Meg Ryan’s Career Was Fractured By Divorce But She Now Leads ‘Happy’ Life With Her Son & Adopted Daughter

Mar 03, 2023 by apost team

Meg Ryan is an American actress who became known as the queen of romantic comedies in the 1990s and early 2000s. She is most noted for the films "When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle," "You've Got Mail," and "When a Man Loves a Woman." Ryan got her big break when she landed a supporting role in the popular film "Top Gun" in 1986. 

The actress was born Margaret Mary Emily Hyra on Nov. 19, 1961, in Fairfield, Connecticut. As an adult, she decided to use the surname Ryan when she joined the Screen Actors Guild, which was her grandmother's maiden name. Her parents were both schoolteachers, and they divorced in 1976 when Meg was 15. 

After graduating from Bethel High School in 1979, Ryan enrolled at the University of Connecticut and then transferred to New York University. While still in college, she appeared in commercials and on the soap opera "As the World Turns."

In 1987, Ryan was cast in the film "Innerspace" alongside Dennis Quaid, who would later become her husband. The pair fell madly in love on set and began dating. They were married in 1991. Ryan and Quaid share a son named Jack; however, they decided to divorce a decade later, in 2001. 

The star decided to adopt a baby girl from China named Daisy in 2006. Ryan dated singer John Mellencamp from 2010 to 2014, and they reunited again in 2017. A year later, it was announced that the couple was engaged. Sadly, in 2019 it was reported that the actress ended the engagement.

While Ryan’s career as an actress and director has had its ups and downs, she has found true happiness in raising her children.

Ryan was at the top of her game back in the 1990s and 2000s. She starred in endless films that showed off her amazing skills as an actress, specifically in the romantic comedy department. Her work earned her several awards and nominations along the way, including three Golden Globe Award nominations for her roles in "When Harry Met Sally…," "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You’ve Got Mail." 

She starred alongside plenty of leading men in Hollywood, including Billy Crystal, Tom Hanks and Matthew Broderick. Unfortunately, she was having trouble in the real-world love department. 

In 2000, when Ryan and Quaid announced that they were separating, she insisted that their reason for divorce was not because of anyone else. "It dissolved before it became a sport for the press," she said and added, "the public and the press tuned in way after. The reasons we broke up have nothing to do with another person."

However, in 2008, Ryan opened up about Quaid's infidelity. "Dennis was not faithful to me for a long time, and that was very painful. I found out more about that once I was divorced," she shared.

There were also rumors at the time that her boyfriend Russell Crowe was the reason for Ryan and Quaid's issues. She revealed, "Russell didn't break up the marriage. He was definitely there at the end, but it wasn't his fault. I was a mess. I hurt him, too, at the end. I couldn't be in another long relationship, it wasn't the time for that. So I got out."

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When Ryan spoke up in 2008 about Quaid, he was understandably upset by her claims. "It was eight years ago, and I find it unbelievable that Meg continues publicly to rehash and rewrite the story of our relationship," Quaid said. "Also, I find it regrettable that our son, Jack, has to be reminded in a public way of the turmoil and pain that every child feels in a divorce."

Ryan never remarried, but she was in a long-term relationship with musical artist John Mellencamp which unfortunately ended in a broken engagement. "She'd had enough and ended (their engagement)," a source explained to Us Weekly in late 2019. "She has no regrets."

In the summer of 2019, Ryan shared how she found herself again and said:

"By the time I did my second InStyle cover, in 2003, the page had definitely turned for me. I was divorced (from Dennis Quaid). All of my expectations about everything had been blown up. And that's a good thing."

She continued:

"People think they should be this by the time they're 20 and this by the time they're 30 and accomplished by the time they're 40. I was in my early 40s at the time of the cover shoot. And I said in the interview that I thought the assignment of age was arbitrary. I stand by that — especially now when it's all about pivoting, re-creating, and having multiple careers."

Eight years after announcing her separation from Quaid, Ryan was still struggling to heal. "In the interview for my most recent InStyle cover, in 2008, I said I had an inability to accept myself as lovable. That was harsh," she explained.

Ryan continued, "I think it stemmed from starting over after my marriage ended. Divorce is hard. I wasn't easy on myself around then. I retreated. But that tough time was necessary. I became a better person after all of that. And I grew up a lot."

Back in 2019, Ryan revealed that she didn't feel the same drive to act anymore. She explained, "I wasn't as curious about acting as I was about other things that life can give you. I wanted to live more." The star added, "And I liked acting. I thought it was fun. But acting was a situation I was navigating."

Now, it seems that Ryan is currently more interested in working behind the scenes and focusing on being a mom. She said, "I'm focused on producing. I'm also teeing myself up to direct. But most of all, what I'm ambitious for in the 12 hours a day that I'm awake is my kids' happiness. I just am. I'm either figuring out how to provide for them, figuring out how to say it right, figuring out all those mom things. I want them to be happy. And today I'm happy too."

Speaking with Closer Weekly, Ryan went into more detail about how becoming a mom completely changed her life. "I really recalibrated things when I became a mom," she said. "I felt like I got truer as a person. I'm more myself."

She also spoke with Closer Weekly about the different dynamics she felt as an actress compared to her current career. "I got tired of waiting to be chosen," Ryan said. "When you're an actor, you're a cog. When you produce, you understand the other gears. I'm in the first gear now."

Ryan has continued to find work in the entertainment industry. She made her directorial debut with “Ithaca” in 2015. Ryan also directed the film “What Happens Later.” The talented woman also starred in both films.

However, focusing on her role as a mother has meant the world to Ryan. Back in 2006, PEOPLE reported that Ryan, who was 44 at the time, had adopted a girl from china. It took months after she initially applied to finally be approved and take her daughter home to Los Angeles.

“It is a personal family situation that she does not feel inclined to share,” Ryan’s rep said.

Ryan gave her own take on the experience. “I never felt like I was on a rescue mission or anything like that,” she explained. “I just really wanted a baby; I was on a mission to connect with somebody, and Daisy and I got to meet each other in this way at this time. We are so compatible.”

Since then, though, Ryan has opened up more about what her children mean to her. Ryan shared:

“This is the best time in my whole life. I’m happy in my skin, I’m happy in my home, I’m happy in my career. I’m just very satisfied all around. I don’t feel like I’m living anybody else’s life, or anybody else’s idea of what I should be doing, and it just feels very good.”

The actress continued, “I know I’m very lucky. I feel that I’ve positioned myself in this way, to have a full life, and I’m doing it.”

We’re glad to see Ryan in such a happy place!

Are you a fan of Ryan's movies? What do you think about her finding happiness again after her divorce? Let us know, and feel free to send this on to your friends and loved ones.