Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan is a blonde-haired, blue eyed woman with a lively personality. She was born Margaret Mary Emily Hyra to Susan (Duggan) and was an English teacher, and also a one-time actress. Harry Hyra was a math teacher. Meg is of Ruthenian, Polish, Irish, and German heritage ("Hyra" is an Irish and Ruthenian surname, and "Ryan" is her maternal grandmother's maiden name). Meg graduated from Bethel high school in Bethel in June 1979. She then moved to New York and majored as a journalist at New York University. Meg Ryan is her new name, stepped into acting to earn a little extra while she was completing her education. She made her screen debut in 1981, making a brief appearance as Candice Bergen's daughter in George Cukor’s final film Rich and Famous (1981). She was auditioned for and chosen to play Betsy in the daytime television soap As the World Turns (1956). From 1982 to 1984, she was part of the cast. Meg was also a part of the TV series One of the Boys (1982) but it was swiftly removed. In 1984, Meg relocated to Hollywood, and was offered a position with the western TV series Wildside (1985). Meg had a small role in Top Gun (1986), which resulted in her being cast in Steven Spielberg’s Innerspace (1987) where she co-starred with Dennis Quaid. In D.O.A.'s remake, she again played alongside Dennis Quaid. (1988) and then got married in Saint Valentine's Day 1991. Meg appeared in When Harry Met Sally... (1989), which made the scene at the restaurant famous. Meg was nominated twice for the Golden Globe and BAFTA. In 1990, she co-starred with Tom Hanks in Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) and this time she played three roles as DeDe/Angelica/Patricia. She appeared again alongside Tom in the very successful Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and was nominated for the Golden Globe. In 1994, Meg decided to act contrary to the norm when she acted as the wife of an alcoholic and mother in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994). She went back to being "cute" following the film's release with I.Q. (1994) and French Kiss (1995). People Magazine named Meg "Woman Of The Year" in 1994, and she was awarded the Harvard Hasty Pudding Award.