Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra, better known to us nowadays as Meg Ryan, was born on 19th
November 1961 in Fairfield, Connecticut in the United States of America. She was raised in
the Catholic faith. The daughter of Harry Hyra and Susan Jordan who divorced in 1976 (Stepfather
Pat Jordan) this blue eyed young lady has two sisters Dana and Annie and a brother, Andrew. There
has been a well known rift between Meg and her mother since the early 1980's By way of education
Meg studied at Bethel High School, Connecticut with the family having moved to the area in 1974.
She was known in her schooldays as Peggy Hyra. Meg was her High School's Homecoming Queen in 1977
when the original queen was suspended. She went on to study journalism at New York University and
majored in the subject. In 1976 her parents divorced and her mother moved to New York. Eventually
in 1978 Meg changed her surname to Ryan which was her mothers maiden surname. In 1979 having been
voted the cutest girl in high school Meg also moved to New York. However journalism was not destined
to be the eventual career of Margaret Hyra instead she was to become one of the most famous American
actresses of the 1980's and 1990's. In 1981 she had her film debut in "Rich and Famous". This was
followed by a two year spell in the TV serial "As The World Turns" Into 1983 with Amityville 3D
and the following year Meg uprooted again and moved to Hollywood where she had a role in Wildside.
It is widely believed that Megs talents were probably noticed first when she appeared in Top Gun
in 1986. Meg was engaged to investment banker Buck Burnaman prior to meeting Anthony Edwards on
the set of Top Gun. 1987 brought with it Innerspace and a typical scatty blond role
for Meg. this was to be the first time she acted with the man who was eventually to become her
husband, Dennis Quaid. Her previous relationship with actor Anthony Edwards ended at this time.
1988 meant a further acting reunion with Dennis in D.O.A. and also in this year the Presidio
(Starring Sean Connery) and the Promised Land were also both released. In 1989 when Harry Met
Sally was released which included Meg's most famous scene to date this being the now famous
faked orgasm scene. Into the 90's and the release of Joe Versus The Volcano in 1990 gave Meg
her first film role alongside the very talented Tom Hanks. The combination of Hanks and Ryan
was to prove such a success that once again, like Quaid and Ryan, they were to be teamed up
again in a future movie. 14th February 1991 (Valentines Day) Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan get
married. Also in this year the movie The Doors is released. A son, Jack Henry, is born to
Dennis and Meg on April 24th 1992. Meg once again co-stars with Tom Hanks in Sleepless in
Seattle in 1993. 1994 meant a hectic year for Meg with When A Man Loves a Woman, I.Q is
released and the charming French kiss is made. 1995 sees no let up in a busy schedule with
French Kiss and restoration being released. Courage Under Fire and Anastasia are both in
production stage. 1996 Courage Under Fire is released (also starring Denzel Washington).
Restoration wins 2 Oscars. In 1997 the very funny romantic comedy Addicted to love is released.
Anastasia is also released (a vocal only role for Meg). 1998 City of Angels is released and
Hurly Burly Production ends. 1999 Heralds the release of You've Got Mail, Meg again teaming
up with Tom Hanks in yet another romantic comedy. 2000 Meg starts the new Millennium with
Hanging Up co starring Diane Keaton and Lisa Kudrow - a great performance by Meg but I feel
it is to be a box office flop compared to some of her other movies. With a string of major
movie successes behind her it is seems somewhat unfortunate and unjustified that ,to date,
Meg has still not picked up a major acting award. 29 June 2000. A very sad day in the life
of Meg Ryan as she and Dennis Quaid announce they are to separate after 9 years of Marriage.
A week later comes the announcement that they are to divorce with Dennis having filed divorce
papers at Los Angeles Superior Court on July 11th. Meg filed her own divorce papers on 14th
August. The report comes after UK newspapers tell of Meg's nights out with Russell Crowe who
is filming Proof Of Life with her at that time. However there were also newspaper reports that
their marriage had been in trouble for many months prior to this. Meg and Dennis are then
reported to have tried a reconciliation but then newspapers later report that Meg herself
has filed her own divorce papers. For many months Meg's alleged relationship with Russell
Crowe is then featured in the international press. December 2000 Proof Of Life released in
the US - UK screening planned for Feb 2001 In January 2001 the Ryan / Crowe relationship is
reported to be over with a new years eve wedding never having materialized. Feb 2001 at this
time it is reported Meg can earn around US$15 million per movie. March 2nd 2001 Proof Of Life
released in the UK. The remainder of 2001 sees the international media chasing Meg all over
the world accusing her of having a relationship with just about every man she is pictured with.
In June Meg films a documentary about the falling number of Asian elephants. This was recorded
in Thailand. Following the U.S terrorist attacks on September 11th Meg plays a big part in
helping to raise funds for the victims families. Meg celebrated her 40th birthday on Monday
November 19th 2001. Meg's main movie project in 2001 was the recording of the Romantic comedy
Kate and Leopold. Kate and Leopold is screened first in the USA in December 2001 (UK release
date 5th April 2002). Meg enters 2002 with her next movie planned being "Against The Ropes"
the true life story of a female boxing manager followed by "In The Cut" an erotic thriller.
2002 turned out to be a strange year for Meg when the international media turned on her
saying her career was "in the toilet" and stating that she was dating every man she was
pictured with. Again in 2002 Meg was said to have hot dates with Craig Bierko and ending
the year romatically linked with John Cusack. It was also the year when Dennis Quaid opened
up to the media about his marriage to Meg whilst Meg stayed on the whole tight-lipped as
usual. Former lover Russell Crowe remained firmly in the news and never it seemed for good
reasons. Meg must be entered 2003 probably hoping for better reviews from the international
media both in respect of her acting and personal life. The Release of Against the Ropes was
delayed it was said due to the fact the publisher was afraid that publicity would be lost due
to the war in Iraq. Also in 2003 Meg was a judge at the Cannes Film Festival. In The Cut was
released with reviewers concentrating more on Meg's naked scenes than the movie itself. The
movie received mixed reviews from mediocre to excellent. Any hopes of favourable publicity
from the press that Meg may have had at the start of 2003 were dashed by the end of it. The
media preferring to concentrate on Meg's nude scenes saying they were a desperate attempt to
get away from her being solely associated with romantic comedies. They also picked on her
performing her exercises in strange places such as in the street or on an aircraft. Numerous
reports came in daily papers that Meg was getting more and more stroppy , demanding and bad
tempered. She was criticized heavily for 2 rather lacklustre interview performances in the
UK, one on Michael Parkinson's show the other on GMTV, whilst promoting In The Cut. Finally
she was booed at the UK premiere of In The Cut, in Leicester Square, by waiting fans when she
barely acknowledged them. However whatever the press may say Meg's fans have never deserted
her. With more than 1200 loyal fans in the mailing list for this site as at Dec 31st 2003 her
popularity with the fans remains as strong as ever.
Meg Ryne Filmography:
(2004) Against the Ropes
Character played: Jackie Kallen
(2003) In the Cut
Character played: Franny Thorstin
(2002) Searching For Debra Winger
(2001) Kate and Leopold
Character played: Kate
(2001) In the Wild: The White Elephants of Thailand with Meg Ryan
Character played: Host
(2000) Proof of Life
Character played: Alice Bowman
(2000) Lost Souls
Credits: Producer
(2000) Hanging Up
Character played: Eve Mozell
(1998) City of Angels
Character played: Maggie
(1998) You've Got Mail
Character played: Kathleen Kelly
(1998) Hurlyburly
Character played: Bonnie
(1997) Anastasia
Character played: Anastasia
(1997) Addicted to Love
Character played: Maggie
(1996) Courage Under Fire
Character played: Captain Karen Walden
(1995) French Kiss
Character played: Kate
Credits: Producer
(1994) Restoration
Character played: Katherine
(1994) When a Man Loves a Woman
Character played: Alice Green
(1994) I.Q.
Character played: Catherine Boyd
(1993) Flesh and Bone
Character played: Kay Davies
(1993) Sleepless in Seattle
Character played: Annie Reed
(1992) Personal Ethics & the Future of the World
Character played: Narrator
(1992) A Prelude to a Kiss
Character played: Rita Boyle
(1991) Red Riding Hood / Goldilocks
(1991) The Doors
Character played: Pamela Courson
(1990) Joe Versus the Volcano
Characters played: Patricia, Patricia/DeDe/Angelica, Angelica, DeDe
(1989) When Harry Met Sally
Character played: Sally Albright
(1988) D.O.A.
Character played: Syndey Fuller
(1988) Rabbit Ears Storybook Classics Collection
(1988) Promised Land
Character played: Bev
(1988) The Presidio
Character played: Donna Caldwell
(1987) Innerspace
Character played: Lydia Maxwell
(1986) Top Gun
Character played: Carole
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(1986) Armed and Dangerous
Character played: Maggie Cavanaugh
(1983) Amityville 3-D
Character played: Lisa
(1982) Amy and the Angel
Character played: Denise
(1981) Rich and Famous
Character played: Debby at Age 18
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