More than two decades after Meg Ryan’s now infamous, trainwreck interview with BBC talk-show host Michael Parkinson, the Hollywood actress has given her side of the story.

The testy 2003 interview, in which both Ryan and Parkinson appeared angry and frustrated, was credited with stalling Ryan’s Hollywood career.

“I thought it was so bad,” Ryan said of cringeworthy appearance in an interview with The Times of London this week.

“In the States, the talk shows have breaks every four minutes [for adverts], so I kept waiting for the break because I was gonna stand up and leave,” she said.

“But the break never came [because it was on the BBC].”

In 2003 Ryan was ‘America’s sweetheart’ and had established herself as a bankable romantic comedy lead with films like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.

Then she appeared on Parkinson to promote a very different role in Jane Campion’s erotic thriller The Cut – during which Parkinson grilled her on her decision to appear nude.

The interview was characterised by awkward exchanges and confrontational questioning from Parkinson as he pressed Ryan on her discomfort with fame and her decision to take on more adult roles.

A clearly uncomfortable Ryan proceeded to give terse answers to the questioning, causing Parkinson to become visible impatient.

Parkinson eventually asked Ryan what she would do if she were the interviewer, to which she replied: “Wrap it up.”

The fallout from the interview was immediate and severe, with many viewers interpreting Ryan’s demeanour as cold and detached.

Ryan was ultimately labelled as difficult and the fallout contributed to a decline in her popularity in Hollywood.

Ryan told The Times that she didn’t attempt to speak to Parkinson after the show.

“No, I left. I was like, wow, I didn’t know who that guy was to begin with, and I don’t have to think about him again,” she said.

Parkinson, who died in 2023, said he regretted becoming so angry with Ryan. He didn’t believe it was either of their best moments in his 2021 confession.

At the time of the BBC interview, Ryan was one of America’s most successful actresses, especially for a string of rom-coms.