Meg Ryan: Navigating love, fame, and the pursuit of happiness

She was born on November 19, 1961, as Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra. Since childhood, she wanted to become a journalist. She began her journalism studies at the University of Connecticut. To support herself, she worked as a model. She quickly entered the American show business. She made her debut on the big screen in 1981 in the movie Rich and Famous. She changed her last name to something that the audience would remember more easily.

This marked the beginning of Meg Ryan's notable but bumpy career. Movies like "When Harry Met Sally," "You've Got Mail," and "Sleepless in Seattle" solidified her position in Hollywood and secured her a place in the hearts of viewers worldwide. Although the actress was considered a specialist in romantic comedies, her love life was a series of challenges.

Meg's love life was always in the spotlight. She dated actor Anthony Edwards for a year. The couple played a married couple in the 1986 movie "Top Gun." However, the relationship didn't stand the test of time, and they announced their break-up after a year.

Five years later, she became the wife of actor Dennis Quaid, whom she met on the set of the movie "Innerspace" (1987). The couple had a son, Jack. Her marriage seemed fairy-tale-like. However, their relationship ended with a high-profile divorce in 2001 after Meg Ryan's affair with Russell Crowe, whom she met on the set of "Proof of Life," came to light.

The fiery romance with the "Gladiator" star ended her marriage. The actress's infidelity impacted her career. Fans repeatedly reminded her of her unfaithfulness. "She's such a faithful, tender woman in movies, and then this?!" they commented on the whole incident.

Eventually, the world learned her perspective, which implied that Dennis had been unfaithful, not her. Reflecting on their relationship, she explained to The New York Times Magazine in 2019 that their love appeared impressive to others and the reality of their nine years together was far from what people imagined.

In 2006, Meg once again wanted to be a mom and adopted a girl from China, Daisy True. In 2010, she felt butterflies in her stomach again. The object of her affection became John Mellencamp. After four years together, the couple split, only to reunite in 2017. In 2018, they got engaged. Unfortunately, the relationship didn't stand the test of time.

For decades, the actress was associated with girlish charm. When she turned 50 and wanted to reignite her career, she decided she also had to change her appearance. She opted for surgical interventions, which unfortunately affected her looks and career.

The star often used Botox, fillers, and plastic surgeries to stop the clock. Unfortunately, the effect was the opposite – her smooth face and altered features made the actress no longer resemble herself. Despite numerous speculations and criticisms, Meg maintained her distance from rumours.

Although plastic surgeries became an attempt to regain her former glow, for many, they symbolize the difficulty in accepting the passage of time. Today, Meg Ryan, although away from major productions, is slowly returning to acting, reminding us that she still has something to offer as an artist.