MEG RYAN
Date of Birth: November 19, 1961
America always needs a sweetheart. In fact, the first "America's Sweetheart" was Canadian Mary Pickford. Perhaps Sandra Bullock or even Renee Zellwegger is going to inherit that mantle someday but, for now, you'd have to say that America's Sweetheart is still Meg Ryan who inherited that role after her comedic turns in such films as Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally.
In the latter film you'd have to take it as sign as how much America has changed since Mary Pickford had the title of "America's Sweetheart" since Ryan's most famous scene in the movie is her faked orgasm as she has lunch with Billy Crystal. About that little bit of acting, Ryan says, "It's only afterwards that this thing comes into your head and you go, "Ohhhhhh, my God! What did I just do?"
Born in Fairfield, Connecticut, Ryan cut her early acting teeth in the daytime soap opera As The World Turns before gravitating to meatier roles, including her ballsy wife role in Top Gun.
Ryan comes from a troubled background and remains estranged from her mother who left the family when Ryan was just a child. Ryan says of herself, "I used to sort of really think of myself as a lousy person. Now I'm done with that. But believe me, I'm not the poster child for the well adjusted. That I know."
Ryan married actor Dennis Quaid on February 14, 1991, but they divorced in July 2001 and share custody of their son, Jack.
Filmography:
Serious Moonlight(2009)
The Women(2008)
My Mom's New Boyfriend (2008)
The Deal(2008)
In the Land of Women(2007)
Against the Ropes(2004)
In the Cut(2003)
Kate & Leopold (2001)
Proof of Life(2000)
Hanging Up(2000)
You've Got Mail(1998)
City of Angels(1998)
Hurlyburly(1998)
Addicted to Love (1997)
Anastasia (1997) (voice)
Two for the Road (1997)
Courage Under Fire (1996)
French Kiss (1995)
Restoration (1995)
I.Q. (1994)
When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
Flesh and Bone (1993)
Sleepless in Seattle(1993)
Prelude to a Kiss (1992)
The Doors(1991)
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
D.O.A.(1988)
The Presidio (1988)
Promised Land(1988)
Innerspace (1987)
Armed and Dangerous (1986)
Top Gun(1986)
Amityville 3-D(1983)
Rich and Famous (1981)