Meghan Markle will not be taking on a role in the Netflix crime drama The Gentlemen, according to reports. The Duchess of Sussex had been the subject of ongoing speculation about a full-time return to acting, more than a decade after she became famous playing Rachel Zane in the US legal drama Suits.
Six years ago, the Duchess and her husband, Prince Harry, stepped back as senior working royals to live a financially independent life away from the British monarchy. Since then, they have launched a string of television projects, including their own Netflix shows. Amid their recent return to the UK, it was claimed she was in talks to appear in The Gentlemen, a series based on the film of the same name.
Director's Reaction
Guy Ritchie, the series' creator and director, reportedly was not happy with the speculation, according to the Mirror. His first response upon hearing the rumours was reportedly "Really?" A source told The Sun that the 58-year-old went on to rule out any future appearances by Meghan, reportedly saying: "Not a chance."
Meghan has now been completely ruled out of joining the show's third series, which will see Robert Carlyle and Maya Jama join the cast. "The Gentlemen is going from strength to strength, and everyone is desperate to make it work," the source told the paper. They added: "Robert is an industry icon, and Theo [James] himself made it clear he wanted him part of the cast. Meghan, though, is now out of contention. There was a meeting, but it's been decided she won't be part of the cast."
Recent Acting Return
The Duchess recently returned to acting for the first time in nearly a decade, playing herself in a cameo in the upcoming comedy Close Personal Friends, which stars Lily Collins and Brie Larson. The Amazon MGM Studios film focuses on two couples, one of whom is famous and the other not. A source told The Sun at the time of filming: "This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves. 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." They added that everyone involved in the production was sworn to secrecy.
Meghan said last year that at times, she missed her acting career. Speaking to Vanity Fair in October 2022, she made a cryptic comment about a possible return to the industry. She told the outlet: "I left Suits right after the 100th episode, in 2018. I didn't think I'd ever be in the entertainment industry again." She added: "But the entire culture has changed; streamers have changed things. The ability to create zeitgeist moments like we had in the '90s — where everyone would tune in at the same time for a show or gather for one moment? — that doesn't happen anymore."
When asked directly if she would consider a return to screen acting, she quipped: "No, I'm done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not."
