The Shocking Transformation of Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan became America’s sweetheart in the 1980s as the star of many popular romantic comedies like “When Harry Met Sally” and “Addicted to Love.” This blond bombshell was the perfect mix of the cute girl next door and alluring beauty, telling People in an October 2023 interview that she’s lucky because “I can feel a lot of affection in the world,” especially from those recovering from surgery or illnesses who found solace in her movies. But what happened to the queen of rom-coms? Here’s her inspiring story, from a humble upbringing to an inspirational comeback.

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Born Margaret Hyra in 1961

In the 60s, Meg Ryan was Margaret Hyra, born to parents Susan and Harry, who were both teachers at the time. At one point, her mother was an actor, which would eventually help Meg get commercial work. The starlet changed her name to Meg Ryan in 1978 when she joined the Screen Actors Guild, taking her maternal grandmother’s maiden name. Surprisingly, she never saw herself as a performer when she was growing up.

Her parents divorced when she was 15 years old

In 1974, Ryan’s family moved from Fairfield, Connecticut, to Bethel, a few towns over but in the same state. After enrolling in Bethel High, Ryan quickly became popular in school, and everyone wanted to be her friend. However, things weren’t as rosy at home, and after her mother decided she wanted to be more than a housewife, her parents divorced. Her father became a stay-at-home dad, while her mother left and sought out a career. When she found that career, Ryan had already moved out of the house and had a strained relationship with her mother and father.

She paid for college with commercials

To pay her way at the University of Connecticut, Meg Ryan met agents through her mother, who landed her ads for brands like Campbell’s Soup, Burger King, and Aim toothpaste. These roles took her from a part-time gig to a full-time job. She dropped out of NYU, where she was studying journalism, to pursue acting.

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1982 Aim toothpaste commercial with up-and-coming actress Meg Ryan
♬ original sound – Feeling Long Time Media