Smart, strong, witty and kind: a tribute to Nora Ephron - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

The death of writer, director and brilliant wit Nora Ephron came as a big surprise to most people - even some of Ephron's good friends in New York - who were unaware she was terminally ill with leukemia.

My memories of her involve constant laughing. Nora could deliver the most hilarious, skewering lines - but in such a dry, droll way, that was simply brilliant.

My most recent chat with Nora and her beloved sister Delia Ephron, took place when they were in Chicago in September of 2011. They were here for the opening of their play, "Love, Loss & What I Wore" at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

I preciously had the privilege of interviewing Nora for many of her biggest film projects, including "Julie & Julia," "You've Got Mail," and "Sleepless in Seattle."

Asked about that famous "I'll have what she's having" line from "When Harry Met Sally," Ephron told me once that no many how many times she had watched it, she still "always, always laughed out loud" every time she heard it delivered by director Rob Reiner's mother.

She created one of the most famous cameos in Hollywood history with that line. It was the perfect zinger after Meg Ryan's character simulated an orgasmic moment for Billy Crystal's character, while the two of them were sitting in a restaurant.

Nora Ephron was a one-of-a-kind individual who absolutely changed the way women were portrayed on screen by Hollywood: smart, strong, witty and kind - and with VERY big hearts.

Just like Nora Ephron herself.