Meg Ryan Reveals the Director Who Changed Her Career Forever
Meg Ryan opens up about her most inspiring director, Nora Ephron, and the unforgettable creative energy she brought to their iconic romantic comedies.
Working with a director who turns the set into a place of pure inspiration is a rare gift in Hollywood. For Meg Ryan, that experience came through her collaborations with some of the industry’s most celebrated filmmakers. Over the years, Ryan has stepped behind the camera herself, most recently directing the 2023 romantic comedy What Happens Next? alongside David Duchovny. Yet, when she looks back on her acting career, one director stands out above the rest for the impact she had on both Ryan and the genre itself.
Ryan’s filmography reads like a who’s who of legendary directors —Oliver Stone, Tony Scott, Rob Reiner, Jane Campion. But it was writer and director Nora Ephron who left the deepest mark. Their creative partnership began in 1989 with When Harry Met Sally…, a film Ephron wrote and produced while Reiner directed. The movie quickly became a touchstone for romantic comedies, thanks to Ephron’s sharp, heartfelt script that explored the complexities of relationships and the age-old question: can men and women ever really be just friends?
Rom-Com Magic: The Ephron-Ryan Connection
In the mid-1990s, Ephron moved into directing, and her most memorable work came from teaming up with Ryan and Tom Hanks. Together, they created two of the decade’s most beloved romantic comedies: Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. These films captured the spirit of the era, with Ryan’s performances bringing warmth and relatability to Ephron’s deeply personal stories. Audiences saw themselves in these characters—imperfect, sometimes exasperating, but always worth rooting for as they navigated the messy pursuit of love and fulfillment.
Ephron’s approach to romance was both intimate and universal. She reminded viewers that everyone deserves a shot at real, honest love, and she brought that message to life through characters who felt authentic and vulnerable. The chemistry between Ryan and Ephron was the heartbeat of these films, making them enduring favorites for generations of moviegoers.
The Joy of Creating: Ryan on Ephron’s Legacy
Reflecting on her time with Ephron, Ryan shared just how special those days on set were.
“She just had such joy in creating them, and she loved being there so much. Those days would end, and you wouldn’t want the day to end. You wouldn’t want the movie to end.”
The atmosphere Ephron fostered was one of encouragement and genuine happiness, something Ryan says everyone on set felt.
“I’m pretty sure we all felt that way. We didn’t want it to be over. So it was about the environment and keeping it like that.”
Ryan also recalled a comment from Hugh Grant about romantic comedies being like a balloon in a world full of pins—a sentiment that perfectly captured Ephron’s gift for keeping the creative process light and joyful.
“And Nora was great at that, keeping it pin-free.”
That sense of fun and freedom made every project with Ephron not just a job, but a truly memorable experience.