Meghan Markle is reportedly in talks to return to acting with a role in the Netflix crime drama The Gentlemen, a move a PR expert believes could help her relationship with the Royal Family. The Duchess of Sussex is said to be eyeing the show as she and Prince Harry prepare to move to the UK within days.
Talks at an early stage for Netflix role
Meghan is believed to be 'in talks' for a part in The Gentlemen, which is filmed in the Cotswolds and has been confirmed for a third season. The Guy Ritchie crime show stars Theo James as a British Duke who unexpectedly inherits his father's country estate and discovers it is home to a cannabis empire run by notorious criminals.
Talks have been said to be at an early stage, with a role being written for Meghan, meaning it is unclear how many episodes she would appear in. Before marrying into the Royal Family, Meghan had a successful acting career, most notably starring in the legal drama Suits as paralegal Rachel Zane for seven seasons.
PR expert backs career move
With her return to acting still unconfirmed, PR expert Mayah Riaz has encouraged the career move, telling the Mirror Meghan has the chance to build a profile outside the Royal Family if she chooses the right project.
Mayah said: “A return to acting could actually be quite interesting for Meghan because it would take her back to an identity that existed before the Royal Family. There can be something quite powerful about returning to an old profession rather than constantly trying to invent a new one. It could allow people to see Meghan as an actress again, rather than exclusively as the Duchess of Sussex.”
While Mayah believes a return to the screen could be valuable for the Duchess, she has urged her to be selective about her first job to show her authentic love of the work, rather than a clear attempt to rebrand. The PR mogul explained: “The first project would be crucial. If it feels like a serious creative decision and she genuinely embraces the work, it could be refreshing. If it looks like a carefully engineered attempt to reclaim celebrity status, the reaction could be very different.”
Impact on public and Royal Family relations
Ms Riaz added that a return to acting could make Meghan more appealing in the eyes of the UK public, saying: “There is also an irony here. Meghan may find that returning to acting makes her more relatable to the public than some of her more recent lifestyle and commercial ventures, simply because audiences understand what an actress does. It is a much clearer proposition.”
Meghan initially stepped back from acting in 2018 after making her relationship with Harry official, when it was decided a potential princess should not be a working actress while also undertaking work for the Firm. But now, Mayah believes a return to her previous career could in fact help her relationship with the Royal Family. “I don’t believe acting itself would necessarily damage her relationship with the Royal Family,” she said. “In fact, it could potentially help separate Meghan’s professional identity from the institution.”
However, the PR expert said the main issue is how her potential return to acting will be framed, and if she relies on her royal connections, or decides to rehash any grievances about her time as a working royal, to promote any upcoming projects. Mayah said: “The bigger issue would be the publicity surrounding the comeback. If every interview, premiere or casting announcement becomes another opportunity to discuss Harry, the Royal Family or their past experiences, then the old narrative immediately follows her into the new career. If she genuinely wants a fresh chapter, she has to be prepared to talk about the work rather than the feud.”
The PR mogul urged Harry and Meghan to 'become quieter, more consistent and more focused on their individual work' which could lead to 'much better chance of changing the temperature around them in Britain'. Mayah added: “You cannot force the public to forgive you, but you can give them fewer reasons to be critical and more reasons to be curious.”
