Editing Meg Ryan (section)

== Career ==

=== Early work ===
[[File:Meg Ryan - As the World Turns (1983).jpg|thumb|upright|Ryan in ''[[As the World Turns]]'' (1983)]]
After her film debut in director [[George Cukor]]'s final film, ''[[Rich and Famous (1981 film)|Rich and Famous]]'', in 1981, Ryan played [[Betsy Stewart]] in the daytime drama ''[[As the World Turns]]'' from 1982 to 1984; her character was featured in a [[Steve Andropoulos and Betsy Stewart|popular romantic story arc]].
She also appeared in some television commercials during the early 1980s for [[Burger King]] and [[Aim toothpaste]], among others. Several television and smaller film roles followed, including appearances in ''[[Charles in Charge]]'', ''[[Armed and Dangerous (1986 film)|Armed and Dangerous]]'', and ''[[Amityville 3-D]]''. Her role in ''[[Promised Land (1987 film)|Promised Land]]'' (1987) earned Ryan her first [[Independent Spirit Award]] nomination.

In 1986, she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife of [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]]' character, naval flight officer Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, in ''[[Top Gun]]''. Scenes with them were reprised in the 2022 sequel ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'' as flashbacks to illustrate the emotional conflicts between lead character Pete "Maverick" Mitchell ([[Tom Cruise]]) and the Bradshaws' grown son, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw ([[Miles Teller]]).

Ryan appeared in the film ''[[Innerspace]]'' in 1987 with her future husband [[Dennis Quaid]], and they subsequently costarred in the remake of ''[[D.O.A. (1988 film)|D.O.A.]]'' (1988) and ''[[Flesh and Bone (film)|Flesh and Bone]]'' (1993). She also costarred in 1988 with [[Sean Connery]] and [[Mark Harmon]] in ''[[The Presidio (film)|The Presidio]]''.

=== 1989–1999: Career breakthrough and stardom ===
Ryan's first leading role was the romantic comedy ''[[When Harry Met Sally...]]'' (1989), which paired her with comic actor [[Billy Crystal]] and earned her a nomination for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical]]. Her portrayal of Sally Albright includes an oft-recounted scene in which her character, lunching with Crystal's character in [[Katz's Delicatessen]] in [[Manhattan]], theatrically demonstrates for him how easy it is for a woman to fake an [[orgasm]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Twenty-Five Years After 'When Harry Met Sally,' People Still Fake Orgasms in Katz's Deli |url=http://www.newsweek.com/twenty-five-years-later-people-still-wont-stop-faking-orgasms-katzs-deli-258596 |access-date=June 13, 2015 |publisher=Newsweek |first=Zach |last=Schonfeld |date=July 14, 2014}}</ref>

Ryan next appeared in [[Oliver Stone]]'s moderately successful film ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'', and in ''[[Prelude to a Kiss (film)|Prelude to a Kiss]]'', which flopped.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prelude to a Kiss |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2708178433/weekend/ |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> In 1993, the hugely successful romantic comedy ''[[Sleepless in Seattle]]'' paired Ryan for a second time with [[Tom Hanks]]. They had previously been the romantic leads, with Ryan playing three different women, in [[John Patrick Shanley]]'s ''[[Joe Versus the Volcano]]'' in 1990 — a commercial disappointment which later developed a cult following. (Hanks and Ryan were once again paired in another box-office success, ''[[You've Got Mail]]'', in 1998.)<ref>{{cite news |title=Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan to reunite on-screen in 'Ithaca': report |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/tom-hanks-meg-ryan-reunite-screen-report-article-1.1844986 |access-date=June 13, 2015 |work=New York Daily News|date=June 26, 2014 |first=Rachel |last=Maresca}}</ref> She earned her second nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her performance in ''Sleepless in Seattle''. She was offered the role of FBI agent [[Clarice Starling]], the protagonist of ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'' (1991), but rejected it due to the film's gruesome and violent themes.

In 1994, Ryan played an [[Alcoholism|alcoholic]] high-school guidance counselor – far from the romantic-comedy [[Ingenue (stock character)|ingenue]] roles for which she had become famous – in [[Luis Mandoki]]'s social romantic drama ''[[When a Man Loves a Woman (film)|When a Man Loves a Woman]]'', also starring [[Andy Garcia]]. The film and her performance were both well received by critics.<ref name="Kate & Leopold 2001">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kate_and_leopold/ |title=''Kate & Leopold'' (2001) |publisher=[[Flixster]] |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=September 8, 2010}}</ref> A critic for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called the film "a first-class production, accentuated by fine performances and an unflinching script,"<ref name="variety10">{{cite magazine |first=Leonard |last=Klady |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117902641.html |title=''When a Man Loves a Woman'' review |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=April 24, 1994 |access-date=September 19, 2010}}</ref> and another praised Ryan for her "roller-coaster role".<ref name="variety10" /> The film was a notable success, grossing $50&nbsp;million in the United States alone,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/When-a-Man-Loves-a-Woman-(1994)|title=''When a Man Loves a Woman'' (1994) |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> and garnered Ryan a nomination for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role]].<ref name="awards">{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=John |author-link=John Wilson (Golden Raspberry) |title=29th Annual Golden Raspberry (Razzie) Award "Winners" |work=Home of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation |publisher=Golden Raspberry Award Foundation |url=http://www.razzies.com/history/08winners.asp |access-date=May 1, 2009|year=2009}}</ref> The same year, Ryan returned to type, starring alongside [[Tim Robbins]] in [[Fred Schepisi]]'s romantic comedy ''[[I.Q. (film)|I.Q.]]'' The film centers on a mechanic and a [[Princeton University|Princeton]] doctoral candidate who fall in love, with the aid of the graduate student's uncle, [[Albert Einstein]] (played by [[Walter Matthau]]). Ryan later won Harvard's [[Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year]] award, and ''[[People Magazine]]'' dubbed her one of "the 50 most beautiful people in the world".

In 1995, critic [[Richard Corliss]] called Ryan "the current soul of romantic comedy". The same year she also starred opposite [[Kevin Kline]] in [[Lawrence Kasdan]]'s ''[[French Kiss (1995 film)|French Kiss]]'', a comedy catering to her "America's Sweetheart" image, and was awarded the [[Women in Film Los Angeles|Women in Film]] [[Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards#THE CRYSTAL AWARD|Crystal Award]] – given to "outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry."<ref name="wif">{{cite web |url=http://wif.org/past-recipients |title=Past Recipients |publisher=wif.org |access-date=May 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724120329/http://www.wif.org/past-recipients |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref>

In 1996, Ryan starred as a helicopter pilot in the war drama ''[[Courage Under Fire]]'', a critical and commercial success. The following year, she voiced the lead role in the animated film ''[[Anastasia (1997 film)|Anastasia]]'', which met with good reviews and box office success, and she and [[Matthew Broderick]] played a pair of jilted lovers bent on revenge in the black comedy ''[[Addicted to Love (film)|Addicted to Love]]'', giving Ryan a female lead at least superficially different from her usual roles.
In 1998, she starred in two films. ''[[City of Angels (film)|City of Angels]]'' (an American remake of [[Wim Wenders]]' ''[[Wings of Desire]]'') drew positive reviews and earned nearly $200&nbsp;million worldwide. ''[[You've Got Mail]]'', reteaming Ryan with Hanks, earned her a third nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and made more than $250&nbsp;million worldwide. She also appeared in 1998's ''[[Hurlyburly (film)|Hurlyburly]]'' with [[Sean Penn]].

=== 2000–2006: Continued roles ===
Ryan's first film of the 2000s was ''[[Hanging Up]]'', a [[Diane Keaton]]-directed family comedy-drama about a trio of sisters who bond over the approaching death of their curmudgeonly father. Also starring Keaton, [[Lisa Kudrow]] and [[Walter Matthau]], the film adaptation of [[Delia Ephron]]'s 1995 novel received poor reviews from critics.

The same year, Ryan was cast in the action thriller ''[[Proof of Life]]'' with [[Russell Crowe]], directed by [[Taylor Hackford]]. In the film, she portrayed the distraught wife of a kidnapped engineer, played by [[David Morse (actor)|David Morse]], while relying on a resourceful troubleshooter who makes a profession of dealing with international bandits. While the film became a lukewarm critical and commercial success, grossing $63&nbsp;million worldwide, it garnered much reportage in the [[tabloid journalism|tabloid]] press in association with Ryan and Crowe's affair.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Proof-of-Life|title=''Proof of Life'' (2000) |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> Stephen Holden, film critic for ''[[The New York Times]],'' did not think the film worked well and opined that the actors did not connect.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Stephen |last=Holden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/08/movies/film-review-where-cynicism-rules-integrity-can-be-heroic.html |title=Where Cynicism Rules, Integrity Can Be Heroic |work=The New York Times |date=December 8, 2000 |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Meg Ryan.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Ryan in September 2006]]
A year later, she once again returned to her romantic comedy roots with ''[[Kate & Leopold]]'' (2001), alongside [[Hugh Jackman]]. A film about a British Duke who [[time travel|travels through time]] from New York in 1876 to the present and falls in love with a successful market researcher in the modern New York, the [[James Mangold]]-directed film received a mixed-to-positive response,<ref name="Kate & Leopold 2001" /> with Lael Loewenstein of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' summing it as "a mostly charming and diverting tale".<ref name="klv">{{Cite web |first=Lael |last=Loewenstein |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/awards/kate-leopold-1200552225/ |title=Kate & Leopold |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 16, 2001 |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> At a total gross of $70&nbsp;million, it would be Ryan's highest-grossing film of the decade.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Kate-and-Leopold|title=''Kate & Leopold'' (2001) |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref>

In 2003, Ryan broke away from her usual roles, starring alongside [[Mark Ruffalo]] and [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]] in [[Jane Campion]]'s [[erotic thriller]] film ''[[In the Cut (film)|In the Cut]]''. Co-producer [[Nicole Kidman]] had originally been cast in the lead, but the actress eventually dropped out after five years of development, leaving the role to Ryan, who appeared nude in a lengthy and rather graphic love scene for the first time in her career. Although her image-conflicting depiction earned Ryan and the film much media attention, the film failed with critics and grossed only $23&nbsp;million in theaters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/In-the-Cut-(2003) |title=''In the Cut'' (2003) |publisher=The Numbers|access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> While promoting ''In the Cut'' on [[Michael Parkinson]]'s talk show ''[[Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]'', the actress was offended by the host's questions regarding filming nude scenes,<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=January 30, 2009 |title=Meg Ryan hits out at Parkinson |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2006/0404/406610-ryanm/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=[[RTÉ.ie]]}}</ref> appearing disinterested, delivering one-word responses, and suggesting that Parkinson end their interview when asked what she would do in his position.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Vinter |first=Robyn |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Michael Parkinson's most memorable TV moments – from Emu to Meg Ryan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/aug/17/michael-parkinson-most-memorable-tv-moments-from-emu-to-meg-ryan |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The interaction is considered to be one of the most infamous in talk show history.<ref name=":17">{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2006 |title=Jones slap tops TV chat show poll |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4637648.stm |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref name=":18" /> Three years after the interview aired, Ryan explained that she felt Parkinson was berating her for performing nudity and had attempted to disagree with his views respectfully.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bond |first=Nick |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Michael Parkinson's infamous Meg Ryan interview resurfaces |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/flashback/michael-parkinsons-infamous-meg-ryan-interview-resurfaces/news-story/100daf86f9a8750c323ad112a34dbaf3 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=[[News.com.au]]}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=McGinty |first=Stephen |date=April 5, 2006 |title=Parky was a 'nut', says Meg Ryan |url=http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=598&id=521652006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420102053/http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=598&id=521652006 |archive-date=April 20, 2007 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=[[The Scotsman]]}}</ref> Parkinson eventually apologized for losing his temper in 2021, but maintained that Ryan's behavior "played a part in it too".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nugent |first=Annabel |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Michael Parkinson's apology to Meg Ryan over infamous 2003 interview |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/michael-parkinson-meg-ryan-interview-apology-b2394665.html |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> 

She continued the strategy of acting against type with a leading role in [[Charles S. Dutton]]'s directorial debut ''[[Against the Ropes]]'' (2004), a fictionalized [[sport film|sport drama]] about American boxing manager [[Jackie Kallen]], the first woman to become a success in the sport. The film grossed less than $6&nbsp;million in the U.S. and was panned by critics, in part because of its resemblance to other boxing films, such as the ''[[Rocky]]'' series.

=== 2007–2009: Independent films ===
Following a three-year hiatus, Ryan returned to film with [[Jon Kasdan]]'s 2007 independent film ''[[In the Land of Women]]''. Starring alongside [[Kristen Stewart]] and [[Olympia Dukakis]], she played Sarah Hardwicke, a mother and wife facing breast cancer, who connects with her neighbor's much younger grandson, played by [[Adam Brody]]. Released to mixed reviews by critics,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/inthelandofwomen |title=''In the Land of Women'' (2007): Reviews |access-date=September 12, 2007 |publisher=[[CBS]] |work=[[Metacritic]] |archive-date=January 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130011754/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/inthelandofwomen |url-status=dead }}</ref> the film grossed $17.5&nbsp;million worldwide,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3915089409/ |title=''In the Land of Women'' |publisher=IMDB |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> exceeding its budget of $10&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://behindthescenestv.net/interview/interview-writer-director-jonathan-kasdan-arrives-with-in-the-land-of-women |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409110043/http://behindthescenestv.net/interview/interview-writer-director-jonathan-kasdan-arrives-with-in-the-land-of-women |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 9, 2018 |title=INTERVIEW: Writer-Director Jonathan Kasdan arrives with ''In the Land of Women'' |work=BehindScenesTV |publisher=BehindScenesTV.com |access-date=September 4, 2010 }}</ref> Ryan received a positive response for her performance, with [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' noting it "the best work [she] has done in forever".<ref>{{Cite web |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-et-land20apr20,0,2972335.story |title=''In the Land of Women'' Review |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 20, 2007 |access-date=September 4, 2010}}</ref>

Ryan's first film release of 2008 was ''[[The Deal (2008 film)|The Deal]]'', a [[satirical]] [[comedy film]] based on [[Peter Lefcourt]]'s 1991 novel of the same title about Hollywood. Directed by [[Steven Schachter]] and co-starring [[William H. Macy]], the film was shot in [[Cape Town]] and other South African locations and celebrated its world premiere at the [[2008 Sundance Film Festival]]. Garnering generally mixed to negative reviews, it failed to draw interest among film studios, resulting in a [[straight-to-DVD]] release in January 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Perez |last=Hilton |url=http://perezhilton.com/2009-01-27-whatever-happened-to-meg-ryans-career |title=Whatever Happened To Meg Ryan's Career??? |publisher=PerezHilton.com |date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=October 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211954/http://perezhilton.com/2009-01-27-whatever-happened-to-meg-ryans-career |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In his review for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', Peter Debruge said, "The characters seem to be doing all the laughing, while the general public has nothing to cling to but the horndog flirtation between mismatched leads William H. Macy and Meg Ryan—hardly ideal ingredients for mainstream success."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Peter |last=Debruge |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/the-deal-6-1200548741/ |title=The Deal |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 24, 2008 |access-date=April 6, 2022 }}</ref> Ryan also starred in [[George Gallo]]'s ''[[My Mom's New Boyfriend]]'', shot in 2006 but released direct-to-DVD in 2008.<ref name="reel" /> Co-starring [[Colin Hanks]], [[Selma Blair]] and [[Antonio Banderas]], the action comedy received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with David Nusair of ''Reel Film'' noting it "an unmitigated disaster virtually from its opening frames".<ref name="reel">{{Cite web |first=David |last=Nusair |url=http://www.reelfilm.com/sonycom2.htm#mymoms |title=Four Comedies from Sony Pictures |publisher=ReelFilm.com |access-date=January 24, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Meg Ryan Cannes 2010.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Ryan at the [[2010 Cannes Film Festival]]]]
Ryan's last film of 2008 was ''[[The Women (2008 film)|The Women]]'', a remake of the [[The Women (1939 film)|1939 production]]. The all-female cast comprises [[Annette Bening]], [[Debra Messing]], and [[Jada Pinkett Smith]].<ref name="ew">{{Cite magazine |first=Missy |last=Schwartz |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2007/06/08/leading-ladies-women |title=Leading ladies of ''The Women'' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 8, 2007 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406192814/https://ew.com/article/2007/06/08/leading-ladies-women/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Written, produced and directed by [[Diane English]], the film centers on a group of four female [[Manhattan]] socialites whose primary interest is idle [[gossip]], with Ryan portraying a wealthy woman whose husband is cheating on her with a shop girl, played by [[Eva Mendes]]. Ryan was the first actress to join the long-delayed production, which had struggled to find financing since the early 1990s, resulting in an independent production budgeted at $18&nbsp;million.<ref name="ew" /> Upon its release, ''The Women'' received a disastrous response from critics, with [[Richard Schickel]] of ''Time'' calling it "one of the worst movies I've ever seen".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Schickel |first=Richard |url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1840522,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912043327/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1840522,00.html |archive-date=September 12, 2008 |title=''The Women'': Sex Crime |magazine=Time |date=September 11, 2008 |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> The film was a financial success, however, becoming Ryan's most successful film since 2001's ''Kate & Leopold'' with a worldwide gross of $50&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Women-The-(2008)|title=''The Women'' (2008) |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref>

In 2009, Ryan starred alongside [[Kristen Bell]] and [[Justin Long]] in the independent comedy film ''[[Serious Moonlight (2009 film)|Serious Moonlight]]''. In this film, directed by actress [[Cheryl Hines]] and based on a screenplay by late writer [[Adrienne Shelly]], who was murdered a year prior to filming, Ryan portrayed a high-powered female attorney who learns that her husband, played by [[Timothy Hutton]], is about to leave their troubled marriage, and decides to hold him captive by duct-taping him to a toilet.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Christopher |last=Campbell |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2434602/up-in-the-air-serious-moonlight-and-loot-in-this-weeks-unlimited/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101161632/http://www.mtv.com/news/2434602/up-in-the-air-serious-moonlight-and-loot-in-this-weeks-unlimited/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 1, 2017 |title=''Up In The Air'', ''Serious Moonlight'' and ''Loot'' In This Week's unLimited |work=[[MTV News]] |date=January 12, 2009 |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> Picked up by [[Magnolia Pictures]], the production received a limited release throughout North America only and grossed less than $150,000 worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Serious-Moonlight#tab=summary |title=''Serious Moonlight'' (2009) |publisher=The Numbers|access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> Critical reaction to the film was generally mixed-to-negative,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/serious_moonlight/?name_order=asc |title=''Serious Moonlight'' Reviews |publisher=[[Flixster]] | work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=September 7, 2010}}</ref> although Ryan was praised for her "terrific" performance.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Doris |last=Toumarkine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/moonlight-film-review-93115/ |title=''Serious Moonlight'' – Film Review |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=May 5, 2009 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205134533/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/serious-moonlight-film-review-1003969546.story |archive-date=December 5, 2009}}</ref> Also in 2009, Ryan guest-starred on the seventh season of ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''.

=== 2010–present: Directing ===
Ryan was attached to several productions in the early 2010s—including the ensemble drama ''Lives of The Saints'' opposite [[Kat Dennings]], [[Kevin Zegers]], and [[John Lithgow]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/meg-ryan-joins-lives-of-the-saints/ |title=Meg Ryan joins Lives Of The Saints |date=October 21, 2011 |access-date=September 28, 2021 |first=Joshua |last=Winning}}</ref> and ''[[Crazy Kind of Love|Long Time Gone]]'', a film adaptation of the April Stevens novel ''[[Angel Angel]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/meg-ryan-circles-long-time-gone-1118037604/ |title=Meg Ryan circles 'Long Time Gone' |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |first=Justin |last=Kroll}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1641746.php/Meg-Ryan-knows-what-a-Long-Time-Gone-is |title=Meg Ryan knows what a 'Long Time Gone' is |publisher=Monsters and Critics |first=Adnan |last=Tenzer |date=May 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014175621/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1641746.php/Meg-Ryan-knows-what-a-Long-Time-Gone-is |access-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref>—all of which failed to materialize. In April 2011, it was announced that Ryan would make her feature film directing debut in ''Into the Beautiful'', described as "a contemporary ''[[The Big Chill (film)|Big Chill]]'' with longtime friends reconnecting", but it was never made.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/meg-ryan-to-make-directorial-debut-1118035043/ |title=Meg Ryan to make directorial debut |date=April 5, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |first=Dave |last=McNary}}</ref>

In October 2012, Ryan was featured in the [[PBS]] documentary ''[[Half the Sky]]: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide''. The series introduces women and girls living under difficult circumstances and fighting to challenge them.<ref>{{cite web |title=Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide |url=https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/half-the-sky/ |publisher=pbs.org |access-date=September 28, 2021 |first1=Maro |last1=Chermayeff |first2=Jamie |last2=Gordon |first3=Mikaela |last3=Beardsley}}</ref> The same month, Ryan's audiobook recording of [[William Saroyan]]'s ''[[The Human Comedy (novel)|The Human Comedy]]'' was released. In October 2013, it was reported that Ryan would be returning to television to produce and star in a new comedy for [[NBC]] revolving around a former hotshot New York editor, for which it again failed to get production approval.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/meg-ryan-star-produce-nbc-647805 |date=October 11, 2013 |first1=Lesley |last1=Goldberg |first2=Philiana |last2=Ng |title=Meg Ryan to Star in and Produce NBC Comedy |work=The-Hollywood Reporter |access-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref>

Following another four-year hiatus, Ryan re-teamed with [[Lisa Kudrow]] on her improvisational comedy series ''[[Web Therapy (TV series)|Web Therapy]]'', for which she filmed five episodes in 2013. The following year, she provided the future voice of [[Greta Gerwig]]'s character in the pilot of ''[[How I Met Your Dad]]'', a woman-centric variation of the [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' that was not picked up.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meg Ryan To Voice The Mother In CBS's 'How I Met Your Dad' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/04/meg-ryan-to-voice-mother-in-how-i-met-your-dad-718910/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 23, 2014 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva}}</ref> CBS later passed on the project.<ref name="CBS Passes on How I Met Your Dad">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/14/cbs-passes-on-how-i-met-your-mother-spinoff-how-i-met-your-dad |title=CBS Passes on How I Met Your Dad |website=IGN |date=May 3, 2017 |access-date=September 28, 2021 |first=Eric |last=Goldman}}</ref>

Ryan's next feature film was the [[Freeform (TV channel)|ABC Family]] film ''[[Fan Girl (2015 film)|Fan Girl]]'', an independent comedy about a 15-year-old girl, played by [[Kiernan Shipka]], with a passion for filmmaking who sets out to make a movie about her favorite band, [[All Time Low]].<ref name="Kiernan Shipka Becomes A 'Fan Girl' At LA Film Festival 2015">{{cite news |title=Kiernan Shipka Becomes A 'Fan Girl' At LA Film Festival 2015 |website=JustJared |id=Accessed September 28, 2015 |ref=Kiernan Shipka Becomes A 'Fan Girl' At LA Film Festival 2015}}</ref> It premiered at the [[Los Angeles Film Festival]] in June 2015.<ref name="Kiernan Shipka Becomes A 'Fan Girl' At LA Film Festival 2015" />

Also in 2015, Ryan made her directing debut with ''[[Ithaca (film)|Ithaca]]'', a [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] based on the 1943 novel ''[[The Human Comedy (novel)|The Human Comedy]]'' by [[William Saroyan]].<ref name="deadline1">{{cite magazine |url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/berlin-meg-ryan-to-direct-ithaca-with-tom-hanks-executive-producing-673245/ |title=Berlin: Meg Ryan To Direct 'Ithaca' With Tom Hanks Executive Producing; The Exchange Selling At EFM |magazine=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 29, 2014 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |first=Nancy |last=Tartaglione}}</ref> Filmed in [[Petersburg, Virginia]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodrow |first=John |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style-blog/wp/2015/10/07/meg-ryan-and-spotlight-come-to-the-middleburg-film-festival/ |title=Meg Ryan and 'Spotlight' come to the Middleburg Film Festival |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref> it starred Ryan and had its world premiere at the [[Middleburg, Virginia|Middleburg]] Film Festival in October.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://middleburgfilm.org/films/ithaca-world-premiere |title=Ithaca (World Premiere!) |publisher=Middleburg Film Festival |access-date=October 13, 2015}}</ref> Ryan returned to the screen alongside [[David Duchovny]] in the 2023 romantic comedy, ''[[What Happens Later]]'', also directed by Ryan.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/movies/new-movies-fall.html Here Are the Most Anticipated Movies of Fall 2023] The New York Times. 8 September 2023</ref>