Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's Hollywood Career in Photos
From soap operas to Suits to the Royal Family.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex doesn't just have a royal title to her name, she has been working since the early 2000s as an actor in Film and TV, having the most fans for her starring role in the show Suits. Here's a chronicle of the Royal's Hollywood career in photos.
2005: Early Days in Los Angeles
Meghan was born and raised in Los Angeles, and briefly moved away from home to study theater and international studies at Northwestern University. She had considered a political career in college, but pursued acting instead when she moved back to LA, landing her first job with two episodes of General Hospital in 2001.
2006: Appearing on Deal or No Deal
Meghan has said she had difficulties finding consistent acting work early on in her career because of her racial ambiguity that didn't fit into some casting directors' expectations. She had consistent TV work for a while from 2006-2007 as a case holder on Deal or No Deal, but a bigger scripted break was still coming for Meghan.
2009: More Minor Roles
Meghan at the DPA Pre-Emmy Awards gift lounge in 2009. She had bit parts in huge shows like Fringe, where she played a Junior FBI Agent, and CSI: Miami, where she played Officer Leah Montoya. She's also been part of the cast of films including Remember Me, Get Him To The Greek and Horrible Bosses.
2011: Meghan's Breakout on Suits
From 2011 to 2018, she played Rachel Zane, a major cast member on Suits, the hit legal drama from USA. Her character was a paralegal at the show's fictional law firm, and an aspiring attorney who keeps getting low LSAT scores due to test anxiety.
2011: Meghan as Rachel Zane
Meghan's character was connected to a powerful attorney in this fictionalized NYC as the daughter of Robert Zane, but kept it secret from her coworkers in the early seasons. Rachel eventually became an attorney after attending Columbia Law School, and developed a show romance with main character Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams).
2012: At the Suits Fashion Show
You get your own fashion runway to promote your show? Pretty lucky! Her co-stars Rick Hoffman and Gina Torres are also pictured here. Meghan played Rachel Zane for 108 episodes and seven seasons on the show before departing the cast.
2013: Meghan with Kerry Washington in NYC
These two were both dominating Legal TV on Suits and Scandal respectively. Meghan and Washington have gushed about each other since, with the Royal telling ET that Washington is her "talent crush."
2013: Meghan & Patrick J. Adams in Suits
Rachel and Mike were a great will-they-wont-they TV couple, and finally got married in the season 7 finale. Meghan departed the show for good due to her relationship with Prince Harry escalating. Adams was gone for season 8 but returned for the ninth and final season of the show in a guest role.
2014: At the DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl
Meghan was one of many celebrity guests at the 8th Annual DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl who got together for some drinks and a little flag football!
2014: Flag Football with Serena Williams & more
Meghan wasn't just drinking at the event, she also tossed the pigskin arround with other celebs.
2014: Speaking at the One Young World Summit
Meghan spoke at this summit aimed at inspiring young talent and connecting them with influential figures. While she was on Suits, she had a couple of other TV appearances, including an episode on Castle and filming two Hallmark Channel movies in 2014 and 2016.
2015: Meghan & Sarah Rafferty Discussing Suits Season 5
Meghan has nothing but great things to say about her co-stars. In this Esquire interview she said the whole ensemble's chemistry extends offscreen, and that is "part of why the show has become so successful."
2015: Meghan Rocking the NBC Summer Press Day
Suits was a huge face of the NBC cabler USA through its run, so Meghan was a huge presence at the network's upfronts and press events through the 2010s.
2016: Meghan on AOL Build
Before retiring from acting, the Duchess of Sussex also had main roles in the crime film Anti-Social and the romantic comedy Random Encounters.
2022: Harry & Meghan
Meghan and Prince Harry founded their production company Archewell Productions in 2020, which documentary series and also has a podcast arm, Archewell Audio. Harry & Meghan has been the buzziest of their docs so far, since it was about their courtship, marriage and subsequent resignation from Royal Family duties.
BONUS! Meghan's Drama Teacher Gigi Perreau
While Meghan was a student at Immaculate Heart High School in LA, the Film and TV actress Gigi Perreau was her theater teacher. In this sweet moment, Meghan noticed Perreau in the crowd after her wedding to Prince Harry.
Jacob is a Temporary Partnerships Editor at Hearst based in Queens, New York with his partner and cat Tiger. He loves learning and writing about Film and TV, Video Games, and the weird histories of unexpected subjects.
The 45 Best Comedy Films of All Time
The 25 Best British TV Shows to Stream in 2023
The Ending of The Idol, Explained
These Rare Marilyn Monroe Photos Are Stunning
