Ryan is a graduate of both Stanford University and New York University. She is an actress known for her roles in Boston Legal, Army Wives, and This is Us. She is married to fellow actor and NYU grad, Sterling K. Brown.

In "First Wives Club" Ryan plays "Ari" – Driven, beautiful, and motherly. By trade a lawyer, who set aside her career to run her
husband’s campaign for New York Senate, Ari is totally selfless, and she wishes her husband David could be a bit more attentive.