Nora Ephron’s sister, Delia Ephron, reflects on the “very significant” film You have mail.
In a conversation with PEOPLE exclusively on the opening night of his new play on Broadway Left on Tenth at the James Earl Jones Theater on Oct. 23 in New York City, the writer talked about how much the classic rom-com — which she co-wrote with her sister — means to her.
The now classic holiday film follows the owner of a family children’s bookstore (Meg Ryan) and a corporate book mogul (Tom Hanks) who anonymously fall in love on the Internet, unaware that they are rivals in real life.
“The love for that movie is very meaningful to me because Nora and I love books,” Ephron said of their decision to set much of the film in a quaint bookstore. “And when we were making that movie, we had to figure out what kind of business they were in, and we always tried to find something that we cared about the most,” she explained.
“And we love children’s books so much, so she—that character—owns a children’s bookstore, and that’s what that movie is for me.”
Delia Ephron and Nora Ephron in 2009.
Richrd Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty
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When asked what he thought of the movie that inspired the popular social media trend “The Fall of Meg Ryan” — in which people use Meg Ryan You have mail aesthetic for fall wardrobe inspiration, including sweaters, oversized blazers, baggy pants, loafers — the playwright admitted she had “absolutely no idea” what to make of it.
However, she noted that her sister — who died in 2012 at the age of 71 — was deeply involved in creating the film’s iconic look.
“[Nora] she just loved dressing up,” Ephron. “I mean, he loved the design of the movie, and that movie reflects New York, and Meg and Tom both reflect New York and the Upper West Side, where we both lived at the time.”
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Julianna Margulies, Delia Ephron, Daryl Roth, Susan Stroman and Peter Gallagher 2024.
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Meg Ryan, 62, portrays her 90s self in an effortlessly cool outfit: check out her look!
For her part, Ryan, 63, revealed that she thinks the viral trend is “the cutest thing ever” while talking to PEOPLE in October 2023. “I’ve seen pictures of girls trying on hats. I don’t know why that has anything to do with me, but it’s so cute, it’s killing me,” she said.
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As for the secret to pulling off the look?
“There are certain types of jackets that I like,” Ryan revealed. “There are certain flat shoes, basically orthopedic-looking shoes and baggy pants.”
Left on Tenth — which is based on Ephron’s bestselling memoir of the same name — stars Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher. It is currently playing at the James Earl Jones Theater in New York.
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Source: HIS Education