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.”
