Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan, blonde-haired and blue-eyed Meg Ryan, blonde-haired and blue-eyed, was born Margaret Mary Emily Hyra in Fairfield Connecticut to Susan (Duggan) the former actress and English teacher, as well as Harry Hyra, a maths teacher. She is of Ruthenian, Polish, Irish, and German family heritage ("Hyra" is a Ruthenian surname and "Ryan" is her maternal grandmother's maiden name). Meg graduated from Bethel High School in Bethel in May 1979. Meg moved to New York City and studied journalism at New York University. Meg Ryan was her new name, entered acting to make extra money while she was finishing her studies. In the year 1981, she had her first big screen debut, with a brief appearance as Candice Bergen's daughter in George Cukor's last film Rich and Famous (1981). She auditioned , and was selected to play Betsy in the daily TV soap As the World turns (1956). From 1982 until 1984, she was a member of the ensemble. Meg was also a character in the TV series One of the Boys (1982), however, this show was later ended. In 1984, Meg moved to Hollywood, and was offered a position with the western television Series Wildside (1985). Meg played a minor role in Top Gun (1986), later being cast in Steven Spielberg's Innerspace (1987) which was a film in which she starred with Dennis Quaid. She starred again with Quaid in the remake of D.O.A. (1988) and got married on Saint Valentine's Day 1991. Meg made an appearance in the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally... (1989), and the restaurant scene became famous. Meg was nominated to both the Golden Globe and the 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. Also, she was part of the highly successful Sleepless in Seattle (1993), where she was nominated for the Golden Globe. In 1994, Meg decided to act as if she was a rebel as an alcoholic wife and mother in the film When a Man Loves a Woman (1994). Then, she went back to her "cute" I.Q. (1994) & French Kiss (1995). People Magazine named Meg "Woman Of The Year" in 1994. She was also awarded the Harvard Hasty Pudding Award.