‘Happy and serene’

WHAT'S LIFE like after fame? It's hard not to wonder that while sitting in a hotel room talking to Meg Ryan, who back in 2000 earned about $15 million a movie and stood tall with Julia Roberts at the top of the list of actresses with the most box office clout. Then came the breakup with husband Dennis Quaid, amid her public fling with "Proof of Life" costar Russell Crowe, and a few poor career choices and then time off. Public sentiment seemed to curdle for the woman who once was perennially dubbed "America's sweetheart," mostly because she had the temerity to break from the stereotype that moviegoers had projected on her after her adorable turns in such films as "When Harry Met Sally … " and "Sleepless in Seattle." Her last film, "My Mom's New Boyfriend," went straight to DVD.

By Rachel Abramowitz

September 11, 2008