After seven years away from the screen, Meghan Markle is stepping back into the spotlight with a cameo in Amazon MGM’s upcoming comedy Close Personal Friends. The Duchess of Sussex, who rose to fame as Rachel Zane in Suits before leaving Hollywood ahead of her royal engagement, was spotted filming her scene in Pasadena, California, this week — her first on-screen role since becoming a royal.
A royal return to her roots
According to People magazine, Meghan appears as herself in the film, which stars Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding. Directed by Jason Orley, the story follows a couple who befriend a famous pair during a trip to Santa Barbara — a setting not far from Meghan and Prince Harry’s Montecito home.
An insider told People that the Duchess “looked relaxed and happy” on set, adding that she introduced herself to everyone and was “sweet and down-to-earth.” The source described the cameo as a “gentle return” to acting and “a way of seeing how she feels about being on set again.”
The role that felt right
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan has received multiple acting offers but has reportedly turned them down until now. “This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves,” a studio insider told The Sun. “She’s been swamped with offers, but this one felt right.”
The Duchess’s husband, Prince Harry, is said to be fully supportive of her decision. “He just wants Meghan to do whatever brings her joy,” a friend close to the couple shared.
From Suits to Santa Barbara
Before joining the royal family, Meghan spent seven seasons on Suits, where she became a fan favourite for her role as the ambitious paralegal Rachel Zane. At the time of her engagement in 2017, she described leaving acting not as a loss, but as “a change.” “I don’t see it as giving anything up,” she said then. “It’s a new chapter.”
That new chapter took her from television sets to global philanthropy. Through the couple’s Archewell Foundation, Meghan has focused on social causes ranging from gender equality to mental health. She also recently teased the launch of her lifestyle brand As Ever, due to release its first collection later this year.
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A cameo with meaning
Her role in Close Personal Friends may be small, but it marks a symbolic step for the Duchess — a return to the craft that shaped her career before royal life. Surrounded by a cast of acclaimed women and filmed near her California home, it’s a re-entry that feels both measured and fitting.
Whether this cameo signals a larger comeback or simply a creative detour remains to be seen, but for now, Meghan Markle is back doing what she once called her “first love” — performing, connecting, and telling stories.
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