Meg Ryan, renowned for her captivating performances in Hollywood classics like “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail,” achieved fame during the 80s and 90s as an actress. She captured the hearts of the American audience, often referred to as “America’s sweetheart” and epitomized the “girl next door” persona. With her enchanting charm, charisma, striking looks, and exceptional talent, she quickly ascended to stardom.
However, some years ago, Meg Ryan made a conscious decision to take a break from acting and devote her time entirely to her family.
Born in 1961 and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, Ryan’s life was profoundly impacted when her parents divorced during her teenage years. She pursued journalism at the University of Connecticut and later continued her studies at New York University. Initially, she ventured into doing commercials to support herself financially but found herself drawn to the world of acting. Eventually, she landed a role in the soap opera “As the World Turns,” marking her entry into the acting industry.
Ryan experienced a breakthrough moment with the film “Top Gun,” where she portrayed the character Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Nick “Goose” Bradshaw played by Anthony Edwards. During the filming process, Ryan developed a romantic connection with her onscreen husband, leading to a brief period of dating. Soon after, while working on the film “Innerspace,” she crossed paths with her future husband, Dennis Quaid.
Joe Dante, the director of “Innerspace,” shared, “She had already appeared in ‘Top Gun,’ albeit in a small part. She had also starred in a movie called ‘Armed and Dangerous’ alongside John Candy, which had recently been released. But this was a significant step forward for her career, and of course, she met Dennis and they later got married,” as he recounted to Cinema Retro. Ryan and Quaid exchanged vows on Valentine’s Day in 1991, symbolizing their love and commitment.
Their marriage endured for a decade. When the couple announced their separation, rumors of Ryan’s involvement with her co-star Russell Crowe during the filming of “Proof of Life” grabbed headlines. However, Ryan firmly denied that her relationship with Crowe played a role in the dissolution of her marriage, asserting that it was already on shaky ground.
“It made for a sensational story. But what wasn’t reported was the reality of my marriage for nine years. Dennis was unfaithful to me for a long time, and that was incredibly painful. I discovered more about it after our divorce,” Meg Ryan revealed in a 2008 interview with InStyle Magazine, eight years after separating from Quaid.
“I think he took a big hit, but Russell didn’t break up our marriage. He was certainly present towards the end, but it wasn’t his fault,” Ryan explained. “The public and the media caught on much later. The reasons for our breakup had nothing to do with another person,” she added. Quaid expressed his discontent with his ex-wife’s remarks, stating, “It happened eight years ago, and I find it hard to believe that Meg continues to publicly revisit and rewrite the story of our relationship,” as he expressed to the New York Daily News.
Though Ryan characterized their marriage as “unhealthy,” Quaid viewed their union through a different lens. “Of course, I still love her,” Quaid shared with Independent. “I care deeply for her, and we have a lot of fun together. We spent 13 wonderful years as a couple. We have a child together, and we shared so many experiences. She enriched my life.”
Ryan and Quaid share a son named Jack Quaid, who followed in his famous parents’ footsteps and pursued a career in acting, starring in movies like “The Hunger Games” series. In 2006, as her
career began to slow down significantly, Ryan adopted a daughter named Daisy from China when she was just 14 months old.
“I had a strong desire to have a baby. I was on a mission to connect with someone, and Daisy and I found each other through adoption at that particular time. We have an incredible bond. Having already experienced motherhood with Jack and now embracing Daisy in a different way, there’s no difference in the love I feel,” Ryan shared in an interview with Redbook magazine in 2007.
In recent years, Ryan, now 61 years old, has kept a low public profile and took a hiatus from the screen. However, according to close friends, she is planning to make a triumphant return to Hollywood. Despite her age, she continues to exude timeless beauty. Audiences eagerly anticipate her forthcoming projects in the future.
