Meg Ryan: The Return of America's Rom-Com Sweetheart

In the world of Hollywood, few names are as synonymous with romantic comedies as Meg Ryan. With a career that spanned decades, she became the beloved star of classics like "When Harry Met Sally" and "Sleepless in Seattle." Her charming smile, witty humor, and undeniable chemistry with leading men like Tom Hanks made her the undisputed queen of rom-coms. Yet, after years in the spotlight, Meg Ryan took a "giant break" from Hollywood, leaving fans wondering where their favorite rom-com sweetheart had gone.

Now, in an exclusive interview, Meg Ryan reveals the reasons behind her hiatus and her triumphant return to the big screen in the new romantic comedy, "What Happens Later."

A Heartfelt Departure

Meg Ryan's decision to step away from the Hollywood limelight wasn't sudden or impulsive; it was a deliberate choice. The actress, who also explored dramatic roles in films like "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "Courage Under Fire," expressed a desire to grow and explore other aspects of her life. "I took a giant break because I felt like there's just so many other parts of my experience as a human being I wanted to develop," she confides.

One of the most significant aspects of her life that Meg focused on during this break was her role as a mother. She has two children, Jack, 31, from her marriage to Dennis Quaid, and Daisy, whom she adopted in 2006. For Ryan, the break provided the opportunity to prioritize her family, nurturing the relationships that matter most.

"It's nice to think of it as a job and not a lifestyle," she explains. "And that is a great way of navigating it for me."

A Triumphant Return

After an eight-year hiatus, Meg Ryan is back with a bang, taking on the roles of star, director, and co-writer in the new romantic comedy, "What Happens Later." The film explores the story of ex-lovers who find themselves snowed in together overnight at a regional airport.

Ryan reflects on the inception of the project during the lockdown, noting, "The essence of it is these two people who are stuck together. I just love that idea that we’re held in a space, even if it feels conflicted, maybe for reasons that heal them."

In the film, Ryan shares the screen with David Duchovny, and she calls the entire production "magical." The story is a roller-coaster ride of emotions and asks the question: will they or won't they end up together? These are people who broke each other's hearts long ago, and what they gain from their shared experience is gratitude.

A Return to Kismet

Meg Ryan's career was deeply influenced by her collaborations with the late Nora Ephron, who wrote and directed many of her classic romantic comedies. In retrospect, Ryan now sees that the themes of destiny, fate, and kismet were woven into those beloved films. "The movies I did with Nora had an operative thing about kismet, like destiny and fate. And there’s something really comforting about that," she reflects.

As fans eagerly anticipate the return of America's rom-com sweetheart, Meg Ryan's comeback reminds us that even though life takes unexpected turns, love, laughter, and second chances are always waiting just around the corner. Welcome back, Meg Ryan, to the big screen, where your charm and talent are as timeless as the rom-com genre itself.