)
"You've Got Mail" (1998)
"Hanging Up" (2000)
"Proof of Life" (2000)
"Kate & Leopold" (2001)
"Searching for Debra Winger" (2002) (documentary)
"In the Cut" (2003)
"Against the Ropes" (2004)
"In the Land of Women" (2007)
"My Mom's New Boyfriend" (2007)
Upcoming:
"The Deal" (2008)
"The Women" (2008)
Television work
"One of the Boys" (1982) (canceled after 13 episodes)
"As the World Turns" (cast member from 1982-1984)
"Charles in Charge" (recurring role as Meagan Parker 1984 and 1985)
"Wildside" (1985) (canceled after 6 episodes)
"Captain Planet and the Planeteers" (cast member from 1990-1991) (voice)
"The Simpsons" (Voice of Stacy Swanson)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Meg Ryan.
