At one point in time, Meg Ryan was a leading figure in romantic comedies. During the 1980s and early 1990s, she appeared in a series of highly successful films, a few of which have since become cherished classics.
However, what is Meg Ryan up to these days? For a considerable period, she largely stayed out of the public eye. Let’s explore Meg Ryan’s current life and career.
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Meg Ryan Starred In ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and ‘Sleepless In Seattle’
Meg Ryan had roles in various films during the early and mid-1980s, including “Top Gun,” “D.O.A.,” “Innerspace,” and “The Presidio.” However, her initial leading role and breakthrough came in the 1989 hit “When Harry Met Sally.” This romantic comedy, written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner, depicted the evolving love story of two New Yorkers over a span of years. Co-starring alongside Billy Crystal, the movie achieved immense box office success and garnered critical acclaim, propelling Meg Ryan to stardom.
In 1993, she had a prominent role alongside Tom Hanks in “Sleepless in Seattle,” another romantic comedy that received critical acclaim and became a blockbuster. The film earned three Golden Globe Award nominations, one of which was for Ryan in the category of Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. Five years later, she reunited with Tom Hanks for “You’ve Got Mail.”
Apart from her romantic comedies, Ryan was featured in several ’90s hits, including The Doors, When a Man Loves a Woman, Courage Under Fire, City of Angels, and Hurlyburly. However, in the mid-2000s, she notably reduced her involvement in the entertainment industry and began distancing herself from the Hollywood limelight. So, what led to this change in Meg Ryan’s career?
Why Did Meg Ryan Quit Acting?
Meg Ryan began the 21st century with leading roles in two moderately successful films in 2000: “Hanging Up” and “Proof of Life.” In the following year, she attempted to recreate her romantic comedy success alongside Hugh Jackman in “Kate & Leopold.” Regrettably, the film did not perform well at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics.
However, it was her next film, “In The Cut,” released in 2003, that prompted Meg Ryan to reconsider her position as a Hollywood actress. Co-starring Mark Ruffalo, the movie was an erotic thriller featuring Ryan in several daring nude scenes. Given her prior roles as the sweet, girl-next-door type, both audiences and critics were taken aback by this bold departure. The film received negative reviews, and the media harshly criticized her choice to star in a movie that deviated so far from her typical romantic roles. One interviewer even suggested that she should have prepared her fans for her decision to take on such an unconventional role.
“I’m aware that when I acted in In the Cut, the response was extremely harsh,” Ryan mentioned in a 2008 interview.
Her Divorce From Dennis Quaid Harmed Her Career
“In addition to the poorly received film, the image of the romantic comedy actress had evolved since her days as America’s sweetheart in the ’80s and ’90s. Following her divorce from actor Dennis Quaid in 2001, there were rumors suggesting that their marriage ended due to Ryan’s alleged involvement with her Proof of Life co-star Russell Crowe. This narrative did not sit well with fans, and Ryan argued that it was unjustifiably far from the truth.”
“I never felt like the true story of my divorce was accurately portrayed,” she expressed during a 2019 interview with Today. “It’s liberating when you realize you can’t control your public image or the narratives, and you stop worrying about it. I felt the impact of being portrayed as the antagonist in the story or whatever it was.”
It took her a while, but Ryan mentioned that she eventually managed to move beyond the unjust portrayal in the media. She noted, “I recall releasing the need to set the record straight.” She continued, “Divorce and love are challenging. Those experiences are very personal. They weren’t meant for public consumption. The intricacies of a life or a marriage can’t be encapsulated in a headline or a tabloid. It was liberating to realize this, even though fame has become more accessible now.”
She Also Chose To Step Back From Acting To Recover From Burnout
Ryan also expressed that when she completed her work on In the Cut, she had grown weary of her prominent career. The incessant criticism and intense media attention that accompanied her Hollywood actress status had become overwhelming. She told the New York Times, “I felt, in a strange sense, that I was exhausting my real-life experiences as an actor. I was drained. I didn’t feel like I had a sufficient understanding of myself or the world to portray it as an actor. I felt isolated.”
The one aspect of her earlier acting career that Meg Ryan didn’t regret was her son Jack, born in 1992 during her marriage to Dennis Quaid. Jack has pursued an acting career of his own, featuring in various films such as The Hunger Games, Just Before I Go, Logan Lucky, and Rampage.
Meg Ryan Made Her Directorial Debut In 2015
Following her sparse film appearances since In the Cut, Meg Ryan embarked on a directing venture in 2015. She took the helm in both directing and producing the movie “Ithaca,” which was a period drama set during World War II. In addition to directing, Ryan also had an acting role in the film alongside Sam Shepard, Alex Neustaedter, Tom Hanks, and her son, Jack.
Meg Ryan embraced the new challenge of directing and received valuable advice from Jane Campion, the director of In the Cut. She appreciated the way Campion managed a film set and shared this insight with the Hollywood Reporter in 2016. Before shooting began, Campion advised Ryan not to get overly involved in technical details such as lighting, camera focus, or speed. Instead, she encouraged Ryan to focus on watching the actors during each take, suggesting that it was during this time that she could truly be an artist. Ryan found this advice liberating, allowing her to immerse herself in the actors’ performances and feel her way through each scene.
What Is Meg Ryan Doing Now?
As of today, at 60 years old, Meg Ryan is gradually reemerging into the public eye, after a period of keeping a low profile that followed her rapid ascent to stardom. In 2010, she garnered tabloid attention when she began a romantic relationship with the ’80s rock musician John Mellencamp. Although the couple parted ways in 2014, they eventually reconciled a few years later and in 2018, they announced their engagement.
In the subsequent year, it was widely reported that their relationship had ended once more. However, there are persistent rumors that this on-and-off couple might not be entirely done with each other. In 2021, there were sightings of Ryan wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring while she was in Santa Monica, which led to speculation that the couple might have reconciled.
Concerning her acting career, there were some rumors in 2021 suggesting that the star of “French Kiss” was preparing for a comeback. However, nothing concrete seemed to materialize until May 2022, when it was revealed that Ryan would be both directing and acting in a new romantic comedy titled “What Happens Later.” The film is scheduled for release sometime in 2023.
It’s worth mentioning that Meg Ryan was not part of the cast for the 2022 film “Top Gun: Maverick,” the highly anticipated sequel to the original “Top Gun,” for which she was renowned. While some fans speculated about her absence, the director, Joseph Kosinski, clarified to Insider that her character had never been considered to return. He emphasized the importance of introducing new characters and not making every storyline focus on the past.
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