Meg Ryan | First Soap Opera: As the World Turns

A young Meg Ryan aspired to be an esteemed journalist. And she sought funding for her degree in taking up a role in the soap opera As the World Turns. Little did Ryan know that the choice would lead to 21 episodes of the show and would be her stepping stone to a prolific career in the Hollywood industry. Meg’s initial claim to fame was for a supporting role in the 1986 blockbuster classic Top Gun alongside the likes of Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. Although, it wouldn’t be until 1989 when she starred in the rom-com When Harry Met Sally, that Meg would garner international acclaim.

In 2003, after harsh criticisms about her role in the movie In the Cut, Meg would decide to take a break from the spotlight. She then made a comeback in 2015, although it was as a director in the film Ithaca. Her fresh start as a director in the industry gave a breathed new life to Meg’s career.