After working in MTV and taking other minor parts on television and independent film, she starred in the 2003 film Open Water,[2] for which she won the 2004 Saturn Award for Best Actress.

[citation needed] Ryan was born in Boston, Massachusetts and was raised in Andover.

Her mother Brenda is a French teacher,[1] and her father Ron Ryan was president of the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers and former coach and general manager of the Hartford Whalers.

She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts in political philosophy.

[citation needed] After graduating from college, Ryan worked at MTV in its special-effects department.