Meg Ryan at 63: The queen of romcoms and her real-life drama
Meg Ryan, once the queen of romantic comedies, was long a symbol of charm and success. However, the actress's personal life differed from the ideal she portrayed on screen. On 19 November 2024, the actress turned 63.
She was born on 19 November 1961 as Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra. From a young age, she aspired to become a journalist, beginning her studies at the University of Connecticut. To support herself, she worked as a model and soon entered American show business. She made her debut on the big screen in 1981 in the film Rich and Famous. She changed her last name to one that audiences would remember more easily.
This marked the beginning of Meg Ryan's great but turbulent career. Films such as "When Harry Met Sally", "You've Got Mail", and "Sleepless in Seattle" solidified her position in Hollywood and secured her a place in the hearts of audiences worldwide. Although the actress was renowned for romantic comedies, her love life was rather tumultuous.
America did not forgive her affair
Meg's relationships were always in the public eye. She dated actor Anthony Edwards for a year. The couple played a married couple in the 1986 film Top Gun. However, their relationship didn’t stand the test of time, and they announced their break-up after a year.
Five years later, she married actor Dennis Quaid, whom she met on the set of the film "Innerspace" (1987). The couple had a son, Jack. Her marriage seemed like a fairy tale. However, their relationship ended in a high-profile divorce in 2001 after Meg Ryan's affair with Russell Crowe, whom she met on the set of "Proof of Life", came to light.
The passionate romance with the "Gladiator" star ended her marriage. The actress's infidelity impacted her career, with fans repeatedly reminding her of it. "She's such a faithful, tender woman in films, and then this?!" they commented on the whole incident.
Eventually, the world learned her perspective, indicating that Dennis had been unfaithful, not her. In 2019, she shared with The New York Times Magazine that while their love appeared remarkable, the reality behind closed doors was far from what people believed. Their nine years together were not as they seemed to the outside world.
In 2006, Meg once again wished to be a mother and adopted a girl from China, Daisy True. By 2010, she felt a romantic spark again, this time with John Mellencamp. After four years together, the couple split, only to reunite in 2017. They became engaged in 2018, but the relationship didn't last.
A victim of plastic surgeries
For decades, the actress was synonymous with a girlish charm. She needed to alter her appearance as she turned 50 and wanted to reignite her career. She chose to undergo surgical procedures, which sadly affected both her looks and career.
The star often resorted to Botox, fillers, and plastic surgeries in a bid to halt the clock. Unfortunately, the effect was the opposite – her smooth, altered features made the actress less recognisable. Despite numerous speculations and criticisms, Meg kept her distance from the rumours.
Though plastic surgeries became an attempt to regain her former glow, for many, they symbolize the struggle to accept ageing. Today, although Meg Ryan has stayed away from major productions, she is slowly returning to acting, reminding us that she still has much to offer as an artist.
