Meghan Markle is reportedly preparing to return to acting eight years after stepping away from Hollywood to focus on life as a working royal. According to The Sun, the Duchess of Sussex is believed to be filming scenes for Close Personal Friends, an upcoming Amazon MGM Studios production featuring Lily Collins, Brie Larson and Jack Quaid. Sources claim Markle has been on set in Pasadena this week, suggesting the project marks a significant moment for her as she revisits a career she once set aside for royal duties.
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Insiders say Markle has been “swamped with offers” since leaving the Royal Family in 2020, but this particular opportunity felt like the right way to ease herself back in. Her role – playing herself – is described as a gentle re-entry into acting, allowing her to gauge whether she still enjoys life on set. While the choice may seem unusual, especially given the mixed reception to her lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, the return is said to have generated excitement among those involved in the production.
Before stepping away from the industry, Markle spent seven seasons portraying paralegal Rachel Zane in Suits, where she was praised for her reliability and performance. However, some observers question whether portraying herself once again is the wisest move, noting that celebrity self-cameos can often feel awkward or self-indulgent. In recent years, her output with Netflix – including the 2022 Harry & Meghan documentary and two series of With Love, Meghan – has drawn mixed reviews and led to her multi-million-dollar contract shifting to a less exclusive “first look” agreement.
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Even so, sources close to Markle insist she is feeling “relaxed and happy” about her small role in the film. After years of scrutiny and criticism, taking on a familiar version of herself may feel like the safest option. Whether this signals a renewed phase in her acting career remains to be seen, but for now, it appears she is choosing a measured, cautious return to the industry she once left behind.
