Guests

Meg Ryan

Season 3, Episode 307

Original Airdate: July 27, 1997

She has been described as “perky”, “eternally cute” and “America's sweetheart” and has even described herself as “nauseatingly adorable”. However, superstar Meg Ryan has been able to overcome these stereotypes to become one of Hollywood's most acclaimed and sought-after actresses.

She was born Margaret Mary Emily Anna Hyra in Fairfield, CT on November 19, 1961 to an actress mother and a casting agent father. Although her major was journalism, it was at NYU that she began appearing in television commercials in order to earn money to pay tuition.

Ryan's film debut came in George Cukor's last film Rich and Famous (1981) where she played Candice Bergen's daughter. She then began a two year run on the CBS daytime series As the World Turns. She was also memorable as Goose's spunky wife in the Tom Cruise blockbuster Top Gun (1986).

In 1987, she was cast as Dennis Quaid's girlfriend in the sci-fi comedy Innerspace and began an off-screen romance. The couple was married in 1991. Her break through performance came in 1989 when she starred opposite Billy Crystal in Rob Reiner's romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.

Throughout her career, Ryan has gained much acclaim starring in romantic comedies such as I.Q,(1994) with Tim Robbins , French Kiss (1995) with Kevin Kline, Addicted to Love (1997) with Matthew Broderick and Hanging Up (2000). Her greatest success has been her collaboration with Tom Hanks in Joe versus the Volcano (1990), Sleepless in Seattle (1994) and You've Got Mail (1998).

Her dramatic roles include The Doors (1991), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), Courage Under Fire (1996) and City of Angels (1998). She also has starred in the screen adaptations of the stage plays of Prelude to a Kiss (1992) and Hurlyburly (1998). In 2000, Ryan starred in Proof of Life and began a much publicized off screen romance with co-star Russell Crowe, and divorced from husband Quaid. Ryan will next appear in Kate and Leopold in December 2001.