Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
In the late ’90s and early 2000s, Meg Ryan was America’s sweetheart. The actress was celebrated for her girl-next-door charm and romantic comedies likeWhen Harry Met Sally,Sleepless in Seattle, andYou’ve Got Mail. However, there was one film that ended up putting a full stop on her amazing career.
After Ryan’s involvement in the 2003 erotic thriller,In the Cut, the way the world perceived her changed. She co-starred alongside, the Marvel star, Mark Ruffalo. However, the film inadvertently placed her in a media whirlwind over her off-screen affair with the Australian star, Russell Crowe, marking what was the decline of her Hollywood stardom.
The backlash Meg Ryan got for In the Cut
WhenIn the Cutwas released in 2003,Meg Ryanfaced a ton of backlash that was as intense as it was unexpected. The erotic thriller was an attempt by the actress to break away from her typecast image as America’s sweetheart. However, it backfired in the worst way possible. Her role alongsideMark Ruffalorequired a lot of intimate scenes and it did not sit right with the audience.
In an infamous interview withBBC’s Michael Parkinson, Ryan was put in an uncomfortable position with some of the host’s questions. During the segment, he questioned her choices in playing a role like the film’s character, Frannie.
How could you be naked? You should’ve prepared your audience for your doing something different.
The questions evidently threw Ryan off her game, as she looked frazzled by what Parkinson had said. Most of the viewers who watched the film were not too pleased with it as they felt like it closely resembled her actual life after her divorce and rumors of her cheating on her then husband, Dennis Quaid withRussell Crowe.
After all, the two had met on the set of the 2000 film,Proof of Lifeand kicked up a relationship while Ryan was still legally married. In an interview with New York Times Magazine (viaThe New Zealand Herald), the actress opened up about how she felt to see her career fall apart. The actress stated,“I think the feeling with Hollywood was mutual. I felt done when they felt done, probably.”
Don’t Expect Jack Quaid to be Impressed by Meg Ryan’s Iconic Performance That Put Her on the Map: ‘A very unique embarrassment’
Although Ryan had felt done after her 2003 film, the actress chose to continue her career. But it was on a much smaller scale. Years after she starred with Tom Hanks in Ithaca, the 62-year-old chose to take a step back from acting and the spotlight.
The reason why Meg Ryan took a Hollywood hiatus
After a budding career in the 90s, Meg Ryan chose to step back from acting in 2015. However, just last year, she made her way back to the spotlight with another rom-com,What Happens Later. Although the actress was back, everyone was still wondering why she chose to take a break in the first place.
In an interview withPeople, Ryan revealed that she needed time to focus on herself and her loved ones. Even if that meant she stayed away from the spotlight for a long while.
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. It’s nice to think of it as a job and not a lifestyle. And that is a great way of navigating it for me.
However, with Ryan taking a break from all the glitz and glamour, she had time to work on the script for her latest film. In fact, the actress not only starred in it but also co-wrote and directed the rom-com. Unfortunately, the film with David Duchnovy did not do as well as she’d hoped.
Meg Ryan Knows Why Her Chemistry With Tom Hanks Felt Real in the Golden Age of Rom-Com: ‘There’s no reason to get heavy’
In fact, the romantic comedy only received a 51% score onRotten Tomatoes. But it still gave fans a chance to see Ryan back on the big screen after an eight year break that felt like eternity.
Stream Meg Ryan’sIn the Cuton Netflix andWhat Happens Lateron Amazon Prime Video
Prathika Prashant
Articles Published :192
With over three years of experience in the field of writing, and a knack for storytelling, she dives into the pop culture world to provide fans with insightful updates and engaging narratives worldwide. Her articles add a dash of insightful commentary and a captivating narrative to ensure that readers get the whole story. When she is not working, you’re able to find her browsing new music or going down a rabbit hole of old timey sitcoms and more.
