Meghan Markle Never Closed the Door on Acting
Meghan Markle is back on set.
The Duchess of Sussex is returning to acting with a small role in the upcoming movie Close Personal Friends, according to reports. She’ll play herself in the Amazon MGM Studios film, which star Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding. It’s about two people who befriend a celebrity couple during a visit to Santa Barbara.
Meghan’s move took many by surprise, given that it had been widely assumed that she’d quit acting for good following her marriage to Prince Harry. But her decision to revisit her previous career isn’t as shocking as it might seem. While she’s previously suggested that she had put her days as a working actor behind her, she left the door open to return.
Meghan Markle was ready for ‘a new chapter’ after ‘Suits’
Meghan’s career in Hollywood included a string of small parts in TV shows such as CSI: Miami and movies like Horrible Bosses. She was also a suitcase girl on Deal or No Deal and starred in two Hallmark movies. But prior to starting her relationship with Harry, she was best known for playing Rachel Zane on the USA Network legal drama Suits.
Once she and Harry got engaged in late 2017, Meghan walked away from Suits. With a life as a working royal ahead of her (or so she thought), there was no way she could continue acting.
She spoke about her decision to give up her career in an interview (via People) not long after she got engaged.
“I don’t see it as giving anything up, I just see it as a change,” she said.
“It’s a new chapter. Right,” Meghan continued. “And also keep in mind I’ve been working on my show for seven years. So we’re very very fortunate to be able to have that sort of longevity on a series and for me, once we hit the 100-episode marker I thought, you know what, I have ticked this box and I feel really proud of the work I’ve done there and now it’s time to, as you said, work as a team with [Harry].”
Meghan Markle never completely wrote off a return to acting
After Harry and Meghan said “I do” in May 2018, it seemed unlikely that she would ever act again. But things changed just a couple of years later when the couple announced they were stepping back as working royals and leaving the U.K. They eventually settled in Montecito, California, where they began pursuing various entertainment-related ventures. Meghan launched two podcasts through Spotify and the pair signed a deal with Netflix that resulted in several documentary series, including Harry & Meghan and Heart of Invictus, as well as her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan. Other projects, including an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel Meet Me at the Lake, are also reportedly in the works.
Initially, it seemed that Meghan was settling into a producer role and had no interest in getting back in front of the camera. But she was careful not to completely rule out the possibility.
“I’m done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not,” she told Variety of her possible return to acting in 2022.
She also spoke positively about her experiences in the entertainment industry, including working with Harry & Meghan director Liz Garbus.
“It’s so amazing to be around so much creative energy and to see how people work together and share their own points of view,” she said.
Now, Meghan is back in her element on the Close Personal Friends set.
“This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves,” an insider told The Sun.
“She has been swamped with offers but this one felt right,” the source added. “It is Meghan’s way of gently putting her toe back in the water and seeing how she enjoys being back on set.”
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