Meg Ryan
Encyclopedia
Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra (born November 19, 1961), professionally known as Meg Ryan, is an American actress and producer. Raised in Bethel, Connecticut
, Ryan began her acting career in 1981 in minor roles, before joining the cast of the CBS
soap opera As the World Turns
in 1982. Subsequently, she began to appear in supporting roles in big screen films during the mid-1980s, achieving recognition in several 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.
In the 1990s, Ryan starred in a string of popular romantic dramas and comedy films, including Sleepless in Seattle
(1993), French Kiss (1995), Addicted to Love
(1997), City of Angels (1998), and You've Got Mail
(1998), grossing a total of over $870 million worldwide. At that time, TIME critic Richard Corliss
called her "the current soul of romantic comedy." In addition to these romantic comedy roles, she garnered critical acclaim for her work in When a Man Loves a Woman
(1994), in which she played an alcoholic
, and in Courage Under Fire
(1996), portraying a captain in the Gulf War
.
, Connecticut
, the daughter of Susan Jordan (nee Duggan) – a former actress and English teacher – and Harry Hyra, a math teacher. Both Susan and Harry were raised in Fairfield, Connecticut. Harry was an all state basketball player. 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. Ryan has two sisters, Dana and Annie, and a brother, musician Andrew Hyra, of the band Billy Pilgrim. Her parents divorced in 1976, when she was 15 years old.
Ryan was raised a Roman Catholic and graduated from Saint Pius X Elementary School, in Fairfield, where her mother taught sixth grade. There, Ryan was confirmed into the Catholic Church, choosing the name "Anne" as her confirmation name. Ryan graduated from Bethel High School
in 1979. 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 as an actress led her to drop out of college a semester before graduating.
in the daytime drama
As the World Turns
, from 1982 to 1984; she was featured in a popular romantic story arc
. Several television film and smaller film roles followed, including Amityville 3-D
and Promised Land
; for her role in the latter she received her first Independent Spirit Award nomination. In 1986, she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Naval Flight Officer
Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards
) in Top Gun
. Ryan starred in the film Innerspace
alongside her future husband Dennis Quaid
, then in the remake of D.O.A.
, and The Presidio.
(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 theatrically faked orgasm
in Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan
.
Ryan then starred in The Doors
and in Prelude to a Kiss. Both films were moderately successful. 1993 saw the release of the hugely successful romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle
, which paired Ryan with leading man Tom Hanks
for the second of three times. (The first was in Joe Versus the Volcano
, which earned a cult following
but was a commercial disappointment).
stereotype. In Luis Mandoki
's When a Man Loves a Woman
(1994), a romantic social drama film, also starring Andy Garcia
, she played an alcoholic
high school guidance counselor. Well-received by critics, who noted it "a first-class production, accentuated by fine performances and an unflinching script," Ryan was applauded for the performance of her "roller-coaster role." While the film became a notable success during its domestic run, grossing US50 million in the United States alone, the actress received her first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination the following year. The same year, Ryan starred alongside Tim Robbins
in Fred Schepisi's highly fictionalized comedy I.Q.
(1994). The film centres on a mechanic and a Princeton
doctoral candidate who fall in love, thanks to the candidate's uncle, Albert Einstein
, played by Walter Matthau
.
Many of her films of the 1990s were hits not only in North America, but also abroad. In 1994, Ryan won Harvard's Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year
. That same year, People Magazine dubbed her one of "the 50 most beautiful people in the world." In 1995, critic Richard Corliss
called her "the current soul of romantic comedy." That same year, she appeared opposite Kevin Kline
in Lawrence Kasdan
's French Kiss, a romantic comedy that catered to her America's Sweetheart persona. The film grossed slightly over $100 million. Also in 1995, Ryan was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.
In 1997, Ryan voiced the lead role in the animated film Anastasia
, which garnered good reviews and enjoyed box office success. In 1998, Ryan starred in two films. City of Angels drew positive reviews and became a financial success, topping nearly $200 million worldwide. You've Got Mail
once again paired Ryan with Hanks, earning her a third Golden Globe nomination and making over $250 million worldwide. She also appeared in 1998's Hurlyburly
with Sean Penn
.
, a Diane Keaton
-directed family dramedy about a trio of sisters who bond over their ambivalence toward the approaching death of their distant, curmudgeonly father. Also starring Keaton, Lisa Kudrow
, and Walter Matthau
, the film adaptation of Delia Ephron
's 1995 novel received poor reviews by critics, and grossed slightly over US$51 million, falling US$9 million short of recouping its budget of $60 million.
The same year, Ryan was cast in the action thriller Proof of Life
opposite Russell Crowe
, directed by Taylor Hackford
. In the film, she portrayed the distraught wife of a kidnapped engineer, played by David Morse
, while relying on a resourceful troubleshooter who makes a profession of dealing with international bandits. While the film became a lukewarm critical and commercial success, grossing US$63 million worldwide, it garnered much reportage in the tabloid
press in association with Ryan and Crowe's affair. Stephen Holden, film critic for The New York Times
, did not think the film worked well and opined that the actors did not connect.
A year later, she once again returned to her romantic comedy roots with Kate & Leopold
(2001), alongside Hugh Jackman
. A film about a duke
who travels through time
from New York in 1876 to the present and falls in love with a successful market researcher in the modern New York, the James Mangold
-directed project received a mixed-to-positive response, with Lael Loewenstein of Variety
summing it as "a mostly charming and diverting tale." At a total gross of US$70 million, it would eventually remain Ryan's highest-grossing film of the decade.
In 2003, Ryan broke away from her usual roles, starring alongside Mark Ruffalo
and Jennifer Jason Leigh
in Jane Campion
's erotic thriller
film In the Cut
. Originally, co-producer Nicole Kidman
was cast in the lead, but the actress eventually dropped out of the project after five years of development, leaving the role to Ryan instead, who appeared nude in a lengthy and rather graphic love scene for the first time in her career. Although her image-conflicting depiction earned Ryan and the film much media attention, the film failed with critics and grossed only US$23 million in theaters.
Ryan followed this strategy with a leading role in Charles S. Dutton
's directorial debut Against the Ropes
(2004). A fictionalized sport drama about American boxing manager Jackie Kallen
, who was the first woman to become a success in the sport, and her rocky relationship with protege Luther Shaw
. The film grossed less than US$6 million in the U.S. and was panned by critics, in part because of its resemblance to other boxing films, such as the Rocky
series.
's 2007 independent project In the Land of Women
, a film she described as "kind of like The Graduate
, but with cancer." Starring alongside Kristen Stewart
and Olympia Dukakis
, she played Sarah Hardwicke, a mother and wife facing breast cancer, who connects with her neighbour's much younger grandson, played by Adam Brody
. Released to mixed reviews by critics, the film grossed US$17.5 million worldwide, exceeding its budget of US$10 million. Ryan received a positive response for her performance, with Kenneth Turan
of the Los Angeles Times
noting it "the best work [she] has done in forever."
Ryan's first film release of 2008 was The Deal
, a satirical
comedy film
based on Peter Lefcourt
's 1991 novel of the same title about Hollywood. Directed by Steven Schachter
and co-starring William H. Macy
, the film was shot in Cape Town
and other South African locations and celebrated its world premiere at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival
. Garnering generally mixed to negative reviews, it failed to draw interest among film studios, resulting in a straight-to-DVD release in January 2009. In his review for Variety
, Peter Debruge said, "The characters seem to be doing all the laughing, while the general public has nothing to cling to but the horndog flirtation between mismatched leads William H. Macy and Meg Ryan—hardly ideal ingredients for mainstream success." Already shot in fall of 2006, Ryan's other film project, George Gallo
's film My Mom's New Boyfriend
, also went direct-to-DVD in 2008. Co-starring Colin Hanks
, Selma Blair
, and Antonio Banderas
, the action comedy received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with David Nusair of Reel Film noting it "an unmitigated disaster virtually from its opening frames."
Ryan's last project of 2008 was The Women
, a remake of the same-titled 1939 production
. The all-female cast comprises Annette Bening
, Debra Messing
and Jada Pinkett Smith
. Written, produced and directed by Diane English
, the film centers on a group of four female Manhattan
socialites whose primary interest is idle gossip
, with Ryan portraying a wealthy woman whose husband is cheating on her with a shop girl, played by Eva Mendes
. Ryan was the first actress to join the long-delayed project, which struggled to find a bankroller since the early 1990s, resulting in an independent production budgeted at US$18 million. Upon its release, The Women received a disastrous response from critics, with Richard Schickel
of TIME calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen." The film was a financial success, however, becoming Ryan's most successful film since 2001's Kate & Leopold with a worldwide gross of US$50 million.
In 2009, Ryan starred alongside Kristen Bell
and Justin Long
in the independent comedy film Serious Moonlight
. In this film, directed by actress Cheryl Hines
and based on a screenplay by late writer Adrienne Shelly
, who was murdered a year prior to filming, Ryan portrayed a high-powered female attorney who learns that her husband, played by Timothy Hutton
, is about to leave their troubled marriage, and decides to hold him captive by duct-taping him to a toilet. Picked up by Magnolia Pictures
, the production received a limited release throughout North America only, and grossed less than US$150,000 worldwide. Critical reaction to the project was generally mixed-to-negative, although Ryan was praised for her "terrific" performance. Also in 2009, Ryan guest-starred on the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm
.
In October 2010 she was cast in the ensemble drama Lives of The Saints alongside Kat Dennings
, Kevin Zegers
and John Lithgow
. The drama, similar in style to Crash
, interweaves the lives of a group of Los Angeles residents who are all struggling with past mistakes. In April 2011, it was revealed that Meg Ryan would make her feature film directing debut with a film titled Into the Beautiful. In May 2011 she was cast in Long Time Gone, a film adaptation of the April Stevens novel Angel Angel
, with filming projected to begin this fall.
on Valentine's Day 1991, after starring in two films with him (D.O.A.
and Innerspace
). She agreed to marry him only after he kicked his cocaine
addiction
. Quaid and Ryan have one child together, Jack Henry, born on April 24, 1992. In 2000, she became involved with Russell Crowe
on the set of Proof of Life
. She and Quaid separated and later their divorce became final on July 16, 2001. In September 2008, Ryan revealed Quaid had been unfaithful to her for a long time while they were married.
In January 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old girl from China named Daisy True.
She is currently romantically linked to American rock singer-songwriter, John Mellencamp
, who announced on December 30, 2010 that he and his wife, Elaine
, were divorcing after 18 years of marriage.
, especially its environmental protection programs and initiatives. In 2003, she supported Wesley Clark
's campaign for U.S. president. She supported John Kerry
during the 2004 presidential elections
.
Bethel, Connecticut
Bethel is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, about sixty miles from New York City. Its population was 18,584 at the 2010 census. The town center is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
, Ryan began her acting career in 1981 in minor roles, before joining the cast of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
soap opera As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
in 1982. Subsequently, she began to appear in supporting roles in big screen films during the mid-1980s, achieving recognition in several independent films such as Promised Land
Promised Land (1987 film)
Promised Land is a 1987 drama film written and directed by Michael Hoffman, and it stars Kiefer Sutherland and Meg Ryan. It is set in Utah and is apparently based on a true story...
(1987), before her performance in the Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Robert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s...
-directed romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally...
When Harry Met Sally...
When Harry Met Sally... is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years or...
(1989) brought her widespread attention and her first Golden Globe nomination.
In the 1990s, Ryan starred in a string of popular romantic dramas and comedy films, including Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepless in Seattle
The film was originally to have been scored by John Barry, but when he was given a list of 20 songs he had to put in the film, he quit.#As Time Goes By - Jimmy Durante #A Kiss to Build a Dream on - Louis Armstrong #Stardust - Nat King Cole...
(1993), French Kiss (1995), Addicted to Love
Addicted to Love (film)
Addicted to Love is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by Griffin Dunne, starring Meg Ryan, Matthew Broderick, Tchéky Karyo, and Kelly Preston...
(1997), City of Angels (1998), and You've Got Mail
You've Got Mail
You've Got Mail is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Nora Ephron, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It was written by Nora and Delia Ephron based on the play Parfumerie by Miklós László. The film is about two letter-writing lovers who are completely unaware that their sweetheart is in...
(1998), grossing a total of over $870 million worldwide. At that time, TIME critic Richard Corliss
Richard Corliss
Richard Nelson Corliss is a writer for Time magazine who focuses on movies, with the occasional article on music or sports. Corliss is the former editor-in-chief of Film Comment...
called her "the current soul of romantic comedy." In addition to these romantic comedy roles, she garnered critical acclaim for her work in When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman (film)
When a Man Loves a Woman is a 1994 American romantic drama film written by Al Franken and Ronald Bass, starring Andy García, Meg Ryan, Tina Majorino, Mae Whitman, Ellen Burstyn, Lauren Tom and Philip Seymour Hoffman....
(1994), in which she played an alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, and in Courage Under Fire
Courage Under Fire
Courage Under Fire is a 1996 film directed by Edward Zwick, and starring Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips and Matt Damon. It is one of the first films to depict the 1991 Gulf War.-Plot:...
(1996), portraying a captain in the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
Early life
Ryan (nee Hyra) was born in BethelBethel, Connecticut
Bethel is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, about sixty miles from New York City. Its population was 18,584 at the 2010 census. The town center is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, the daughter of Susan Jordan (nee Duggan) – a former actress and English teacher – and Harry Hyra, a math teacher. Both Susan and Harry were raised in Fairfield, Connecticut. Harry was an all state basketball player. 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. Ryan has two sisters, Dana and Annie, and a brother, musician Andrew Hyra, of the band Billy Pilgrim. Her parents divorced in 1976, when she was 15 years old.
Ryan was raised a Roman Catholic and graduated from Saint Pius X Elementary School, in Fairfield, where her mother taught sixth grade. There, Ryan was confirmed into the Catholic Church, choosing the name "Anne" as her confirmation name. Ryan graduated from Bethel High School
Bethel High School (Connecticut)
Bethel High School is a public secondary school located in the town of Bethel, Fairfield County, Connecticut, approximately 60 miles north of New York City. The school serves the town of Bethel.- History :...
in 1979. She went on to study journalism at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
and then at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, while acting in television commercials to earn extra money. Her success as an actress led her to drop out of college a semester before graduating.
Early career
After a role in Rich and Famous, Ryan played Betsy StewartBetsy Stewart
Elizabeth "Betsy" Stewart was a fictional character on the American soap opera As the World Turns. Betsy was played most notably by Meg Ryan and Lindsay Frost...
in the daytime drama
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
, from 1982 to 1984; she was featured in a popular romantic story arc
Steve Andropoulos and Betsy Stewart
Stavares "Steve" Andropoulos and Elizabeth "Betsy" Stewart Andropoulos are fictional characters and a supercouple from the American soap opera As the World Turns. Steve was portrayed by actor Frank Runyeon and Betsy was portrayed by both actress Meg Ryan and actress Lindsay Frost...
. Several television film and smaller film roles followed, including Amityville 3-D
Amityville 3-D
Amityville 3-D is a 1983 horror film and the third installment in the The Amityville Horror series. It was one of a spate of 3-D films released in the early 80s. The film was directed by Richard Fleischer and the script was written by David Ambrose...
and Promised Land
Promised Land (1987 film)
Promised Land is a 1987 drama film written and directed by Michael Hoffman, and it stars Kiefer Sutherland and Meg Ryan. It is set in Utah and is apparently based on a true story...
; for her role in the latter she received her first Independent Spirit Award nomination. In 1986, she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Naval Flight Officer
Naval Flight Officer
A Naval Flight Officer is an aeronautically designated commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps that specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots per se, but they may perform many "co-pilot" functions, depending on the type of aircraft...
Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:Edwards was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Erika...
) in Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
. Ryan starred in the film Innerspace
Innerspace
Innerspace is a 1987 science fiction comedy film directed by Joe Dante and produced by Michael Finnell. Steven Spielberg served as executive producer. The film was inspired by the classic 1966 science fiction film Fantastic Voyage. It stars Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Robert Picardo and...
alongside her future husband Dennis Quaid
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor known for his comedic and dramatic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, his career rebounded in the 1990s after he overcame an addiction to drugs and an eating disorder...
, then in the remake of D.O.A.
D.O.A. (1988 film)
D.O.A. is a 1988 very loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name, sharing the same premise but otherwise having a different story and characters....
, and The Presidio.
Commercial breakthrough
Her first full-blown hit in a leading role was the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally...When Harry Met Sally...
When Harry Met Sally... is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years or...
(1989), which paired her with comedic leading man Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
. Her portrayal of Sally Albright, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination, is memorable for her depiction of a theatrically faked orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
in Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Ryan then starred in The Doors
The Doors (film)
The Doors is a 1991 biopic about the 1960s-1970s rock band of the same name which emphasizes the life of its lead singer, Jim Morrison. It was directed by Oliver Stone, and stars Val Kilmer as Morrison, Meg Ryan as Pamela Courson , Kyle MacLachlan as Ray Manzarek, Frank Whaley as Robby Krieger,...
and in Prelude to a Kiss. Both films were moderately successful. 1993 saw the release of the hugely successful romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepless in Seattle
The film was originally to have been scored by John Barry, but when he was given a list of 20 songs he had to put in the film, he quit.#As Time Goes By - Jimmy Durante #A Kiss to Build a Dream on - Louis Armstrong #Stardust - Nat King Cole...
, which paired Ryan with leading man Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
for the second of three times. (The first was in Joe Versus the Volcano
Joe Versus the Volcano
Joe Versus the Volcano is a 1990 comedy film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley and starring Tom Hanks and—in three roles—Meg Ryan. The film is writer Shanley's directorial debut and the first of three films pairing Hanks and Ryan....
, which earned a cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
but was a commercial disappointment).
1994–1999
Beginning with 1994, Ryan made several attempts to break away from the romantic comedy ingenueIngenue (stock character)
See also Disingenuous, which is not quite the antonym that it may seem!The ingénue is a stock character in literature, film, and a role type in the theatre; generally a girl or a young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome. Ingenue may also refer to a new young actress or one typecast in...
stereotype. In Luis Mandoki
Luis Mandoki
Luis Mandoki is a Mexican film director working in Mexico and Hollywood.Luis Mandoki studied Fine Arts in Mexico and at the San Francisco Art Institute, the London College of Printing, and the London International Film School...
's When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman (film)
When a Man Loves a Woman is a 1994 American romantic drama film written by Al Franken and Ronald Bass, starring Andy García, Meg Ryan, Tina Majorino, Mae Whitman, Ellen Burstyn, Lauren Tom and Philip Seymour Hoffman....
(1994), a romantic social drama film, also starring Andy Garcia
Andy García
Andrés Arturo García Menéndez , professionally known as Andy García, is a Cuban American actor. He became known in the late 1980s and 1990s, having appeared in several successful Hollywood films, including The Godfather: Part III, The Untouchables, Internal Affairs and When a Man Loves a Woman...
, she played an alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
high school guidance counselor. Well-received by critics, who noted it "a first-class production, accentuated by fine performances and an unflinching script," Ryan was applauded for the performance of her "roller-coaster role." While the film became a notable success during its domestic run, grossing US50 million in the United States alone, the actress received her first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination the following year. The same year, Ryan starred alongside Tim Robbins
Tim Robbins
Timothy Francis "Tim" Robbins is an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, activist and musician. He is the former longtime partner of actress Susan Sarandon...
in Fred Schepisi's highly fictionalized comedy I.Q.
I.Q. (film)
I.Q. is a 1994 American romantic comedy film directed by Fred Schepisi and starring Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, and Walter Matthau. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith...
(1994). The film centres on a mechanic and a Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
doctoral candidate who fall in love, thanks to the candidate's uncle, Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, played by Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
.
Many of her films of the 1990s were hits not only in North America, but also abroad. In 1994, Ryan won Harvard's Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year
Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year
The Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year award is bestowed annually by the Hasty Pudding Theatricals society at Harvard University. It has been awarded annually by the society members since 1951 to performers deemed to have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment."The...
. That same year, People Magazine dubbed her one of "the 50 most beautiful people in the world." In 1995, critic Richard Corliss
Richard Corliss
Richard Nelson Corliss is a writer for Time magazine who focuses on movies, with the occasional article on music or sports. Corliss is the former editor-in-chief of Film Comment...
called her "the current soul of romantic comedy." That same year, she appeared opposite Kevin Kline
Kevin Kline
Kevin Delaney Kline is an American theatre, voice, film actor and comedian. He has won an Academy Award and two Tony Awards, and has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards and an Emmy Award.- Early life :...
in Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Edward "Larry" Kasdan is an American film producer, director and screenwriter.-Life and career:Kasdan was born in Miami, Florida, the son of Sylvia Sarah , an employment counselor, and Clarence Norman Kasdan, who managed retail electronics stores.His Brother is the writer/producer Mark...
's French Kiss, a romantic comedy that catered to her America's Sweetheart persona. The film grossed slightly over $100 million. Also in 1995, Ryan was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.
In 1997, Ryan voiced the lead role in the animated film Anastasia
Anastasia (1997 film)
Anastasia is a 1997 American animated musical film produced and directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. It was the first feature film to be released by Fox Animation Studios....
, which garnered good reviews and enjoyed box office success. In 1998, Ryan starred in two films. City of Angels drew positive reviews and became a financial success, topping nearly $200 million worldwide. You've Got Mail
You've Got Mail
You've Got Mail is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Nora Ephron, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It was written by Nora and Delia Ephron based on the play Parfumerie by Miklós László. The film is about two letter-writing lovers who are completely unaware that their sweetheart is in...
once again paired Ryan with Hanks, earning her a third Golden Globe nomination and making over $250 million worldwide. She also appeared in 1998's Hurlyburly
Hurlyburly
Hurlyburly is a dark comedy play by David Rabe, first staged in 1984.-Plot:More than three hours long, Hurlyburly focuses on the intersecting lives of several low- to mid-level Hollywood players in the 1980s. Fueled by massive amounts of drugs, they attempt to find some meaning in their isolated,...
with Sean Penn
Sean Penn
Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, also known for his political and social activism...
.
2000–2006
Ryan's first film in the 2000s was Hanging UpHanging Up
Hanging Up is a 2000 American comedy-drama film about a trio of sisters who bond over their ambivalence toward the approaching death of their curmudgeonly father, to whom none of them were particularly close...
, a Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton is an American film actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. Keaton began her career on stage, and made her screen debut in 1970...
-directed family dramedy about a trio of sisters who bond over their ambivalence toward the approaching death of their distant, curmudgeonly father. Also starring Keaton, Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the television sitcom Friends, for which she received many accolades including an Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards...
, and Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
, the film adaptation of Delia Ephron
Delia Ephron
Delia G. Ephron is a screenwriter and producer. She is the sister of Nora Ephron and Amy Ephron and Hallie Ephron; their parents were screenwriters Henry and Phoebe Ephron. She has written several children's books. The girl with the mermaid hair, which deals with body images and what negative...
's 1995 novel received poor reviews by critics, and grossed slightly over US$51 million, falling US$9 million short of recouping its budget of $60 million.
The same year, Ryan was cast in the action thriller Proof of Life
Proof of Life
Proof of Life is a 2000 American film, directed by Taylor Hackford. The title refers to a phrase commonly used to indicate proof that a kidnap victim is still alive...
opposite Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
, directed by Taylor Hackford
Taylor Hackford
Taylor Edwin Hackford is an American film director, and the current president of the Directors Guild of America.-Early life:Hackford was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Mary , a waitress, and Joseph Hackford...
. In the film, she portrayed the distraught wife of a kidnapped engineer, played by David Morse
David Morse (actor)
David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
, while relying on a resourceful troubleshooter who makes a profession of dealing with international bandits. While the film became a lukewarm critical and commercial success, grossing US$63 million worldwide, it garnered much reportage in the tabloid
Tabloid journalism
Tabloid journalism tends to emphasize topics such as sensational crime stories, astrology, gossip columns about the personal lives of celebrities and sports stars, and junk food news...
press in association with Ryan and Crowe's affair. Stephen Holden, film critic for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, did not think the film worked well and opined that the actors did not connect.
A year later, she once again returned to her romantic comedy roots with Kate & Leopold
Kate & Leopold
Kate & Leopold is a 2001 romantic-comedy fantasy that tells a story of a duke who travels through time from New York in 1876 to the present and falls in love with a career woman in the modern New York...
(2001), alongside Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre, and television.Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters...
. A film about a duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
who travels through time
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
from New York in 1876 to the present and falls in love with a successful market researcher in the modern New York, the James Mangold
James Mangold
James Allen Mangold is an American film director and screenwriter. He is perhaps best known for Walk the Line which he co-wrote and directed.-Life and career:...
-directed project received a mixed-to-positive response, with Lael Loewenstein of Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
summing it as "a mostly charming and diverting tale." At a total gross of US$70 million, it would eventually remain Ryan's highest-grossing film of the decade.
In 2003, Ryan broke away from her usual roles, starring alongside Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Alan Ruffalo is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He starred in films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Zodiac, Shutter Island, Just Like Heaven, You Can Count on Me and The Kids Are All Right for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best...
and Jennifer Jason Leigh
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Jennifer Jason Leigh is an American film and stage actress, best known for her roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Single White Female, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Georgia and Short Cuts...
in Jane Campion
Jane Campion
Jane Campion is a filmmaker and screenwriter. She is one of the most internationally successful New Zealand directors, although most of her work has been made in or financed by other countries, principally Australia – where she now lives – and the United States...
's erotic thriller
Erotic thriller
The erotic thriller is a film and literary sub-genre which consists of a mixture between erotica and thriller. The genre increased in North American popularity from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, before declining in marketability.-1980s:...
film In the Cut
In the Cut
In the Cut is a 2003 American erotic thriller and mystery film, written and directed by Jane Campion and starring Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Campion's screenplay is an adaption of the novel of the same name by Susanna Moore...
. Originally, co-producer Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
was cast in the lead, but the actress eventually dropped out of the project after five years of development, leaving the role to Ryan instead, who appeared nude in a lengthy and rather graphic love scene for the first time in her career. Although her image-conflicting depiction earned Ryan and the film much media attention, the film failed with critics and grossed only US$23 million in theaters.
Ryan followed this strategy with a leading role in Charles S. Dutton
Charles S. Dutton
Charles Stanley Dutton is an American stage, film, and television actor and director. He is perhaps best known for his roles as "Fortune" in the film Rudy and "Dillon" in Alien 3...
's directorial debut Against the Ropes
Against the Ropes
Against the Ropes is a 2004 drama movie. It stars Meg Ryan and Omar Epps and was directed by Charles S. Dutton, in his motion-picture directorial debut....
(2004). A fictionalized sport drama about American boxing manager Jackie Kallen
Jackie Kallen
Jackie Kallen is one of boxing's first and most successful female managers. Her life was the inspiration for the film Against the Ropes. She also worked as a consultant for Mark Burnett's reality tv series The Contender....
, who was the first woman to become a success in the sport, and her rocky relationship with protege Luther Shaw
James Toney
James Nathanial Toney is an American professional boxer who has held world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight divisions. Toney currently fights in the heavyweight division in boxing and also now competes in mixed martial arts.-Boxing career:Toney's amateur boxing...
. The film grossed less than US$6 million in the U.S. and was panned by critics, in part because of its resemblance to other boxing films, such as the Rocky
Rocky
Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It tells the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
series.
2007–present
Following a three years hiatus, Ryan returned to film with Jon KasdanJon Kasdan
Jonathan "Jon" Kasdan is an American writer and director.Kasdan is the son of Meg , a writer, and film director Lawrence Kasdan. He is the brother of director and actor Jake Kasdan. His directorial debut, In the Land of Women, was released in the United States in 2007. Kasdan also wrote the film,...
's 2007 independent project In the Land of Women
In the Land of Women
In the Land of Women is a 2007 American drama film directed and written by Jon Kasdan. It was screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2006. The film premiered in the United States on April 20, 2007.-Plot:...
, a film she described as "kind of like The Graduate
The Graduate
The Graduate is a 1967 American comedy-drama motion picture directed by Mike Nichols. It is based on the 1963 novel The Graduate by Charles Webb, who wrote it shortly after graduating from Williams College. The screenplay was by Buck Henry, who makes a cameo appearance as a hotel clerk, and Calder...
, but with cancer." Starring alongside Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Jaymes Stewart is an American actress. She is best known for playing Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga. She has also starred in films including Panic Room , Zathura , In the Land of Women , The Messengers , Adventureland and The Runaways .- Early life :Stewart was born and raised in Los...
and Olympia Dukakis
Olympia Dukakis
Olympia Dukakis is an American actress. In 1987, she won an Academy Award, BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for her performance in Moonstruck...
, she played Sarah Hardwicke, a mother and wife facing breast cancer, who connects with her neighbour's much younger grandson, played by Adam Brody
Adam Brody
Adam Jared Brody is an American film and television actor and part time musician. He began his career in 1995, appearing on Gilmore Girls and other series, and subsequently came to fame for his role as Seth Cohen on The O.C. Brody later appeared in several film roles, including Mr. & Mrs...
. Released to mixed reviews by critics, the film grossed US$17.5 million worldwide, exceeding its budget of US$10 million. Ryan received a positive response for her performance, with Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan is an American film critic and Lecturer in the Master of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California.-Background:...
of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
noting it "the best work [she] has done in forever."
Ryan's first film release of 2008 was The Deal
The Deal (2008 film)
The Deal is a 2008 American satirical comedy film directed by Steven Schachter. The screenplay by Schachter and William H. Macy is based on the 1991 novel of the same title by Peter Lefcourt. Macy and Meg Ryan co-star....
, a satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
based on Peter Lefcourt
Peter Lefcourt
Peter Lefcourt is an American television producer, a film and television screenwriter, and a novelist.Lefcourt's early career involved writing teleplays for primetime series such as Cagney and Lacey, Scarecrow and Mrs. King , Eight is Enough, and Remington Steele, among others...
's 1991 novel of the same title about Hollywood. Directed by Steven Schachter
Steven Schachter
Steven Schachter is an American television, theatre, and film director and screenwriter.Much of Schachter's success stems from projects on which he has collaborated with William H. Macy...
and co-starring William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
, the film was shot in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and other South African locations and celebrated its world premiere at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival
2008 Sundance Film Festival
The 2008 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 17, 2008 to January 27 in Park City, Utah. It was the 24th iteration of the Sundance Film Festival. The opening night film was In Bruges and the closing night film was CSNY Déjà Vu.-Films:...
. Garnering generally mixed to negative reviews, it failed to draw interest among film studios, resulting in a straight-to-DVD release in January 2009. In his review for Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, Peter Debruge said, "The characters seem to be doing all the laughing, while the general public has nothing to cling to but the horndog flirtation between mismatched leads William H. Macy and Meg Ryan—hardly ideal ingredients for mainstream success." Already shot in fall of 2006, Ryan's other film project, George Gallo
George Gallo
George Gallo Jr is an American screenwriter, film director, producer, painter and musician.He is best known for writing Midnight Run and 29th Street, and is an accomplished painter in the style of the Pennsylvania Impressionists...
's film My Mom's New Boyfriend
My Mom's New Boyfriend
My Mom's New Boyfriend is a 2008 romantic comedy film starring Colin Hanks, Antonio Banderas, Selma Blair, and Meg Ryan. The film received a limited theatrical release worldwide however it was released straight-to-DVD in the United States on June 17, 2008...
, also went direct-to-DVD in 2008. Co-starring Colin Hanks
Colin Hanks
Colin Lewes Hanks is an American actor who is best known for his work as Shaun Brumder in the film Orange County and as Alex Whitman in Roswell. He also portrayed the role of Henry Jones in Band of Brothers and is currently on the sixth season of the Showtime crime drama Dexter...
, Selma Blair
Selma Blair
Selma Blair is an American actress who has worked in film, theatre and television. She has performed in feature films including Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, The Sweetest Thing, Hellboy, The Fog, Purple Violets and Hellboy II: The Golden Army...
, and Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer...
, the action comedy received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with David Nusair of Reel Film noting it "an unmitigated disaster virtually from its opening frames."
The Women (2008 film)
The Women is a 2008 American comedy film written, produced and directed by Diane English. The screenplay is an updated version of the George Cukor-directed 1939 film of the same name based on a 1936 play by Clare Boothe Luce....
, a remake of the same-titled 1939 production
The Women (1939 film)
The Women is a 1939 American comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor. The film is based on Clare Boothe Luce's play of the same name, and was adapted for the screen by Anita Loos and Jane Murfin, who had to make the film acceptable for the Production Code in order for it to be released.The film...
. The all-female cast comprises Annette Bening
Annette Bening
Annette Carol Bening is an American actress. Bening is a four-time Oscar nominee for her roles in The Grifters, American Beauty, Being Julia and The Kids Are All Right, winning Golden Globe Awards for the latter two films...
, Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Debra Lynn Messing is an American actress, voice artist, and comedienne. She is perhaps best known for her role as Grace Adler in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace and as Molly Kagan in the mini-series The Starter Wife....
and Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Koren Pinkett Smith is an American actress, producer, director, author, singer-songwriter, and businesswoman. She began her career in 1990, when she made a guest appearance in the short-lived sitcom True Colors. She starred in A Different World, produced by Bill Cosby, and she featured...
. Written, produced and directed by Diane English
Diane English
Diane English is an American film director, screenwriter and producer, known for creating the sitcom Murphy Brown. She also served as writer and executive producer of the sitcom My Sister Sam.-Life and career:...
, the film centers on a group of four female Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
socialites whose primary interest is idle gossip
Gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others, It is one of the oldest and most common means of sharing facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and variations into the information transmitted...
, with Ryan portraying a wealthy woman whose husband is cheating on her with a shop girl, played by Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes is an American actress.She began acting in the late 1990s, and after a series of minor roles and performances in several smaller films such as Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror and Urban Legends: Final Cut , she broke into the mainstream, appearing in leading roles in Hollywood...
. Ryan was the first actress to join the long-delayed project, which struggled to find a bankroller since the early 1990s, resulting in an independent production budgeted at US$18 million. Upon its release, The Women received a disastrous response from critics, with Richard Schickel
Richard Schickel
Richard Warren Schickel is an American author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. He is a film critic for Time magazine, having also written for Life magazine and the Los Angeles Times Book Review....
of TIME calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen." The film was a financial success, however, becoming Ryan's most successful film since 2001's Kate & Leopold with a worldwide gross of US$50 million.
In 2009, Ryan starred alongside Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell
Kristen Anne Bell is an American actress. Although her first film role was an uncredited appearance in Polish Wedding, Bell previously acted in stage and musical productions. In 2001, she made her Broadway debut as Becky Thatcher in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer...
and Justin Long
Justin Long
Justin Jacob Long is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the Hollywood films Galaxy Quest, Jeepers Creepers, Dodgeball, Live Free or Die Hard, He's Just Not That into You, Drag Me to Hell, and Youth in Revolt, and his personification of a Mac in Apple's "Get a...
in the independent comedy film Serious Moonlight
Serious Moonlight (2009 film)
Serious Moonlight is a 2009 black comedy film directed by Cheryl Hines. It stars Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Kristen Bell, and Justin Long. It was released by Magnolia Pictures on 4 December 2009.-Plot:...
. In this film, directed by actress Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Ruth Hines is an American actress and director, known for her role as Larry David's wife Cheryl on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. She currently appears on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory...
and based on a screenplay by late writer Adrienne Shelly
Adrienne Shelly
Adrienne Shelly , was an American actress, director and screenwriter. Making her name in independent films such as 1989's The Unbelievable Truth and 1990's Trust, Shelly transitioned to a writing and directing career in subsequent years...
, who was murdered a year prior to filming, Ryan portrayed a high-powered female attorney who learns that her husband, played by Timothy Hutton
Timothy Hutton
Timothy Tarquin Hutton is an American actor. He is the youngest actor to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which he won at the age of 20 for his performance as Conrad Jarrett in Ordinary People . He currently stars as Nathan "Nate" Ford on the TNT series Leverage.-Early life:Timothy...
, is about to leave their troubled marriage, and decides to hold him captive by duct-taping him to a toilet. Picked up by Magnolia Pictures
Magnolia Pictures
Magnolia Pictures is an American film distributor, and is a holding of 2929 Entertainment, owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban. Magnolia was formed in 2001 by Bill Banowsky and Eamonn Bowles, and specializes in both foreign and independent films....
, the production received a limited release throughout North America only, and grossed less than US$150,000 worldwide. Critical reaction to the project was generally mixed-to-negative, although Ryan was praised for her "terrific" performance. Also in 2009, Ryan guest-starred on the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
.
In October 2010 she was cast in the ensemble drama Lives of The Saints alongside Kat Dennings
Kat Dennings
Katherine Litwack , better known by the stage name Kat Dennings, is an American actress. Emerging with a role in an episode of the HBO dramedy series Sex and the City, Dennings has since appeared in the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Big Momma's House 2, Charlie Bartlett, Raise Your Voice, The House...
, Kevin Zegers
Kevin Zegers
Kevin Joseph Zegers is a Canadian actor and model. He is best known for his leading roles as Josh Framm in the Air Bud series, as well as playing Damien Dalgaard in the Gossip Girl series and the protagonist in Rock Mafia's The Big Bang...
and John Lithgow
John Lithgow
John Arthur Lithgow is an American actor, musician, and author. Presently, he is involved with a wide range of media projects, including stage, television, film, and radio...
. The drama, similar in style to Crash
Crash (2004 film)
Crash is a 2004 American drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Paul Haggis. The film is about racial and social tensions in Los Angeles, California. A self-described "passion piece" for Haggis, Crash was inspired by a real life incident in which his Porsche was carjacked outside a video...
, interweaves the lives of a group of Los Angeles residents who are all struggling with past mistakes. In April 2011, it was revealed that Meg Ryan would make her feature film directing debut with a film titled Into the Beautiful. In May 2011 she was cast in Long Time Gone, a film adaptation of the April Stevens novel Angel Angel
Angel Angel
Angel Angel is the 1995 debut novel by American writer April Stevens. The story, set in Connecticut, centers upon a dysfunctional suburban family whose malaise is challenged by the introduction of the older son's live-in girlfriend...
, with filming projected to begin this fall.
Personal life
Ryan married actor Dennis QuaidDennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor known for his comedic and dramatic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, his career rebounded in the 1990s after he overcame an addiction to drugs and an eating disorder...
on Valentine's Day 1991, after starring in two films with him (D.O.A.
D.O.A. (1988 film)
D.O.A. is a 1988 very loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name, sharing the same premise but otherwise having a different story and characters....
and Innerspace
Innerspace
Innerspace is a 1987 science fiction comedy film directed by Joe Dante and produced by Michael Finnell. Steven Spielberg served as executive producer. The film was inspired by the classic 1966 science fiction film Fantastic Voyage. It stars Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Robert Picardo and...
). She agreed to marry him only after he kicked his cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
addiction
Substance use disorder
Substance use disorders include substance abuse and substance dependence. In DSM-IV, the conditions are formally diagnosed as one or the other, but it has been proposed that DSM-5 combine the two into a single condition called "Substance-use disorder"....
. Quaid and Ryan have one child together, Jack Henry, born on April 24, 1992. In 2000, she became involved with Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
on the set of Proof of Life
Proof of Life
Proof of Life is a 2000 American film, directed by Taylor Hackford. The title refers to a phrase commonly used to indicate proof that a kidnap victim is still alive...
. She and Quaid separated and later their divorce became final on July 16, 2001. In September 2008, Ryan revealed Quaid had been unfaithful to her for a long time while they were married.
In January 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old girl from China named Daisy True.
She is currently romantically linked to American rock singer-songwriter, John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
, who announced on December 30, 2010 that he and his wife, Elaine
Elaine Irwin Mellencamp
Elaine Irwin Mellencamp is an American model, and formerly worked as the face of Almay Cosmetics and Ralph Lauren.-Early life and career:...
, were divorcing after 18 years of marriage.
Political involvement
Ryan has supported the U.S. Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, especially its environmental protection programs and initiatives. In 2003, she supported Wesley Clark
Wesley Clark
Wesley Kanne Clark, Sr., is a retired general of the United States Army. Graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1966 at West Point, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he obtained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and later graduated from the...
's campaign for U.S. president. She supported John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
during the 2004 presidential elections
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Rich and Famous Rich and Famous (1981 film) Rich and Famous is a 1981 American drama film directed by George Cukor. The screenplay by Gerald Ayres is based on the 1941 play Old Acquaintance by John Van Druten, which was filmed with Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins in 1943 under its original title. Both film versions are now owned by Turner... |
Debby Blake | |
| 1983 | Amityville 3-D Amityville 3-D Amityville 3-D is a 1983 horror film and the third installment in the The Amityville Horror series. It was one of a spate of 3-D films released in the early 80s. The film was directed by Richard Fleischer and the script was written by David Ambrose... |
Lisa | |
| 1986 | Top Gun Top Gun Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie... |
Carol Bradshaw | |
| 1986 | Armed and Dangerous | Maggie Cavanaugh | Employed at Guard Dog Security, she was the firearms instructor on the range. |
| 1987 | Promised Land Promised Land (1987 film) Promised Land is a 1987 drama film written and directed by Michael Hoffman, and it stars Kiefer Sutherland and Meg Ryan. It is set in Utah and is apparently based on a true story... |
Beverly 'Bev' Sykes | Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Female Lead is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:... |
| 1987 | Innerspace Innerspace Innerspace is a 1987 science fiction comedy film directed by Joe Dante and produced by Michael Finnell. Steven Spielberg served as executive producer. The film was inspired by the classic 1966 science fiction film Fantastic Voyage. It stars Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Robert Picardo and... |
Lydia Maxwell | |
| 1988 | D.O.A. D.O.A. (1988 film) D.O.A. is a 1988 very loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name, sharing the same premise but otherwise having a different story and characters.... |
Sydney Fuller | A freshman student (!) opposite Dennis Quaid |
| 1988 | Donna Caldwell | ||
| 1989 | When Harry Met Sally... When Harry Met Sally... When Harry Met Sally... is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years or... |
Sally Albright | American Comedy Award Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) American Comedy Awards The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films... Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress The Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress is an annual award given by the Chicago Film Critics Association.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:-References:... Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 1990 | Joe Versus the Volcano Joe Versus the Volcano Joe Versus the Volcano is a 1990 comedy film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley and starring Tom Hanks and—in three roles—Meg Ryan. The film is writer Shanley's directorial debut and the first of three films pairing Hanks and Ryan.... |
DeDe/Angelica Graynamore/Patricia Graynamore | |
| 1991 | Pamela Courson Pamela Courson Pamela Susan Courson was the long-term companion of Jim Morrison, vocalist of The Doors. After the deaths of Morrison and Courson, her parents petitioned an out-of-state court to declare that the couple had a common-law marriage.-Early life and involvement with Morrison:Courson was born in Weed,... |
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| 1992 | Prelude to a Kiss Prelude to a Kiss (film) Prelude to a Kiss is a 1992 American romantic fantasy film directed by Norman René and starring Alec Baldwin, Meg Ryan and Sydney Walker. The screenplay by Craig Lucas is based on his 1988 play of the same title.-Plot synopsis:... |
Rita Boyle | |
| 1993 | Sleepless in Seattle Sleepless in Seattle The film was originally to have been scored by John Barry, but when he was given a list of 20 songs he had to put in the film, he quit.#As Time Goes By - Jimmy Durante #A Kiss to Build a Dream on - Louis Armstrong #Stardust - Nat King Cole... |
Annie Reed | American Comedy Award Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo This is a following list of the MTV Movie Award winners and nominees for Best On-Screen Duo. It was later changed to Best On-Screen Team in 2001. This award was last given out in 2006.-References:... (with Tom Hanks Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title... ) Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance MTV Movie Award for Best Performance This is a following list of the MTV Movie Award winners and nominees for Best Performance from 1992 onward. In all but two years, the awards are separated into Male and Female categories.-1992:... |
| 1993 | Flesh and Bone | Kay Davies | |
| 1994 | When a Man Loves a Woman When a Man Loves a Woman (film) When a Man Loves a Woman is a 1994 American romantic drama film written by Al Franken and Ronald Bass, starring Andy García, Meg Ryan, Tina Majorino, Mae Whitman, Ellen Burstyn, Lauren Tom and Philip Seymour Hoffman.... |
Alice Green | Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Motion Picture |
| 1994 | I.Q. I.Q. (film) I.Q. is a 1994 American romantic comedy film directed by Fred Schepisi and starring Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, and Walter Matthau. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith... |
Catherine Boyd | |
| 1995 | French Kiss | Kate | Nominated—American Comedy Award Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) |
| 1995 | Restoration | Katharine | |
| 1996 | Courage Under Fire Courage Under Fire Courage Under Fire is a 1996 film directed by Edward Zwick, and starring Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips and Matt Damon. It is one of the first films to depict the 1991 Gulf War.-Plot:... |
CPT Karen Emma Walden | |
| 1997 | Addicted to Love Addicted to Love (film) Addicted to Love is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by Griffin Dunne, starring Meg Ryan, Matthew Broderick, Tchéky Karyo, and Kelly Preston... |
Maggie | |
| 1997 | Anastasia Anastasia (1997 film) Anastasia is a 1997 American animated musical film produced and directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. It was the first feature film to be released by Fox Animation Studios.... |
Anastasia (voice) | Nominated—Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer Annie Award The Annie Awards have been presented by the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972... |
| 1998 | City of Angels | Dr. Maggie Rice | Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress - Drama/Romance Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo(with Nicolas Cage Nicolas Cage Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and... ) Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress |
| 1998 | Hurlyburly Hurlyburly (film) Hurlyburly is a 1998 independent film, based on the acclaimed 1984 play of the same name by David Rabe, who adapted it into a screenplay for the film... |
Bonnie | |
| 1998 | You've Got Mail You've Got Mail You've Got Mail is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Nora Ephron, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It was written by Nora and Delia Ephron based on the play Parfumerie by Miklós László. The film is about two letter-writing lovers who are completely unaware that their sweetheart is in... |
Kathleen Kelly | Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress - Comedy/Romance Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 2000 | Hanging Up Hanging Up Hanging Up is a 2000 American comedy-drama film about a trio of sisters who bond over their ambivalence toward the approaching death of their curmudgeonly father, to whom none of them were particularly close... |
Eve Mozell Marks | |
| 2000 | Proof of Life Proof of Life Proof of Life is a 2000 American film, directed by Taylor Hackford. The title refers to a phrase commonly used to indicate proof that a kidnap victim is still alive... |
Alice Bowman | Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress - Suspense |
| 2001 | Kate & Leopold Kate & Leopold Kate & Leopold is a 2001 romantic-comedy fantasy that tells a story of a duke who travels through time from New York in 1876 to the present and falls in love with a career woman in the modern New York... |
Kate McKay | |
| 2003 | In the Cut In the Cut In the Cut is a 2003 American erotic thriller and mystery film, written and directed by Jane Campion and starring Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Campion's screenplay is an adaption of the novel of the same name by Susanna Moore... |
Frannie | |
| 2004 | Against the Ropes Against the Ropes Against the Ropes is a 2004 drama movie. It stars Meg Ryan and Omar Epps and was directed by Charles S. Dutton, in his motion-picture directorial debut.... |
Jackie Kallen | |
| 2007 | In the Land of Women In the Land of Women In the Land of Women is a 2007 American drama film directed and written by Jon Kasdan. It was screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2006. The film premiered in the United States on April 20, 2007.-Plot:... |
Sarah Hardwicke | |
| 2008 | Deidre Heam | ||
| 2008 | My Mom's New Boyfriend My Mom's New Boyfriend My Mom's New Boyfriend is a 2008 romantic comedy film starring Colin Hanks, Antonio Banderas, Selma Blair, and Meg Ryan. The film received a limited theatrical release worldwide however it was released straight-to-DVD in the United States on June 17, 2008... |
Martha Durand | |
| 2008 | Mary Haines | Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress | |
| 2009 | Serious Moonlight Serious Moonlight (2009 film) Serious Moonlight is a 2009 black comedy film directed by Cheryl Hines. It stars Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Kristen Bell, and Justin Long. It was released by Magnolia Pictures on 4 December 2009.-Plot:... |
Louise "Lou" | |
| 2011 | New Year's Eve New Year's Eve (film) New Year's Eve is an upcoming romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. Like Valentine's Day, Marshall's previous film, it depicts a series of holiday vignettes of the state of several romances.-Cast:... |
Taxi Driver | |
| 2012 | Lives of the Saints Lives of the Saints (2012 film) Lives of the Saints is an upcoming drama film, written and directed by Chris Rossi, and starring Meg Ryan, Kat Dennings, John Lithgow, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, and Joe Anderson. Also among the cast are Kevin Zegers, Anthony Anderson and Esai Morales. The project began filming in Los Angeles on... |
Pre-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | As the World Turns As the World Turns As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light... |
Betsy Stewart Montgomery Andropoulos | |
| 1982 | ABC Afterschool Special ABC Afterschool Special The ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were... |
Denise | Episode 'Amy and the Angel' |
| 1982 | One of the Boys One of the Boys (TV series) One of the Boys is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from January to April 1982. Starring Mickey Rooney, Dana Carvey, Nathan Lane, and Scatman Crothers, TV Guide ranked it number 24 on its TV Guide's 50 Worst Shows of All Time list in 2002.-Synopsis:Oliver Nugent was a spry senior... |
Jane | Series cancelled after 13 episodes |
| 1984-85 | Charles in Charge Charles in Charge Charles in Charge is an American sitcom series which starred Scott Baio as Charles, a 19-year-old student at the fictional Copeland College in New Jersey, who worked as a live-in babysitter in exchange for room and board... |
Meagan Parker | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Wildside Wildside (U.S. TV series) Wildside is an American short lived series of the ABC 1985 That lasted 6 episodes. Starring Howard Rollins; William Smith; Sandy McPeak; J. Eddie Peck; Terry Funk; John D'Aquino And Meg Ryan.- plot:... |
Cally Oaks | 6 episodes |
| 1990-91 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers Captain Planet and the Planeteers Captain Planet is the title character of the series. In the beginning of the series, Gaia assembles a modern-day team of "Planeteers" from several nations... |
Dr. Blight (voice) | Cast member |
| 2007 | Dr. Swanson (voice) | 1 episode Yokel Chords Yokel Chords "Yokel Chords" is the fourteenth episode of the eighteenth season of The Simpsons, which was originally broadcast on March 4, 2007. It was written by Michael Price, and directed by Susie Dietter. Guest starring Meg Ryan as Dr. Swanson, Peter Bogdanovich as a psychiatrist and Andy Dick, James... |
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| 2009 | Curb Your Enthusiasm Curb Your Enthusiasm Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself... |
Herself | Season 7 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Herself | Documentary with film personalities. | |
| 2002 | Searching for Debra Winger Searching for Debra Winger Searching for Debra Winger is a 2002 American documentary film conceived and directed by Rosanna Arquette. It presents a series of interviews with leading actresses who discuss the various pressures they face as women working in the film industry while trying to juggle their professional... |
Herself | Rosanna Arquette Rosanna Arquette Rosanna Lauren Arquette is an American actress, film director, and producer.-Early life:Arquette was born in New York City, the daughter of Brenda Olivia "Mardi" , an actress, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher, and therapist, and Lewis Arquette, an actor and director. Her paternal... film |