“Meg Ryan Breaks Her 9-Year Hiatus in Hollywood – Fans Are Surprised by Her New Appearance”

Meg Ryan’s recent appearance has sparked media and public discussions about potential cosmetic procedures. A prominent plastic surgeon described her surgery as “botched,” while social media users urged her to stop using fillers.

Although Meg Ryan has never confirmed having cosmetic procedures, her recent public appearance sparked rumors of a “botched” plastic surgery. Let’s take a look at Ryan’s transformation over the years, from her natural look in the 1980s during her rising career to her widely discussed appearance at a recent prestigious event.

The American actress Meg Ryan. Portrait taken at the Deauville American Film Festival in September 1989. (Photo by: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In 1989, Meg Ryan was already a rising star in Hollywood. She started her acting career on the soap opera As The World Turns, where she appeared from 1982 to 1984. Her big film breakthrough came in 1986 with Top Gun, where she starred opposite Tom Cruise.

LOS ANGELES – MAY 16: The movie “Top Gun”, directed by Tony Scott. Seen here, Meg Ryan as Carole. Initial theatrical release May 16, 1986. Screen capture. Paramount Pictures. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)

Meg Ryan cemented her status as America’s Sweetheart with her roles in beloved romantic comedies like When Harry Met Sally (1989) alongside Billy Crystal, Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You’ve Got Mail (1998). These films made her a household name and a fan favorite.

During this period, Meg Ryan had a youthful and radiant appearance. Her long, curly blonde hair framed her face, complementing her fresh complexion and vibrant look, which was in line with the fashion trends of the late 1980s.

London December 2nd 1989. Meg Ryan at film premiere of “When Harry met Sally” (Photo by Tom Wargacki/WireImage)

In 1994, Meg Ryan’s work was widely recognized. She won a Golden Globe for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Sleepless in Seattle. That same year, she was also honored as Woman of the Year by Hasty Pudding Theatricals.

Meg Ryan attends the 51st Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 22, 1994, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Ted Dayton/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)

At the Golden Globe Awards in January 1994, Meg Ryan looked polished with a short, sleek bob and subtly highlighted hair. Her sophisticated appearance was complemented by accentuated eyes, perfectly matching the glamour of the event.

Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid attend the 51st Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 22, 1994, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Ted Dayton/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)

By February 1994, Meg Ryan was spotted at LAX with a more casual style. She wore a tousled bob and minimal makeup, emphasizing her natural beauty.

Meg Ryan during Meg Ryan Sighted at LAX – February 9, 1994 at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Later in May 1994, Meg Ryan showcased a chic shoulder-length bob with soft waves, paired with subtle makeup. Her look exuded a graceful, refined appearance.

CANNES FESTIVAL: FILM ‘PARIS MATCH’ (Photo by Eric Robert/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images)

In 2001, Meg Ryan went through a difficult period in her life when she divorced actor Dennis Quaid after ten years of marriage. She spoke candidly about the challenges of experiencing a public divorce, saying, “Divorce is hard. Love is hard. All those things were so personal. They weren’t for mass consumption.”

Meg Ryan during “Kate & Leopold” – Los Angeles Premiere at Bruin Theater in Westwood, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)

During this time, Meg Ryan attended a movie premiere with a sleek, shoulder-length bob and elegant makeup, highlighted by soft pink lipstick. Later that month, she was seen sporting loose, voluminous waves paired with dramatic makeup, including bold red lipstick and smoky eyes.

398734 02: Actress Meg Ryan attends the premiere of ”Kate & Leopold” December 16, 2001 at the Clearview Beekman Theater in New York City. Ryan stars in the movie alongside Hugh Jackman. (Photo by George De Sota/Getty Images)

In May 2003, Meg Ryan attended the Cannes Film Festival, where she looked radiant with natural makeup and her hair styled in loose waves.

In October 2003, Meg Ryan attended the premiere of In the Cut with a short, edgy bob and more defined makeup, presenting a chic and modern look.

Meg Ryan arrives at the premiere of “In The Cut.” (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)

In 2006, Meg Ryan, a Connecticut native, attended the opening night of Madama Butterfly in New York City, where she showcased a sophisticated look.

Meg Ryan arrives to “Madama Butterfly” Opening Night Starting the Lincoln Center Metropolitan Opera 2006-2007 Season held at Lincoln Center Plaza, New York City BRIAN ZAK. (Photo by Brian ZAK/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

For the Madama Butterfly opening in 2006, Meg Ryan wore a black ensemble with her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. Her look was complemented by understated makeup that accentuated her smooth and radiant complexion.

Meg Ryan (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

In 2009, Meg Ryan starred in Serious Moonlight, a comedy crime film alongside Timothy Hutton, Justin Long, and Kristen Bell. This marked one of her final projects before taking a hiatus from Hollywood.

Actress/director Cheryl Hines and actress Meg Ryan attend the 8th Annual Tribeca Film Festival “Serious Moonlight” premiere at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on April 25, 2009 in New York City.

In December 2009, Meg Ryan attended the New York premiere of Serious Moonlight with loose, shoulder-length waves, a glowing complexion, and an elegant appearance.

Meg Ryan attends the “Serious Moonlight” New York premiere at Cinema 2 in New York City. (Photo by Lars Niki/Corbis via Getty Images)

In 2012, Meg Ryan participated in the Half the Sky: A Special Presentation of Independent Lens panel. She showcased a polished look with a short, tousled bob and facial features that included high cheekbones, a delicate nose, and full lips.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 22: Actress and participant Meg Ryan speaks onstage at the “Half the Sky, a Special Presentation of Independant Lens” panel during day 2 of the PBS portion of the 2012 Summer TCA Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 22, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

In 2015, Meg Ryan’s last film before her break from acting was the war drama Ithaca, which she both directed and starred in alongside Tom Hanks. That same year, she was spotted at Gare du Nord station with a short, wavy bob.

PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 04: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Actress Meg Ryan arrives at Gare du Nord Station on July 4, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)

In June 2019, Meg Ryan posted a photo of herself looking stylish and casual at a diner table. She wore her short, blonde, wavy hair down and a white top. The star captioned the post simply with “@laurabrown” and a smiling face emoji.

Later in October 2019, Meg Ryan attended the Governors Awards with an elegant look, featuring a tousled shoulder-length bob, polished makeup, and a glowing complexion.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 27: Meg Ryan arrives at the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ 11th Annual Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on October 27, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

In May 2022, Meg Ryan announced on Instagram that she would star in What Happens Later alongside David Duchovny. She also directed the film, marking her return to the romantic comedy genre that helped make her a star.

Ahead of the What Happens Later premiere in November 2023, Meg Ryan discussed her nine-year break from Hollywood. She shared that she had not been “a very good famous person” and explained that she had always felt like her life was over outside the bubble of fame.

Meg Ryan at the special presentation of the Telluride Golden Medallion Award held on January 6, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

To escape the pressures of fame, Meg Ryan moved out of Los Angeles for a change of scenery. However, she expressed her appreciation for the interactions she had with fans who admired her work in beloved films like Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, and You’ve Got Mail.

THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW — Episode 7I021 — Pictured: Meg Ryan — (Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

“I have a very charmed life. People generally smile when they say hi to me, and they’re happy about some of the movies I’ve done,” Ryan said. “But I wanted to sort of just extend out of that, move out of L.A. Just change it up.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 25: Meg Ryan is seen at “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on October 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

As her fame grew, so did Meg Ryan’s desire to step away from the limelight. “I took a giant break because I felt like there’s just so many other parts of my experience as a human being I wanted to develop,” she explained. “It’s nice to think of it as a job and not a lifestyle.”

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 21: Meg Ryan is seen on September 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Ignat/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Meg Ryan is a proud mother of two adult children: Jack Quaid, her son with ex-husband Dennis Quaid, and Daisy True, whom she adopted in 2006.

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 25: Meg Ryan and Jack Quaid attend the New York Knicks Vs Philadelphia 76ers game at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/Getty Images)

“I have two of the greatest kids. They’re just a blast. It is just a true joy to know both of them,” Meg Ryan once gushed about her beloved children.

In May 2024, Meg Ryan attended the Met Gala for the first time in 23 years, sharing photos of herself in a Michael Kors gown. Her appearance sparked mixed reactions from a medical expert and online users.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Meg Ryan attends the 2024 Costume Institute Benefit for “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Dr. Sam Rizk, a celebrity plastic surgeon, remarked, “She’s a mess. I think she had a bad facelift in the wrong direction, sideways, instead of vertical.” Rizk explained that Meg Ryan’s mouth looked significantly different compared to her appearance in Top Gun.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Meg Ryan attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Dr. Sam Rizk added, “The only way a mouth can get bigger as you get older is if it’s pulled sideways.” He also pointed out that Meg Ryan’s lips appeared overfilled.

US actress Meg Ryan arrives for the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on January 14, 2024. (Photo by Michael TRAN / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Online users also shared their reactions, which varied widely. One user exclaimed, “STOP with the fillers, Meg!” while another commented, “When she smiles, the rest of her face doesn’t move. So full of fillers. Her face must be permanently numb.”

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14: Meg Ryan attends the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Robert Smith/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Some lamented the use of cosmetic procedures, with one user saying, “It’s so sad that natural, beautiful actresses and some actors, too, use botox, lip fillers, etc… and ruin their look.” Another added, “Fillers + botox do that. I call it the Meg Ryan effect (poor Meg Ryan).”

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 06: Meg Ryan at the 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by NDZ/Star Max/GC Images)

In an interview, Meg Ryan addressed Hollywood’s obsession with youth, stating, “Our culture is so obsessed with youth.” She pointed out that women over 50 rarely get significant roles in the industry.


At 62, Meg Ryan expressed satisfaction with her age and life, saying, “Aging is not that terrifying. We’re all doing it.”