Meg Ryan returns to romantic comedies as star, writer and director

01 November 2023 - 17:04
By Rollo Ross
Actress Meg Ryan, star of the drama film
Image: FSP/JP/Reuters Actress Meg Ryan, star of the drama film " Proof of Life" at the film's premiere December 4, 2000 in Beverly Hills. The film, also stars Russell Crowe and tells the story of an American businessman who is abducted while working in a Third World country, and is rescued by a professional hostage negotiator.

Meg Ryan, the actor who charmed audiences in Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail, is returning to the big screen in a romantic comedy she also wrote, directed and produced.

Eight years after her last Hollywood film, Ryan stars in "What Happens Later" as Willa, a woman who reunites with a former partner (X-Files star David Duchovny) when they are both snowed in at an airport.

Ryan said she spent three years working to bring the project to the screen. It premieres in theaters on Friday.

"It takes me a long time to do anything," she said in an interview, "so three of the eight years were just labor on this."

What Happens Later is among several films from independent production companies to receive waivers from the SAG-AFTRA actors union, meaning the actors were free to speak about the movie despite the ongoing strike.

Duchovny praised Ryan's work in all of her different roles on the film.

"Meg wears that responsibility really lightly, which is nice," he said. "You never got the sense that she was overwhelmed or feeling the pressure, which I'm sure she was from time to time."