Movies

Meg Ryan is ‘proud’ to return to rom-com roots after years-long break

Meg Ryan has returned to her rom-com roots — and she’s “proud” of it.

The 61-year-old actress stars in the upcoming romance flick “What Happens Later” — her first movie since 2015. It also stars David Duchovny, with Ryan even taking on the roles of director and screenwriter.

“Truly, the easiest part was acting in it. I want to direct again just so I can sit in the chair, because I’m sure there’s a lot of things I missed,” the “Sleepless in Seattle” actress explained in a sit-down with legendary comedic Carol Burnett for Interview magazine.

“I hadn’t done a role in a really long time, but it was fun with David,” she added. “A lot of it was done in two shots. I’m proud of that.”

She told Burnett, 90, that she and the “X-Files” star, 63, had “only met a couple of times, maybe 20 years ago” before they appeared in “What Happens Later” together.

“I set up everything beforehand so that once we were there, it was just David and I trying to tell the truth,” the “You’ve Got Mail” star said.

“What Happens Later” is Ryan’s first film since 2015’s “Ithaca.” Bleecker Street

The film is headed to theaters on Oct. 13 and follows a former couple who reunite after decades apart when a snowstorm hits their town.

Ryan noted that she shot her film “over the course of 21 nights” in Arkansas.

“I think you did a great job. The chemistry between you and David was absolute magic,” Burnett gushed.

Meg Ryan and David Duchovny in 2023’s “What Happens Later.” Bleecker Street

Ryan also looked back on her infamous orgasm scene in the 1989 comedy “When Harry Met Sally.”

The segment featured Ryan’s character Sally Albright faking pleasure while sitting at a restaurant with Billy Crystal’s Harry Burns.

Ryan remembered asking her son, actor Jack Quaid, 31, and daughter, Daisy True Ryan, 19, about their thoughts on the memorable deli scene.

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal starred in the rom-com “When Harry Met Sally.” Getty Images
The romantic comedy will be released in theaters on Oct. 13. Bleecker Street

“Yeah. It’s funny, my son just called me this morning and he’s in New York staying at a hotel that’s right across the street from Katz’s Deli,” Ryan said, noting the restaurant where the scene was filmed and adding that she and the Crystal, 75, shot the part “over and over and over again.”

The “French Kiss” actress went on to note how her daughter was on speakerphone when she asked her about the movie. Daisy joked to her mom that the scene was a “unique embarrassment.”

Ryan also revealed that Jack told her: “You know you can go into that deli and there’s an arrow pointing down to the table where you shot that scene.”