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Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan

Known For Acting
Birthday Nov 19, 1961 (63)
Birthplace Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
Popularity 1 (history)
Updated Aug 14, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Meg Ryan (born November 19, 1961) is an American actress, producer and director. She began her acting career in 1981 when she made her acting debut in the drama film Rich and Famous. She later joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982. She began to appear in supporting roles ... in films during the mid-1980s like box office hit Top Gun, achieving recognition in independent films such as Promised Land (1987) before her performance in the Rob Reiner-directed romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989) brought her widespread attention and her first Golden Globe nomination. She subsequently established herself, both nationally and internationally, as one of the most successful actresses in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly in romantic comedy films such as When Harry Met Sally (1989), Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), French Kiss (1995), You've Got Mail (1998), and Kate & Leopold (2001). Her other films include Top Gun (1986), Innerspace (1987),  The Doors (1991), Anastasia (1997), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), Courage Under Fire (1996), Addicted to Love (1997), City of Angels (1998), Proof of Life (2000), Against the Ropes (2004), and The Women (2008). In 2015, she made her directorial debut with Ithaca, in which she also starred. In 1995, critic Richard Corliss called her "the current soul of romantic comedy." Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited Ryan as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination. She was married to actor Dennis Quaid (1991-2001), and they have a son, Jack. In 2000, Ryan became romantically involved with actor Russell Crowe while working on their film Proof of Life. In January 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old girl from China whom she named Daisy True. She was in a relationship with American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp (2010-2014). They reunited in 2017, and announced their engagement on November 8, 2018. In October 2019, it was reported that Ryan had ended their engagement.

Known For

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Filmography

What Happens Later

What Happens Later

2023

as Willa

Fan Girl

Fan Girl

2015

as Mary Farrow

Ithaca

Ithaca

2015

as Mrs. Macauley

Serious Moonlight

Serious Moonlight

2009

as Louise

The Women

The Women

2008

as Mary Haines

My Mom's New Boyfriend

My Mom's New Boyfriend

2008

as Marty Durand

The Deal

The Deal

2008

as Deidre Hearn

In the Land of Women

In the Land of Women

2007

as Sarah Hardwicke

Against the Ropes

Against the Ropes

2004

as Jackie Kallen

In the Cut

In the Cut

2003

as Frannie Avery

Kate & Leopold

Kate & Leopold

2001

as Kate McKay

Hanging Up

Hanging Up

2000

as Eve Mozell Marks

Proof of Life

Proof of Life

2000

as Alice Bowman

You've Got Mail

You've Got Mail

1998

as Kathleen Kelly

City of Angels

City of Angels

1998

as Maggie Rice

Hurlyburly

Hurlyburly

1998

as Bonnie

Addicted to Love

Addicted to Love

1997

as Maggie

Anastasia

Anastasia

1997

as Anastasia (voice)

Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire

1996

as Captain Karen Emma Walden

French Kiss

French Kiss

1995

as Kate

Restoration

Restoration

1995

as Katharine

I.Q.

I.Q.

1994

as Catherine Boyd

When a Man Loves a Woman

When a Man Loves a Woman

1994

as Alice Green

Sleepless in Seattle

Sleepless in Seattle

1993

as Annie Reed

Flesh and Bone

Flesh and Bone

1993

as Kay Davies

Prelude to a Kiss

Prelude to a Kiss

1992

as Rita Boyle

The Doors

The Doors

1991

as Pamela Courson

Joe Versus the Volcano

Joe Versus the Volcano

1990

as DeDe / Angelica / Patricia Graynamore

When Harry Met Sally...

When Harry Met Sally...

1989

as Sally Albright

D.O.A.

D.O.A.

1988

as Sydney Fuller

The Presidio

The Presidio

1988

as Donna Caldwell

Promised Land

Promised Land

1988

as Bev Sykes

Innerspace

Innerspace

1987

as Lydia Maxwell

Armed and Dangerous

Armed and Dangerous

1986

as Maggie Cavanaugh

Top Gun

Top Gun

1986

as Carole

Amityville 3-D

Amityville 3-D

1983

as Lisa

Amy and the Angel

Amy and the Angel

1982

as Denise

Rich and Famous

Rich and Famous

1981

as Debby Blake, 18 Years

What Happens Later

What Happens Later

2023

Writer

My Best Friend's Girl

My Best Friend's Girl

2008

Thanks

What Happens Later

What Happens Later

2023

Director

Ithaca

Ithaca

2015

Director

What Happens Later

What Happens Later

2023

Executive Producer

Desert Saints

Desert Saints

2002

Producer

The Wedding Planner

The Wedding Planner

2001

Executive Producer

Lost Souls

Lost Souls

2000

Producer

Northern Lights

Northern Lights

1998

Executive Producer

French Kiss

French Kiss

1995

Producer

Organization Category Movie
Berlin International Film Festival Best Actress The Women of Godzilla Won
Venice Film Festival Best Actress In the Cut Nominated
Television Credits

One of the Boys

as Jane

Episodes: 13

First Aired: Jan 23, 1982

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

as Dr. Blight (voice)

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Sep 15, 1990

Wildside

as Cally Oaks

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Mar 21, 1985

Web Therapy

as Karen Sharpe

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 22, 2008

Charles in Charge

as Meagan Parker

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 03, 1984

The Simpsons

as Dr. Swanson (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 17, 1989

Curb Your Enthusiasm

as Meg Ryan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 15, 2000

How I Met Your Dad

as Future Sally Javits

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Unknown

The Oscars

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 19, 1953

Inside the Actors Studio

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 14, 1994

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 2003

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 05, 1988

The View

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 11, 1997

The Terry and Gaby Show

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 02, 2003

E! True Hollywood Story

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 21, 1996

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

as Self - Guest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1993

Nature

as Host

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 1982

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 26, 2003

Late Night with Seth Meyers

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 25, 2014

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 09, 2019

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

as Self - Guest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 10, 1996

Bambi Awards

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 01, 1948

Billy on the Street

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 18, 2011

Parkinson

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 09, 1998

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 20 20 20
2024 6 22 43 14
2024 7 36 67 14
2024 8 22 44 13
2024 9 17 26 10
2024 10 16 25 10
2024 11 17 29 11
2024 12 20 35 11
2025 1 21 39 12
2025 2 14 23 2
2025 3 6 25 0
2025 4 1 2 1
2025 5 4 5 1
2025 6 2 3 1
2025 7 1 2 1
2025 8 2 4 1
2025 9 1 1 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 868 868
2024 6 461 89
2025 1 783 556
2025 2 566 110
2025 3 595 550
2025 7 394 71
2025 8 401 55

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