What are the best Meg Ryan romantic movie performances?

The queen of the romantic comedy genre, Meg Ryan defined an entire era of Hollywood love stories with roles that ranged from adorable to dramatically daring. Which is her most memorable performance?

When Harry Met Sally...

Ryan's performance as Sally Albright, culminating in the legendary diner scene, defined the modern romantic comedy and earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy.

1/14

Sleepless in Seattle

As Annie Reed, a journalist obsessed with a widower she heard on a radio call-in show, Ryan created one of cinema's most warmly beloved romantic heroines opposite Tom Hanks.

2/14

You've Got Mail

Ryan's third pairing with Tom Hanks produced a tender, witty portrait of a bookshop owner falling for her anonymous online pen pal in a performance full of charm and heart.

3/14

When a Man Loves a Woman

Breaking sharply from her rom-com image, Ryan delivered a raw and unflinching dramatic performance as an alcoholic woman whose recovery strains her marriage.

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Joe Versus the Volcano

Ryan's dazzling triple role — playing three completely different women — in this offbeat cult classic with Tom Hanks showed her extraordinary range and comedic inventiveness.

5/14

French Kiss

Ryan's irresistible chemistry with Kevin Kline in this Paris-set romantic comedy made it one of the quintessential mid-90s feel-good films, showcasing her effortless comedic lightness.

6/14

City of Angels

Playing a cardiologist who falls in love with a fallen angel, Ryan brought genuine emotional vulnerability and longing to this romantic fantasy opposite Nicolas Cage.

7/14

Courage Under Fire

As a helicopter pilot whose actions in combat are under posthumous investigation, Ryan delivered a startlingly intense dramatic performance entirely unlike her romantic comedy persona.

8/14

Kate & Leopold

Ryan's final major romantic comedy lead, opposite Hugh Jackman as a time-traveling 19th-century Duke, remained a warm showcase of her classic charm and impeccable comic timing.

9/14

Addicted to Love

Playing a vengeful ex-girlfriend plotting with Matthew Broderick in this dark romantic comedy, Ryan subverted her sweetheart image with a darker, edgier, and wickedly funny turn.

10/14

In the Cut

Ryan's bravest and most polarizing role — a literature professor drawn into a murder investigation and a dangerous affair — showed she could carry a gritty psychological thriller.

11/14

Proof of Life

As a woman negotiating her husband's hostage release opposite Russell Crowe, Ryan stepped fully into action-thriller territory and generated real on-screen electricity in a more serious mode.

12/14

Prelude to a Kiss

This whimsical romantic fantasy, in which Ryan's soul mysteriously transfers into an old man's body after a wedding kiss, gave her one of her most imaginative and touching dramatic challenges.

13/14

Top Gun

Though a small supporting role, Ryan's appearance as Goose's wife in this blockbuster gave her first major Hollywood exposure and marked the beginning of her rise to stardom.

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