Meghan Markle Reportedly Returns to Acting After Eight-Year Hiatus with Star-Studded Film “Close Personal Friends”

After an eight-year break from Hollywood, Meghan Markle is reportedly stepping back into the spotlight — and this time, she’s doing it on her own terms. According to The Sun, the Duchess of Sussex has joined the cast of the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios comedy-drama Close Personal Friends, alongside Jack Quaid, Lily Collins, and Oscar winner Brie Larson.

The film is said to follow two couples — one famous and one not — exploring how fame tests relationships and personal identity. Markle, 44, will reportedly play a fictionalized version of herself, marking her first acting role since leaving the hit legal drama Suits in 2018. She was photographed on set this week in Pasadena, California, surrounded by a bustling crew and tight-lipped production staff.

“This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves,” a production insider told The Sun (via Page Six). “She’s been flooded with offers since stepping away from royal duties, but this one felt authentic and aligned with her creative vision.”

The source added that Prince Harry is fully supportive of the decision, noting, “Harry just wants Meghan to be happy and pursue what brings her joy.”

A Carefully Planned Comeback

According to People, the Duchess’s team has been “strategically considering” a return to the entertainment world for some time, with Meghan reportedly in talks for projects that reflect her values and advocacy work (People, 2025). Her reappearance on a Hollywood set underscores her growing independence from royal life and her desire to reestablish herself as a creative force.

Entertainment insiders have described the new project as “a soft reintroduction” to acting. One industry source told Variety that Meghan “has remained connected to the industry through her production company, Archewell Productions, and is keen to explore roles that merge storytelling with purpose.”

From “Suits” Star to Duchess

Before becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Markle was best known for her role as Rachel Zane on Suits, a series that ran from 2011 to 2019. Her departure from the show in 2017 coincided with her engagement to Prince Harry, which she described at the time as “a new chapter.”

“I’ve ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I’ve done there,” Markle said in a 2017 interview with the BBC. “Now it’s time to work as a team with [Harry].”

The network behind Suits, USA Network, publicly congratulated her on her royal engagement, calling her “a beloved member of our family for seven years” and praising her “passion and dedication to the series” (BBC News, 2017).

Markle made her final appearance on the Season 7 finale in April 2018, just weeks before her royal wedding at Windsor Castle — an event watched by nearly 30 million viewers worldwide (The Guardian, 2018).

A Life Beyond the Palace

Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Harry have relocated to Montecito, California, where they live with their two children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. The couple has launched several ventures under their Archewell brand, including the Archetypes podcast and a Netflix documentary series (Variety, 2023).

However, rumors of Meghan’s possible Hollywood return have persisted for years, especially after the success of Suits on Netflix in 2023, when it became one of the most-streamed shows in the U.S. (Forbes, 2023).

With Close Personal Friends, the Duchess seems ready to balance her royal legacy with her original passion — acting.

As the production insider summed up:

“Everyone involved is thrilled to have Meghan on board. It’s her way of dipping her toe back in the water — not as a royal, but as an artist.” (The Sun, 2025)

Reps for Markle and Amazon MGM Studios have yet to comment publicly on her reported casting.