Meg Ryan’s Awkward 2003 Interview Has Fans Calling Out The Host’s Insulting Treatment Of Her

Sir Michael Parkinson has had a brilliant career — but not all his interviews were unqualified successes. His encounter with actress Meg Ryan in 2003, for example, was not only catastrophic, but it was perhaps one of his most memorable exchanges to date. The whole affair was a cringe-fest from start to finish, and now it’s resurfacing again after all those years. 

Squeaky clean

Film aficionados will probably remember Meg Ryan from her ’90s hits such as Sleepless in Seattle and Joe Versus the Volcano alongside America’s dad, Tom Hanks. Well, her off-screen reputation didn’t stay as squeaky clean, especially following her face-to-face with Parkinson, affectionately known to British TV viewer as “Parky.” But what could have gone so wrong between them that viewers still remember well over a decade later? 

Duel of words

The interview started out bad and only got worse as the two performed a passive-aggressive duel of words ending in stony silence. Not even the other guests could break the tension! Since that day Parkinson has revisited the moment time and again — including with other journalists — to try to deconstruct exactly where it all went wrong. 

Critical flop

Is it a coincidence that the exchange occurred during a difficult moment in Ryan’s life? Things weren’t going well for her romantically, and what’s more, the film she was ostensibly there to promote was 2003’s In the Cut. For those of you out of the loop, the thriller’s widely considered a critical flop. 

Blemished reputation

Although Ryan has played other parts since that fateful film, many believe it marked the end of the most successful phase of her career. You could even argue that her cringy conversation with Parkinson may have contributed. Yet there are those who believe her blemished reputation may not have even been Ryan’s fault. At least, not entirely.