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 The talent and engaging charm of actress Meg Ryan have captivated audiences over the years. For causes close to her heart, she also brings a dedication and enthusiasm that is helping to raise awareness about important issues, ranging from children's rights to endangered animals.As a host of the family television series What's Going On? Meg draws attention to the challenges young people in Northern Ireland face as they struggle to come to terms with loss. She speaks about the hurt and anger that children continue to feel, even after the endemic violence that plagues their communities abates. Meg was born in Fairfield, Connecticut and is one of four children. She studied journalism at New York University but supplemented her meager income by turning to acting. Her first break came when she got a part as Candice Bergen's daughter in Rich and Famous (1981). Various TV and small film parts followed before she landed a prestigious role in the daytime drama, As the World Turns. A later role in the film Top Gun (1986) alongside Tom Cruise catapulted her into big feature films. In 1987, her role in Innerspace paired her with Dennis Quaid. Just a year later, the two were paired again in D.O.A., and their on-screen romance moved off-screen and they were married in 1991. They have one son, Jack Henry Quaid but are no longer married. Ryan's career has yielded such classics as When Harry Met Sally (1990), Sleepless in Seattle (1994), and You've Got Mail (1999). She also expanded her professional career to include the role of a producer for The Wedding Singer (2001), Lost Souls (2000) and French Kiss (1995). Her latest films include the psychological thriller, In the Cut directed by Jane Campion and Against the Ropes, which chronicles the true-to-life life story of Jackie Kallen, a successful female boxing manager who overcame many obstacles in the male-dominated world of boxing. Meg's appearance in the 2001 documentary, In the Wild: The White Elephants of Thailand, is an example of her support for environmental causes. Meg believes that the children of Northern Ireland—like young people in other conflict zones—hold the key to peace. "The future depends on kids like Colin and what they choose to pass on to the next generation," she says, adding that, "for the first time, children who have suffered a great loss are breaking the cycle". |
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