Blond-haired, blue-eyed with an effervescent personality, Meg Ryan graduated from Bethel high school, Bethel in June 1979. Moving to New York, she attended New York University where she majored in journalism. To earn extra money while working on her degree, Meg went into acting using her new name Meg Ryan. In 1981, she had her big screen debut as Candice Bergen's daughter in George Cukor's last film Rich and Famous. She tried out and was cast as Betsy in the day time television soap As the World Turns. She was part of the cast from 1982 to 1984. Meg also had a part in the television series One of the Boys, but this show was soon cancelled. In 1984, she moved to tinsel town and landed a job in the western Television Series Wildside. With her part in the highly successful movie Top Gun Meg became a star with "take me to bed or lose me forever". This led to Meg being cast in Steven Spielberg's movie Innerspace where she co-starred with Dennis Quaid. She again co-starred with Quaid in the remake of D.O.A. and they married on Valentine Day in 1991. In 1989, Meg appeared in another blockbuster called When Harry Met Sally... and the scene at the restaurant became famous. Meg was nominated for both the Golden Globe and the BAFTA. In 1990, she co-starred with Tom Hanks in Joe Versus the Volcano and this time she played three roles as DeDe/Angelica/Patricia. She appeared again with Tom in the very successful Sleepless in Seattle for which she was again nominated for the Golden Globe. In 1994, Meg decided to act against type when she appeared as the alcoholic wife and mother in When a Man Loves a Woman. After that, she went back to "cute" with both I.Q. and French Kiss. In 1994, Meg won the Harvard Hasty Pudding Award as "Woman of the Year" and was voted as being one of "The 50 most beautiful people in the world 1994" by People Magazine.



Kate & Leopold (2001): $15,000,000
Proof of Life (2000): $15,000,000
You've Got Mail (1998): $10,500,000
City of Angels (1998): $8,500,000
I.Q. (1994): $5,000,000

Graduated from Bethel High School. Was Prom Queen. [1979] Ranked #59 on Entertainment Weekly's most powerful people in Hollywood [1998] Ranked #94 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] Son, with Dennis Quaid, Jack Henry Quaid (b. 24 April 1992). Turned down the Sharon Stone role in Basic Instinct (1992) Shut down Prufrock Pictures [2000] Savage Garden's song 'All Around Me' was written about her, inspired by a crush from Daniel Jones, the band's composer. Measurements: 34B-24-33 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine). Has been linked romantically to actors Russell Crowe, John Cusack, Breckin Meyer, Matt Dillon & Craig Bierko; as well as Aussie underwear model Travis Fimmel. Shares a birthday with Jodie Foster, Terry Farrell, and Allison Janney. Lost the lead role in Washington Square (1997) to Jennifer Jason Leigh Did several national commercials as a teenager for Barbie and other products. 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' 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 Parkinson'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". Adopted daughter Daisy True from China in January 2006 (revealed on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) March 1, 2006). Turned down the role of "Vivian Ward" in Pretty Woman (1990). Julia Roberts was later given the role. Has twice played Candice Bergen's daughter, first in Rich and Famous (1981) and again in The Women (2008/I). Was in consideration for the part of Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction (1994) but Uma Thurman, who went on to receive a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.