Editing Meg Ryan (section)

=== 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]]''.