Meghan Markle is back on a film set, and no, it’s not another royal documentary. The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex has officially returned to acting after an eight-year break, stepping in front of the camera once again for the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios comedy Close Personal Friends. Filming began in late September across London and Los Angeles, but on November 5, Markle was spotted on set in Pasadena, California, looking, according to an insider, “very relaxed and happy.”
The former Suits star is said to play herself in the film, sharing the screen with Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding. Directed by Jason Orley and written by Isaac Aptaker, Close Personal Friends follows two couples—one famous, one not—whose awkward run-in spirals into comedy. Basically, it’s what happens when your brunch reservation collides with Hollywood fame.
An insider told PEOPLE, “Meghan was on the set today. She has a small part. She introduced herself to everyone and was very sweet and down-to-earth.” Sweet and down-to-earth are two phrases you don’t often hear next to “royal,” but then again, Meghan was never one to do things the traditional way.
Her last major acting role was as Rachel Zane in Suits, a gig she wrapped in 2017 after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry. Since then, she’s traded courtroom drama for actual royal drama, moving from the set to palace life, and eventually to Montecito, California, which is home to her $14 million mansion and occasional brand hints that keep tabloids buzzing.
“This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves,” a studio source told The Sun. “She has been swamped with offers but this one felt right. It is Meghan’s way of gently putting her toe back in the water and seeing how she enjoys being back on set.” In Hollywood terms, that’s what you call a soft reboot.
It’s no secret Meghan’s always had range. Before Suits, she popped up in CSI: NY, Castle, 90210, Knight Rider, and even Horrible Bosses. Her IMDb page reads like a timeline of an actress grinding her way through the industry long before tiaras were part of the wardrobe.
And what does Prince Harry think about all this? “He’s really supportive and quite simply wants Meghan to do whatever brings her joy,” a source said. It’s a far cry from the usual royal headlines, but maybe that’s the point. After years of public scrutiny, Meghan seems to be quietly reclaiming a piece of herself.
Back in 2017, during her engagement interview with the BBC, she said, “I don’t see it as giving anything up, I just see it as a change. It’s a new chapter.” Nearly a decade later, she’s writing another one—this time from the director’s monitor instead of Buckingham Palace. And if the early buzz is anything to go by, Hollywood’s ready for Meghan Markle, the actress, again.
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