Now that Meghan Markle has been in the limelight for her marriage to Harry and her dramatic interactions with the Royal Family, people tend to forget that she had quite a successful acting career long before Prince Harry found her. Her most famous role is, of course, as Rachel Zane on Suits, but she has dozens of other movie and tv roles to her name (background roles not included, unless they are named).
At this point in time, Markle has retired from acting and is focusing on her husband and children - but she and Harry have still appeared on the small screen in their explosive interview with Oprah! Now, Markle will also be getting back into the industry, just behind the camera.
Suits, 2011-2018
Meghan Markle announced her departure from Suits, a legal drama series in which she played paralegal Rachel Zane for seven years, following her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017.
The role will likely remain her most famous, because she left it to marry into the Royal Family, but it’s also one of her best. She appeared in the series for over 100 episodes, and while she never won any awards for her work on Suits, the show as a whole was nominated and won several.
Dater’s Handbook, 2016
In 2016, Markle appeared in Dater’s Handbook, a Hallmark movie in which she played Cass, a successful business owner with a hopelessly unsuccessful dating life. It’s not until she receives a copy of the “dater’s handbook” that her luck begins to change. The film is the usual Hallmark sweet romance, and of course, fans have drawn parallels between Markle’s own life and a Hallmark movie!
Chopped Junior, 2016
Markle appeared very briefly on the Food Network’s Chopped Junior, right around the time she met Prince Harry. In the episode, she gives her honest feedback to one of the young, aspiring chefs.
Of course, Markle does not have the kind of culinary experience that most cooking show judges would need for this, but like many other reality shows, she was brought in as a ‘celebrity’, rather than an ’expert’.
When Sparks Fly, 2014
2014’s When Sparks Fly was Markle’s first foray into Hallmark movies, but it wouldn’t be her last. She portrayed Amy Peterson, a reporter who returns home only to come face to face with the one who got away. Unsurprisingly, this is a straightforward romance, and one that suited her charm.
Anti-Social, 2015
In 2015, Markle appeared in the crime thriller Anti-Social. In the film, Markle is the girlfriend of a man whose brother is a criminal mastermind. However, the film was not a hit, with a disappointing 25% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was set in London, where she would permanently move two years later.
Random Encounters, 2013
She wasn’t the lead in this one, but Markle appeared as the main character’s BFF in Random Encounters, a romantic comedy released in 2013. The romance wasn’t a particularly big hit, and is very similar to the kind of Hallmark movie that Markle would later become the main character in.
Castle, 2012
In a break from her usual typecasting, Markle portrayed a serial killer in Castle, the crime drama series on ABC. For an actress who was well-versed in romantic comedies, this was quite the step out of her comfort zone.
Of course, this is one of several roles that show Markle is capable of much more than just sweet romance - something that would be highlighted in Suits.
Dysfunctional Friends, 2012
Markle played the role of a photographer in Dysfunctional Friends, a 2012 comedy-drama about nine estranged friends who are reunited after their larger-than-life friend unexpectedly dies. It was a short role, but she got her screen time in alongside some pretty reputable actors.
Horrible Bosses, 2011
Horrible Bosses was a 2011 comedy with an all-star cast including Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey, and Jamie Foxx. Markle squeezed herself into this film with a cameo as a “FedEx girl.” This is, of course, only a very small cameo, but worth a mention as she is credited in it.
The Boys And Girls Guide To Getting Down
The Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down was originally an independent movie released in 2006, but was remade into a TV movie in 2011. Meghan Markle played Dana, a 20-something woman who parties her way through L.A. This is definitely not one of the high points of Markle’s film career.
The Candidate, 2010
The Candidate was a short sci-fi film released in 2010, about a secret organization and an ‘underhanded company man’. It’s only twenty minutes long, and Markle makes a cameo as a secretary named Cat. This is another role where the actress appears only in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role.
Get Him To The Greek, 2010
No, that isn’t Kim Kardashian, that’s Meghan Markle in a tight gold dress! Actor/comedian Russell Brand had an opportunity to lock lips with the future Duchess of Sussex in Get Him to the Greek, a 2010 comedy film co-starring Russell Brand and Jonah Hill
CSI: Miami, 2010
Markle appeared in CSI: Miami back in 2010 as Officer Leah Montoya, a heroic officer who gets carried out of a burning building. In this particular appearance, Markle is almost completely unrecognizable. And of course, the role isn’t long enough for her to make any real impact.
Remember Me, 2010
Those with an eagle eye might have spotted Meghan Markle playing the small role of a bartender in 2010’s Remember Me, starring Robert Pattinson. It’s worth noting that the movie was co-produced by Meghan’s former husband, Trevor Engelson.
The League, 2009
Megan played a lonely divorcee at a bar (opposite Mark Duplass) in a one-off role on The League, an FX improvised comedy show about a fantasy football league.
Not her biggest role, but she did get a chance to flex her comedy muscles - and play something a little different to the naive romantics that would later be her Hallmark roles.
Fringe, 2009
At the time, Markle’s portrayal of Junior FBI agent Amy Jessup in Fringe was a departure from her usual roles, but her character only lasted for two episodes. Still, her portrayal of a stern FBI agent is a fantastic one.
Knight Rider, 2009
A particularly surprising cameo is in the ill-fated reboot of the original TV show Knight Rider. Meghan Markle was cast as a woman named Annie Ortiz, a soldier turned cage fighter. The show might have been a failure, but thankfully Markle didn’t follow suit.
Without A Trace, 2009
Without a Trace was a police drama TV series following the cases of a Missing Persons Unit of the FBI in New York City. In an episode titled “Chameleon,” Markle plays a missing college student who turns out to be an imposter. Like many other procedurals, this was a one-off role for a solved case.
‘Til Death, 2008
‘Til Death, a short-lived starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher showcased Meghan Markle in one episode as a car salesperson named Tara. The sitcom, about a pair of newlyweds and an old married couple, wasn’t particularly popular, but this role shows how many bit parts Markle took before becoming a star.
90210, 2008
Meghan Markle played a small and very risque role as a girl named Wendy in 90210, the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise. Another very short scene, she appears as the person that Ethan is cheating on his girlfriend with - and they have a shocking moment together in a car.
