Meg Ryan Looks Unrecognizable During Rare Public Appearance Leaving Fans Shocked | “Is That Really Meg Ryan”

Meg Ryan made a rare public appearance to support her friend, Michael J. Fox, at a screening of his new documentary, STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in New York City. The Sleepless In Seattle, star, 61, posed with Fox, also 61, and his wife, Tracy Pollan, 62, as they celebrated the upcoming release of the film. Ryan was last photographed in N.Y.C. ahead of her birthday six months ago, according to PEOPLE. The When Harry Met Sally actress, who sported a black coat and red sweater to the screening, looked unrecognizable to many fans. 

Many compared her to pop icon Madonna whom they also slammed for seemingly getting plastic surgery done to her face. One Twitter user wrote, "Her and Madonna obviously have the same plastic surgeon." Another wrote, "Is that really Meg Ryan, if so that’s such a shame and incredibly sad." A third added, "Yikes…just say no to Botox and fillers ladies. Don’t take it from me, take it from Madonna and Meg Ryan."

The internet can be a cruel place but Ryan did have a host of supporters as well, telling haters to back off and let women just be who they want to be. One fan said, "News Flash: We all get older, aging happens, what people do or don't do themselves is not up to the masses to judge." Another added, "Omg, leave her alone. Why are people so judgemental? Mind your business! There’s an old saying “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.”

Ryan, who earned the title of being one of the most beautiful leads of romcoms back in the 80s and 90s, is used to the criticism of her appearance. But she told PORTER Magazine in 2015 that "there are more important conversations than how women look and how they are aging. I love my age. I love my life right now. I love what I know about. I love the person I've become, the one I've evolved into." Ryan is tired of superficial conversations about appearance, hair color, and origins. 'It's interesting and funny for five minutes, but it's not that interesting," she shared.

Despite the cruel comments she's had to face, she has learned to focus on what really matters. "There's a lot of hatred in the world today—it's so easy to judge. Imagine being a hater. How stupid!" the Ithaca director said per E! News. "My women friends are not sitting around talking about...well, sometimes there are conversations like that, but the people I value talk about kids growing up, what kind of world they are going into, what we are eating, what we are breathing."

References:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/porter-magazine-uk/id803076371

https://www.eonline.com/news/720150/meg-ryan-is-a-feminist-hero-talking-about-a-woman-s-looks-and-aging-is-not-that-interesting

https://people.com/movies/meg-ryan-makes-rare-appearance-as-she-steps-out-to-support-michael-j-foxs-documentary/

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer