Meghan Markle breaks her silence on return to acting ahead of big film
The Duchess of Sussex quit acting in 2017
Meghan Markle has opened up about her return to acting, as she takes on her first scripted role since leaving Suits in 2017.
Making her first public appearance of 2026 alongside Prince Harry at the Sundance Film Festival, the Duchess of Sussex revealed her excitement about returning to acting for the first time in nearly a decade.
The couple were in Utah over the weekend to promote their new documentary, Cookie Queens. In an interview, Meghan also opened up about her surprise cameo in the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios film Close Personal Friends.
Meghan Markle opens up about upcoming acting return
Close Personal Friends stars Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding. The film follows an ordinary couple who, during a trip to Santa Barbara, become entangled with a famous couple.
“It was great,” Meghan gushed to Variety about the experience. “It was a lot of fun. But that’s just the point, right? We continue to explore different ways to uplift and celebrate the entertainment industry and all the incredible pieces of work that are out there… Cookie Queens being one of them.”
Although brief, Meghan’s upcoming appearance in Close Personal Friends will mark her first scripted role since leaving Suits. In the ensemble comedy, Meghan plays a fictionalised version of herself.
Back in November, the duchess was spotted on set in Pasadena, California.
According to an insider who spoke to PEOPLE, Meghan made a strong impression on the cast and crew.
‘It was obvious she had rehearsed’
“She introduced herself as ‘Meghan,'” the source said. “Everything about her was very sweet and calm. She genuinely seemed excited to be on set.”
While Meghan reportedly joked about feeling “a bit rusty,” the insider noted she was clearly well-prepared.
The insider added: “It was obvious she had rehearsed and that it was a big deal for her to be back. And she was great.”
They added that she had a “very warm energy” and was “super pleasant to be around”.
A studio source also told The Sun: “This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves. It is [her] way of gently putting her toe back in the water.”
The source said Harry is fully behind the move, adding: “[He’s] really supportive and just wants Meghan to do whatever brings her joy.”
Meghan’s acting career
Before becoming a royal, Meghan was best known for her role as paralegal Rachel Zane on USA Network’s Suits, appearing in seven seasons.
After stepping away from acting, she told the BBC: “I don’t see it as giving anything up, I just see it as a change. I feel really proud of the work I’ve done. Now it’s time to… work as a team with [Harry].”
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Harry have carved out new roles as content creators and philanthropists while raising their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in Montecito, California.
While she declared she was “done” with acting in a 2022 Variety interview, Meghan has maintained an onscreen presence through documentaries like Harry & Meghan and lifestyle specials like With Love, Meghan.
Cookie Queens documentary
Meanwhile, at Sundance, the couple’s focus was on the premiere of Cookie Queens. The upcoming documentary follows the Girl Scout cookie-selling experience.
The film received a two-minute standing ovation, which Deadline described as “one of the longest” of the festival.
Meghan, a former Girl Scout herself, reflected on the project with excitement.
“What’s so fantastic about the experience of being a Girl Scout, and my mum was my troop leader as well, is I don’t think you understand just how impactful all of those tools you’re learning are going to carry through in your life later on,” she told Variety.
When asked about her favourite cookie, she laughed: “Isn’t everyone’s Thin Mints?”
Read more: Meghan Markle makes revelation about Princess Lilibet’s future at Sundance Film Festival
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