Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan is an American actress who became one of the biggest movie stars of the late 1980s and 1990s, widely regarded as “America’s Sweetheart” during the golden age of the romantic comedy. Born Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra in Fairfield, Connecticut, she studied journalism at New York University before catching the acting bug and pursuing a career in film. She adopted her mother’s maiden name, Ryan, as her stage name.

Ryan’s breakthrough came with the 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally,” directed by Rob Reiner, in which she starred opposite Billy Crystal. The film was a massive hit and Ryan’s performance, particularly the famous fake orgasm scene at Katz’s Deli, became one of the most iconic moments in comedy history. She followed this with a string of enormously successful romantic comedies including “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993) and “You’ve Got Mail” (1998), both opposite Tom Hanks, solidifying her status as the preeminent romantic comedy actress of her era. At her peak, she was commanding $10-15 million per film.

Beyond romantic comedies, Ryan demonstrated her dramatic range in films like “When a Man Loves a Woman” (1994), “Courage Under Fire” (1996), and “In the Land of Women” (2007). She also provided voice work for the animated film “Anastasia” (1997). Her career slowed in the 2000s as the romantic comedy genre fell out of favor in Hollywood, though she remained active in selective projects and transitioned into directing with “Ithaca” (2015).

Ryan returned to the spotlight with “What Happens Later” (2023), a romantic comedy she co-wrote, directed, and starred in alongside David Duchovny. The film marked her return to the genre that made her famous. She was previously married to actor Dennis Quaid (1991-2001), with whom she has a son, Jack. She also adopted a daughter, Daisy, from China in 2006. Through her decades of high-earning film work, smart financial management, and real estate investments in New York and California, Ryan has built an estimated net worth of $85 million as of 2026.