Meg Ryan Biography

Meg Ryan, actress

Birthdate: November 19, 1961

Birthplace: Fairfield, CT

Sign: Scorpio

Actress Meg Ryan was born as Margaret Mary Emily Hyra in Fairfield, Connecticut. She has one brother, Andrew, and two sisters Dana and Annie. Her mother, Susan Hyra Jordan, was a former actress, casting director and English teacher. Her father, Harry Hyra, was a math teacher.

Ryan was raised a Catholic and attended Saint Pius X Elementary School in Fairfield, where her mother taught the sixth grade. She was confirmed in the Catholic Church there and chose the name "Anne" as her confirmation name.

Her mother had filmed one television commercial and later worked briefly as an assistant casting director in New York City, so she actively encouraged her daughter's study of acting.

In 1979, she graduated high school from Bethel High School and went on to the University of Connecticut to study journalism. She later attended New York University while acting in a couple of television commercials to earn extra money. She later dropped out of college just one semester short of her degree due to her success she began to have as a professional actress.

Her first commercial was when she was 18 and promoted the deodorant "Tickle." She went on to play a role in "Rich and Famous" and then the daytime drama "As the World Turns." Soon after, she played a small role in "Amityville 3-D" and "Promised Land," which she received her first Independent Spirit Award nomination.

In 1986, she played a small role as the naval wife of Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, Carole Bradshaw, in the hit movie "Top Gun" co-starring Tom Cruise. Later that year, she played Lydia Maxwell in the movie "Innerspace," which starred Dennis Quaid and Martin Short. She also appeared in "D.O.A" and "The Presidio."

In 1989, "When Harry Met Sally" was released and it became her first hit movie, pairing her up with comedian Billy Crystal. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for her memorable depiction of a theatrical faked orgasm in a scene with Crystal. She went on to film two more Nora Ephon films that cast her as a bubbly, hopeless romantic.

Her next films, "The Doors" and "Prelude to a Kiss," were fairly successful, but her 1993 film, "Sleepless In Seattle" became a huge hit. Ryan starring in the film with Tom Hanks and it was their second film together.

Not wanting to be typecast, Ryan ventured off and filmed war drama "Courage Under Fire" and as an alcoholic in "When a Man Loves a Woman."

In 1994, Harvard honored Ryan with the "Hasty Pudding of the Year" award. Later that year, People magazine named Ryan one of "The 50 most beautiful people in the world."

In 1997, Ryan lent her voice to the animated film "Anastasia."

In 1998, she starred in two films, "City of Angels" with Nicolas Cage and "You've Got Mail" once again with Tom Hanks. "You've Got Mail" earned her a third Golden Globe nomination and earned over $250 million worldwide.

She established herself as one of the highest paid actresses in 2000 when she was paid $15 million for her role opposite Russell Crowe in "Proof of Life." She filmed the comedy "Hanging Up" with Diane Keaton later that year.

In 2002, she went back to filming romantic comedies and starred in "Kate and Leopold."

In 2003, she ventured out of her normal roles and took on Jane Campton's "In the Cut" an erotic crime thriller.

In 2007, she starred in "In the Land of Women" with Adam Brody which received good reviews and audience feedback.

Her latest movie by George Gallo, "My Mom's New Boyfriend," was filmed in the fall of 2006 in Shreveport, Louisiana opposite Antonio Banderas and is scheduled to be released sometime in 2008.

She married actor Dennis Quaid on Valentine's Day in 1981 and they had one child together, Jack Henry, born in 1992. They separated in 2000 and the divorce became official in 2001.