The Duchess of Sussex once risked it all at an audition before finding
fame on Suits
Before she became Rachel Zane on Suits — and much later the Duchess of Sussex
— Meghan Markle was a young actress chasing her first break in Hollywood.
Biographer Sean Smith, in his 2020 book Meghan Misunderstood, described her as
“impatient to make a start as a proper actress,” despite facing constant
rejection. One early audition showed just how bold she was willing to be.
When asked to repeat a line, Meghan surprised everyone in the room by
replying: “I can. However, I’ve read the script and I really respond to this
other role and I’d like to audition for that.”
Smith noted the move was almost unheard of in casting rooms: “This was not how
auditions worked. Panic spread across the room because who does that? Who
takes that sort of risk?”
She didn’t get the role she wanted but did secure a tiny part as “Hot Girl #1”
in the 2005 film A Lot Like Love with Ashton Kutcher. That one-liner opened
the door to small TV roles, including guest spots on CSI: NY, before her
breakthrough on Suits.
Today, Meghan has left auditions behind and moved into producing. Her Netflix
series With Love, Meghan returns on August 26 for a second season, with guests
such as Chrissy Teigen and Mindy Kaling.
Speaking about her and Harry’s renewed first-look deal with the platform
earlier this month, Meghan said: “We’re proud to extend our partnership with
Netflix… to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates
globally.”
