The Duchess of Sussex may be poised for a return to acting if she relocates back to Britain, after reportedly being offered a role in a UK-based production, sources have claimed.
Meghan Markle made her name as Rachel Zane in the hit US legal drama Suits, appearing for seven seasons before stepping away from acting following her engagement to Prince Harry in 2018.
According to Australian outlet news.com.au, Meghan has been approached about a part in an as-yet-untitled project set to be made in the UK.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the outlet described the role as “significant” and “top secret”, adding that Meghan is said to be “very excited about it” and that further details could emerge “relatively soon”.
The BBC reported that sources close to the duchess did not deny the claims, fuelling speculation that the opportunity could help explain why Meghan and Harry are expected to return to Britain later this month.
Meghan has already made a tentative return to the screen after almost a decade away, appearing as herself in a cameo in the upcoming film Close Personal Friends, which stars Lily Collins and Brie Larson.
Bookmakers in Britain have also begun pricing up the possibility of Meghan appearing on UK television, with Ladbrokes offering odds of 80/1 for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, 100/1 for EastEnders and 150/1 for Coronation Street.
Long before Suits brought her international recognition, Meghan appeared in CSI: Miami and the film Horrible Bosses, and also worked as a “briefcase girl” on Deal Or No Deal, holding cash-filled cases on the game show.
But Meghan confirmed in a joint interview with Harry following their engagement in 2017 she was happy to pause her acting career.
Meghan Markle played lawyer Rachel Zane for seven seasons of the US legal drama Suits
Meghan also had a small role in the 2011 movie Horrible Bosses as a FedEx worker
She said at the time: ‘What’s been really exciting, as we talk about this as the transition out of my career, is that the causes that have been very important to me, I can focus even more energy on.
‘You realise that as you have access, or a voice, that people are willing to listen to, [it comes with] a lot of responsibility, which I take seriously.
‘I don’t see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change. It’s a new chapter. And keep in mind I’ve been working on my show for seven years. We were very fortunate to have that sort of longevity on a series.
‘For me, once we hit the 100-episode marker, I thought, I have ticked this box and I feel really proud of the work we’ve done there and now it’s time to work as a team with [Harry].’
The Sussexes have not made an official public statement following the news of their return, but it has been confirmed
The Sussexes have not yet commented on their reasons for moving back to Britain, but the duchess will continue to run her lifestyle brand As Ever remotely.
Meghan has appeared in several documentary and reality Netflix series as part of the couple’s $100million (£73million) deal in 2020 which was then watered down to a ‘first-look’ arrangement last year.
These shows included two seasons of her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan, which was widely panned by critics, and the controversial Harry & Meghan documentary, which featured a range of accusations against the Royal Family.
She also appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia last month after filming the episode in Melbourne in April during the couple’s four-day tour of the country.
Upon their return to the UK, the couple are to live in a non-royal residence outside of London – having already enrolled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in British prep schools.
Meghan was once a ‘briefcase girl’ – a model holding a suitcase of cash – on Deal Or No Deal
Meghan confirmed in a joint BBC interview with Harry following their engagement in 2017 that she was happy to pause her acting career, saying it was a ‘change’ and a ‘new chapter’
Decisions about whether taxpayers will foot the bill for their security remain unanswered. Prime Minister Andy Burnham would not be drawn on the security arrangements, saying yesterday the funding was a ‘private matter’.
Harry and Meghan’s decision to relocate to the UK was only relayed to the King on Sunday, three days before the news went public on Wednesday night.
The Sussexes decamped to California more than six years ago amid the turbulent Megxit crisis, which was followed by ongoing family fallouts and a barrage of accusations fired at the Prince and Princess of Wales and the King and Queen Camilla.
The King is said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the Sussex family, but remains adamant they will not be working royals nor half-in, half-out.
Archie and Lilibet are expected to start at their new schools early September, when autumn terms begin, and the Sussexes are keeping their homes in California and Portugal.
The Waleses have not released an official public statement referring to the Sussexes’ return. It is thought that William
William is estranged from his brother following Harry’s controversial claims.
A spokesman for the Sussexes has been contacted for comment today.
