Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in talks to return to acting

Duchess of Sussex Weighs Role in Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentlemen” as Family Prepares UK Move

Earthguardiansonline.com – Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is reportedly in early-stage conversations about taking on a part in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s crime anthology series “The Gentlemen,” a UK-based production that would mark her most significant acting appearance since stepping away from television in 2018. A person familiar with the ongoing discussions confirmed the talks to industry media, though no agreement has been reached and the project has not yet received an official renewal order from its streaming platform.

The timing of these negotiations is inseparable from another major development: the Sussex family’s decision to relocate permanently back to Britain by the end of August. The couple, who have resided in Montecito, California, since 2020, are preparing to settle in a private residence outside London. Their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are already enrolled at British schools set to begin the new academic year in September.

“The Gentlemen” and Its Uncertain Future

Ritchie’s series, which centers on a web of London’s criminal underworld, stars English actor Theo James in its current iteration. Season two is scheduled to debut on Netflix next month, but a third season has not been formally greenlit. Industry trade publications that first flagged the casting story cautioned that the conversations remain “hypothetical at this point” and that “no role has been identified so far.” Netflix declined to comment when approached for clarification.

Australian media outlets had earlier speculated that an undisclosed acting opportunity in an upcoming project might factor into the Sussexes’ surprise decision to abandon their California base. Whether that speculation pointed specifically to “The Gentlemen” or to another production remains unclear, but the coincidence of timing has fueled considerable speculation in both British and American entertainment circles.

A Career Paused, Not Abandoned

Meghan’s last sustained acting role came on the USA Network legal drama “Suits,” where she played Rachel Zane, a paralegal who gradually ascended to full attorney. She departed the show in 2018 following her engagement to Prince Harry, framing the exit as a natural conclusion rather than a sacrifice.

“I just see it as a change. We’re very, very fortunate to be able to have that longevity on a series. And for me, once we hit the 100-episode marker I thought, ‘You know what? I’ve ticked this box’ and I feel very proud of the work I did there.”

Before “Suits,” she had accumulated guest appearances on procedural and genre shows including “CSI: NY,” “Fringe,” and “Castle,” along with supporting film roles in titles such as “Horrible Bosses” and “Remember Me.” Those early credits established a modest but recognizable screen résumé that she has kept largely dormant for nearly eight years.

The Interim Years: Podcasts, Lifestyle, and a Netflix Cooking Show

Since leaving “Suits,” Meghan has built a parallel media and lifestyle portfolio. In 2022 she and Harry released the three-episode Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” which documented their departure from royal duties and their subsequent move to North America. That same year she launched the podcast “Archetypes” on Spotify, a venture she has since exited. A new podcast partnership with Lemonada Media was announced in 2024.

Her lifestyle brand As Ever, which sells jarred jams, curated tea sets, and scented candles, has continued operating independently of her media commitments. In 2025 she also fronted the two-season Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” a lighthearted program showcasing her home-entertaining tips and recipes. The show’s modest critical reception did little to reposition her as a dramatic performer, but it kept her visible to streaming audiences.

More recently, she has been easing back into Hollywood’s orbit. In November, reports surfaced that she would appear in a brief cameo as herself in the MGM/Amazon comedy “Close Personal Friends,” co-starring Jack Quaid and Brie Larson. A release date for that film has yet to be confirmed.

The Royal Exit and What Comes Next

The Sussexes stepped back from royal life in early 2020, roughly two years after their 2018 wedding, amid a public fracturing of Harry’s relationship with the wider royal family. Their departure triggered a multi-year media strategy anchored by Archewell Productions, which secured a major multi-year deal with Netflix for exclusive films, docuseries, features, and children’s programming. That arrangement has produced a mixed catalogue of output, ranging from the widely discussed “Harry & Meghan” docuseries to smaller lifestyle and wellness titles.

Their return to Britain, announced with little advance notice, has generated a cascade of open questions about logistics, security, and the couple’s long-term professional direction. A return to acting—particularly in a prestige British crime series—would represent a sharp pivot from the lifestyle-and-podcast lane they have occupied since 2020. Whether the talks mature into a signed role, or dissolve into another speculative headline, will likely become clear in the coming weeks as season two of “The Gentlemen” reaches audiences and any renewal decision is finalized.