An opinion piece has dismissed claims that Guy Ritchie used Meghan Markle to promote his Netflix show The Gentlemen, arguing instead that the Duchess of Sussex's worldwide fame makes an acting career untenable.
The article, written by showbiz reporter Fran Winston, suggests it is unlikely Markle was ever cast in the show in the first place. It points to her time on Suits, when she appeared more interested in building her profile as a lifestyle influencer through her blog, The Tig, than pursuing other acting opportunities.
Rumours of a role and reported cancellation
In August, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the UK, it was claimed that part of the reason for their visit was that Meghan had been offered a role in the third season of the hit Netflix drama. Royal author Tina Brown later claimed the casting had been cancelled after the reaction to Meghan's reported involvement became too strong.
"I learned that the casting of Meghan Markle has been withdrawn," she said, adding that the backlash had allegedly made it 'untenable' for the production to continue. Ritchie himself has denied the rumours.
Ritchie's casting style and Meghan's profile
The opinion piece argues there is little in Ritchie's track record to suggest Meghan is an actress he would cast. Ritchie is known for his gritty productions and tends to favour performers with an edge – something Meghan has never particularly demonstrated on screen.
It also notes that Meghan stopped being taken seriously as an actress some time ago, when she joined the Royal Family. Actors typically use breaks between series to take on other projects, broadening their CVs while maintaining the security of a regular role, but Meghan's apparent preference for promoting herself as a personality speaks volumes.
Fame as a barrier to casting
The piece argues that unless an actor is a Tom Cruise or Margot Robbie, filmmakers generally do not want their creative projects overshadowed by the celebrity status of their cast. Casting Meghan today would present a particular challenge, as audiences would struggle to see her as anyone other than Harry's wife.
It also describes her as a Marmite figure, thanks to her controversial remarks about her in-laws and other unpopular moves, and suggests casting her could alienate a sizeable audience who dislike her so intensely that they would refuse to watch anything featuring her.
The article concludes by comparing her situation to that of Grace Kelly, an in-demand Oscar-winning actress at the height of her career, who could not have returned to the screen after marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco and becoming an international royal celebrity. It argues that the idea that any director would look at Meghan, whose acting career never reached comparable heights and whose name comes with considerable baggage, and conclude that casting her was a brilliant move seems ludicrous.
