After nearly a decade away from acting, Meghan Markle is preparing for her much-anticipated return. She will appear as herself in the upcoming Amazon film Close Personal Friends. This comedy intertwines the lives of a famous couple with that of an ordinary pair, featuring stars like Lily Collins and Brie Larson. Reports indicate that Markle has already been spotted on set, sharing her excitement and joking about feeling a bit rusty.
Directed by Jason Orley, Close Personal Friends follows the journey of two lovers who encounter a celebrity couple during their trip to Santa Barbara, California. This location is conveniently close to her home in Montecito, where she resides with her husband, Prince Harry, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, after stepping back from royal duties.
Meghan’s acting journey: FromSuitsto Hollywood
Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan was best known for portraying lawyer Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits. Her final appearance on the show aired just weeks before her wedding, effectively marking the end of her acting career at that time. During her engagement interview, Meghan reflected on her transition to royal life, stating, “I don’t see it as giving anything up; I just see it as a change.”
After her stint on Suits, where she starred for seven seasons, Markle hosted a lifestyle talk show titled With Love, Meghan. Unlike other celebrities who have taken breaks from acting and made headlines upon their return, Meghan’s earlier work is less well-known. She humorously recounted on her former podcast, Archetypes, that before her fame, she could not secure an appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, with host Andy Cohen referring to it as “the biggest blunder in the show’s history.”
Early career highlights
Meghan’s acting aspirations began at Northwestern University, where she graduated in 2003. Early in her career, she took on minor roles in various television series and soap operas, including a brief stint as a nurse on General Hospital. Interestingly, her parents met while working on that very show; her mother was a makeup artist, and her father was a lighting director.
One of her first notable appearances was as a briefcase model on the game show Deal or No Deal from 2006 to 2007. Although the job was financially beneficial, Meghan later expressed discomfort with being objectified, stating that it didn’t reflect her intelligence or capabilities.
From romantic comedies to royal duties
As her career progressed, Markle appeared in several films, including A Lot Like Love (2005), where she played a minor role as the “Hot Girl,” and in Horrible Bosses (2011) as Jamie, a character whose charm leaves a lasting impression on Jason Sudeikis’s character. He later suggested that even then, she seemed destined for greater things.
Before joining the royal family, Meghan also starred in Hallmark movies, such as When Sparks Fly (2014) and Dater’s Handbook (2016). In the latter, she portrayed a businesswoman navigating the trials of love, paralleling her real-life experiences leading to Prince Harry.
The impact of royal life on her career
Markle’s time on Suits was not without complications, as revealed in Prince Harry’s autobiography, Spare. The royal family reportedly had input on her character, which at times impeded the show’s creative direction. Despite this, Markle’s performance significantly contributed to her fame.
After their departure from royal life, the Sussexes secured a deal with Netflix, initially focusing on unscripted content. In, Meghan expressed her intention to step away from acting, stating that she was “done” with the profession. However, her role in Close Personal Friends signals a potential resurgence in her acting career.
Directed by Jason Orley, Close Personal Friends follows the journey of two lovers who encounter a celebrity couple during their trip to Santa Barbara, California. This location is conveniently close to her home in Montecito, where she resides with her husband, Prince Harry, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, after stepping back from royal duties.0