|
Meg Ryan Profile |
|
-
Birth Date: November 19, 1961
-
Birth Place: Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
-
Birth Name: Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra
-
Height: 5'8"
|
|
|
Biography |
Meg Ryan was born November 19, 1961, in
Fairfield, Connecticut. The daughter of Harry, a teacher,
and Susan, a teacher, former actress and casting director,
Meg did not intend to become the Hollywood cutie she is
known as today.
With original intentions of pursuing a journalistic career,
one would think that perhaps Meg inherited the acting bug
from her mother, who left a 15-year-old Meg, her two sisters
and her brother to become an actress.
Once Meg graduated from Bethel High School, she followed up
her academic studies at the University of Connecticut. In
order to pay for her tuition, Meg landed some acting gigs in
several commercials. Her mother helped her become a member
of the Screen Actors Guild, under her maiden name, and thus
"Meg Ryan", as we know her today, was born.
Meg was cast in her feature film debut alongside Candice
Bergen in the film, Rich and Famous in 1981, and decided to
leave behind her journalistic studies to try her hand at
acting. The former homecoming queen got her start on the
small-screen, with roles in an After School Special, Amy the
Angel, and appearances on the comedy Charles in Charge. She
also became a regular on the daytime soap, As the World
Turns, until 1984.
The series Wildside was the last of Meg's television career;
one that would quickly be overshadowed by her present status
as Hollywood's Sweetheart. After a role in 1983's Amityville
III: The Demon, moviegoers would catch a glimpse of the
blonde, perky actress in Top Gun, as Goose's wife (played by
Anthony Edwards).
But her claim to fame came with a starring role in 1989's,
When Harry Met Sally..., co-starring Billy Crystal. Her
scene-stealing fake orgasm in the middle of a restaurant
went down in movie history, and practically locked Meg into
Hollywood's list of up-and-comers. The Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks
team started when the two paired up to star in Joe Versus
the Volcano (which did not erupt at the box-office) -- and
the two were paired again in 1993's chick flick (but sleeper
hit), Sleepless in Seattle.
The latter secured Meg as an A-list actress, and made
audiences forget about her roles in The Doors and Promised
Land, which, although were notable performances, didn't
showcase Meg's adorable qualities. The early to mid '90s
were also marked with hits such as When a Man Loves a Woman
(with a phenomenal turn as a recovering alcoholic) and the
lukewarm French Kiss, while Prelude to a Kiss and I.Q. were
not the best ideas.
Other notable performances by Meg were in the period piece
Restoration, Courage Under Fire (co-starring Denzel
Washington and Matt Damon), and the animated feature,
Anastasia. Addicted to Love proved that dark roles do not
suit Meg, while City of Angels, opposite Nicolas Cage was
not so angelic. In 1999, Meg reunited with her Sleepless in
Seattle co-star Tom Hanks to star in You've Got Mail.
In addition to her acting duties, Meg is also founder of her
own production company, Prufrock Pictures (formerly Fandango
Films), as well as the mother of her son with Dennis Quaid,
Jack Henry. Meg first met Dennis Quaid on the set of 1987's
Innerspace and the couple started dating while filming
D.O.A. Their marriage proved to be dead on arrival during
the summer of 2000, when the divorce of one of Hollywood's
most enduring couples was announced, and Meg was rumored to
be cuddling up to her Proof Of Life co-star, Russell Crowe.
After a starring role in 1999's Hanging Up (with Lisa
Kudrow), Meg will next be seen in the soon-to-be-released,
Proof of Life. Her upcoming projects include Kate & Leopold,
and a remake of the 1939 classic, The Women, co-starring
fellow Hollywood sweetheart, Julia Roberts.
As an A-list and box-office attracting actress, Meg Ryan has
proved to be lovable, both on and off-screen, and one
thing's for certain -- we're glad she didn't stick to
journalism. |
|
|
Other
Information |
Graduated from Bethel High School. Was Prom Queen. [1979]
Ranked #57 in Premiere (USA) magazine's "The 100 Most
Powerful People in Hollywood" list. [June 1999]
Ranked #59 on Entertainment Weekly's most powerful people in
Hollywood [1998]
Voted most favorite female movie star by the readers and
online users of the "People Weekly Magazine" [April 1998]
Ranked #94 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie
Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Began Prufrock Pictures in 1994.
Son, with Dennis Quaid, Jack Henry Quaid (b. 24 April 1992).
Met actor Anthony Edwards during the making of the film Top
Gun (1986) and moved in with him. They were a couple until
she met actor Dennis Quaid during the film Innerspace
(1987), and she moved in with and eventually married him.
Turned down the Sharon Stone role in Basic Instinct (1992)
"Meg Ryan" is an anagram of "Germany".
Shut down Prufrock Pictures [2000]
Born at 10:08 AM EST
Savage Garden's song 'All Around Me' was written about her,
inspired by a crush from Daniel Jones, the band's composer.
4 February 2002 - An L.A. judge granted a restraining order
against John Michael Hughes, a 40 year old real estate agent
who had been hanging around Ryan's home claiming to be her
fiancee.
Measurements: 34B/C-24-33 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth
magazine)
Member of jury Festival International de Cannes 2003
Has been linked romantically to actors Russell Crowe, John
Cusack, Breckin Meyer, Matt Dillon & Craig Bierko; as well
as Aussie underwear model Travis Fimmel.
Took three weeks of boxing lessons, to prepare for her role
in Against the Ropes (2004); Ryan wanted to understand the
sport, and the terms her character would use.
Shares a birthday with Jodie Foster, Terry Farrell, and
Allison Janney.
Shared an L.A. house with Daphne Zuniga when both were
struggling actresses
Lost the lead role in Washington Square (1997) to Jennifer
Jason Leigh
She and actor Tom Hanks have been co-stars in three movies
as love interests: Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Joe Versus
the Volcano (1990), and You've Got Mail (1998)
Did several national commercials as a teenager for Barbie
and other products.
Voted "cutest" girl in school, class secretary, and
homecoming queen her senior year of high school.
Made a memorably unforthcoming appearance on a British chat
show hosted by Michael Parkinson. The October 2003 episode
of Parkinson's chat show has become part of British
television history due to the actress's bizarre behavior in
which she gave only one word answers to questions and stared
icily at the host. Ryan appeared on the program to promote
her erotic thriller, In the Cut (2003), but refused to
answer Parkinson's questions about the drastic change from
her typical romantic comedy roles. At one point Parkinson
said in exasperation, "What would you do now if you were
me?" to which Ryan replied, "Why not wrap it up?" About the
televised debacle, Parkinson later said that Ryan was his
"most difficult TV moment." He felt her rude behavior toward
his fellow guests, Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine,
whom she deliberately turned her back on, was unforgivable.
Parkinson said, "I should have closed it. But listen, it
happens. She was an unhappy woman. I felt sorry for her.
What I couldn't forgive her for was that she was rude to the
other guests." In a 2006 interview with "Marie Claire"
magazine, Ryan blamed Parknson's paternal manner for the
failure of the interview. Ryan said, "I don't even know the
man. That guy was like some disapproving father! It's crazy.
I don't know what he is to you guys, but he's a nut. I felt
like he was berating me for being naked in the movie. He
said something like: 'You should go back to doing what you
were doing'. And I thought, are you like a disapproving dad
right now? I'm not even related to you. Back off, buddy. I
was so offended by him." Ryan also underscored the
difference between American and British TV interviewing
styles. "I realized it's not like an American talk show
where it's seven minutes and then there's a commercial
break. I had to do 20 minutes straight with this guy, and I
could either walk off - which wouldn't be good - or try to
disagree with him very respectfully."
A famous haircut by Sally Hershberger was named "Meg" in
honor of Ryan, since she was the first one to have it.
Adopted daughter Daisy True from China in January 2006
(revealed on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) March 1, 2006). |
|
|
|
